Participants in the Step Show stand with their team’s trophy (Imara Caston /The FAMUAN)
Following a one-year hiatus, the Florida A&M University Housing Step Show made a return on Oct. 19, crowning team IMPACT as first-place champions in a high-energy showcase.
With no step show in 2025, anticipation for this year’s competition ran high across campus. The event offered first-year students and housing residents a major stage to showcase their creativity, dedication and precision.
Taking the floor to compete for top honors were six teams: VNasty, NSYNC, Voltage, VGS, TNT and IMPACT.
Beyond the core competition, the audience was treated to special guest performances. The coaches of the competing teams took the stage to show off the expertise behind their teams’ routines.
The crowd was also captivated by showcase performances from the Rampage Step Team and the Omega Lamplighters, both of which added layers of legacy to the night.
For judges, organizers and participants alike, the night was a testament to the transformative impact of the Housing Step Show on the FAMU student experience.
“I think the Housing Step Show was amazing honestly,” said Treyvious Copeland, one of the judges for the event. “I think it’s a great time to just showcase our students … they got the chance to show themselves off.”
Copeland also expressed excitement about the return of the Housing Step Show.
“I just think it’s a real exciting thing for everybody, especially exciting for teams like Rampage and MSE [Melodic Stepping Experience, Inc.] who started off doing the Housing Step Show and were able to come back and lead and show themselves off as well.”
After the final scores were tallied, team IMPACT took home the first-place title.
For team member Adia Richardson, the victory represented months of dedication and perseverance balanced against demanding schedules.
“I have so many thoughts about it,” Richardson reflected after the win. “[I]t really just feels like all my hard work paid off in such a providential way. I could not have imagined getting here just off my own volition, things were just working themselves out and I’m just really grateful.”
Beyond the competition itself, the return of the event highlighted the deep bonds formed through stepping and residence life at FAMU.
“I was really grateful for the opportunity,” said Jha’niece Johnson, one of the coordinators for the step show. “My FAMU journey started with the housing step show. My 12 sisters are now my 12 best friends. I still live with some of my TNT sisters. So, it was a very full circle moment for me.”
The Housing Step Show served as one of the first events for Florida A&M University’s 2026 Homecoming schedule. Events continue throughout the week, leading to the Homecoming football game against the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff on Oct. 24, at Bragg Memorial Stadium.