Rodney Mack's 2012 9th White Party Weekend Affair Back
Jun 4, 2012
The White Time is the Right Time!
By Tracey Bivens
Well I’ll be! Our Michigan weather was true to its unpredictable form when it reared its ugly head at 50 degrees along with cold rain for Rockin Rodney Mack’s Thursday night pre-party at the Dearborn Hyatt this year. Guests who arrived on this day were met with cold air, drizzling rain and clouds. However, the event was destined to go on and on…it did!
Anticipation was in the air as the DJs Steppin E and K-Mix lathered the Thursday night crowd with their styles of melodic steppin grooves. Even though this was Thursday night, I knew that as the weekend unfolded, representatives from over 22 cities were going to be in full effect before all was said and done.
Friday brought forth the usual workshops, pamper suites with foot massages, vendors and impromptu hotel lobby exhibitions by steppers. That’s one of the funny things you will see at these steppin conventions. Someone will be playing a song and folks will start steppin’ in public on grass, on the stairs, in the elevator, at the mall, etc. as though it’s the norm.
That night, Burton Manor and Mykel "MrMakeYouDance” Farr played host to a crowd of stepaholics while MR. Pete Frazier (an inside joke from the Sunday forum) emceed the affair. I think some people were disappointed with the number of entrants in the pre-lims for the 2012 World’s Largest. The people at my table thought that they were going to be entertained more with the couples doing trick moves and such and didn’t think it would end so quickly. But I will go on record and say this. Detroit steppin beginners, Ed and Candi are definitely going to make an impression this year at the contest. Both students of Drew Alexander, Ed is already being referred to as "That Mellow Fellow” because of his nonchalant style of steppin and smooth disposition.
Saturday morning was memorable for many people. A creative workshop package was put together that brought together 14 of Detroit’s steppin instructors who, under the Detroit Steppers Network, who conducted a 6 station workshop for only $10. Not knowing if this would actually work, I kept my fingers crossed from 10:00am-12:00pm. We had 40 people come through and partake of what we had to offer from the Carousel Corner, to Framing the Footwork, Spin Spotting, Shoulder Rolls, Skipping the Beat, etc. The highlight of the workshop came at the end when a young lady stepped forward and stated that "this was the BEST workshop I have Ever attended!” She was right! We had the best of our local instructors (who could attend), we came together with the best of intentions and we definitely offered the best price! All proceeds go towards the DSN’s Project 300 2012 community of steppers project. I said I would not get into the trap of naming names but thank you Larry Collins, Drew Alexander, Daniella Borum, Rickey Banks, Bobby Watkins, Sherry Gordon, Patrice Pye-Taylor, DJ K-Mix Kirk Peterson, Debra Ross, Bonita Williams, Buford "Mistalocks” Collins, Richard Cochran and Ann Hunter (both entered in the WLSC pre-lims by the way), Tracey Bivens (wink) and Paul Ross "The Boss’ who provided our music and thank you Jackie "Shortcake” Jones, Karen Ware and Brenda Hill for your support.
Okay…so naturally by Saturday afternoon, I was operating on pure adrenaline because I was one of Rodney’s "Angels” and was doing a lot of running around. I took five minutes to sit down to talk with Ailey Alvin dancer and instructor, Michelle Proctor, out of New York. Did you skaters turned steppers know that the reason why our right knees hurt so much as is because of the counterclockwise direction that we skate in at the rink? Apparently, it puts a lot of stress on that right knee over time. She added that if more rinks had skaters skate in a clockwise direction, this would help to alleviate the pain. She also told me that in the professional world of dance studios, there is a participant fee and a spectator fee that must be paid if someone plans on viewing a workshop. So that means that if people want their workshops to maintain its integrity, it would cost $20 to participate and $5 or $10 to watch. Do you think this would fly with "us” steppers?
Saturday night’s Great Lakes Convention Center was cloaked in White with a roomful of steppers. DJs Cross, Mellow Kris and singer, Slique, entertained the troops with some really nice stepper cuts. Shouts out to Mellow Kris for having toured almost 20 cities with his musical brand of steppin music in the last decade. Nobody can say food is not appreciated at major events. People were able to eat chicken, celery and meatballs until 11:00pm and had access to all the water their stomachs could hold. This is one of the best features of the main event in my opinion. No after party was offered this night. People went to bed at 2:00am …I guess.
I believe I threw a shoe at my alarm clock when it went off Sunday morning at 7:00am, but I got up and helped prepare for Terrance Pratt’s forum. As many of you know, the forums do a wonderful job of raising people’s blood pressure, causing people to get into it about age old arguments and suck their teeth in disgust at 98% of the comments made. Yet…people still come because it’s the only thing offered before the picnic. I can only imagine what Lamont Watt’s Club Steppin listeners will be thinking when they listen to it on his broadcast next week. For those of you who never attended the forum before I’ll provide you with this visual. Picture the scene from the movie "Coming to America” when Eddie, Arsenio and other cast members are sitting in the barbershop having the "Momma named him Clay vs. Milkhammed Ali vs. greatest boxer in the world” argument and you have the forum. I personally would like to see this time used for cities coming together and having a "most creative move” contest or "who can step with 4 people at the same time” contest, etc. I have much love for T Pratt and his Chistepper.com brand and would like to see him make Rodney Mack’s 10th Anniversary Forum "positively special” with the creative skills he’s been blessed with.
Okay folks, we’re almost done…please keep reading.
The picnic at Hines Park was a major success with DJ Butta aka Michelle Mason playing the spin doctor with the music. Despite the raindrops that teased us, everyone had a good time. I got to say this though because there is always room for improvement. One of the things that Rodney Mack is going to have to get better at is delegating responsibilities when it comes to printing out directions for his attendees. People who don’t drive MUST have access to a shuttle for their entire stay in Detroit and the directions MUST be clear with balloons, streamers, dancing girls, whatever it takes. I understand people are not going to always be 100% satisfied at these events but directions, event times and customer service are key in keeping 95% coming back next year as opposed to 20%. By the way, weekend totals came in at 1900 attendees for the Mackster. Not bad for a recession strapped economy.
Before I leave, I want to thank some people who did or said some things that needs to be applauded. The conversations with Mary Hurst of Threadz Inc., Cornell Harper, Donald Blount, Darnell Brown Video services for immortalizing the event forever, Keith Hubbard, the White Party Angels, Sherry Gordon, Rebecca Atkinson, Friends United Catering (HaHa), Deon Farr and Jeff Clark for your coolness and objectivity during times of foolishness, and thank you Cheryl and Devan Powe for being understanding.
As I sit here at the Sunday evening afterglow dozing off, I look at a ballroom of 300 people who are still flocking to the floor and steppin. Some are limping and some looked like zombies but they looked as though they had no intentions of getting ready for work the next day or going back home.
The most memorable reflection that I have from the weekend affair was that Rodney Mack brought this national event together nine years ago and made it possible for new friendships to develop, entrepreneurs to thrive and for people to be able to step in the name of love.
Tracey Bivens has left the building.
