Alumni and students gathered under the night sky, illuminated by the stage lights on the Spelman lawn. Students’ rhythmic stomps and chants of the Divine Nine electrified the crowd as Spelhouse students, alumni, and families gathered for the 2025–2026 Homecoming Step Show.
Each year, the homecoming step show brings together Spelman and Morehouse students, alumni, and families to celebrate a cultural legacy that extends far beyond the stage. The event, was the kickoff to the tailgate weekend with sororities and fraternities performing routines that blended their unique craftsmanship while honoring the alumni who came before, while remixing it with contemporary music and themes.
This year, the Eta Kappa chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. brought the heat with a chef-themed performance that had the crowd on its feet. Dressed in crisp chef whites, the Deltas “cooked” to a playlist featuring GloRilla’s “Let Em Cook.” Their creative execution and sharp choreography earned them the top prize among the sororities. The night’s emcee, Jaden Palmer-Waldron, a junior finance major from Philadelphia and vice president of the Campus Alliance for Student Activities (CASA), kept the energy high throughout the show. “Events like this show the dedication our students have day in and day out,” Palmer-Waldron said. “It’s about celebrating their hard work, balancing school, and building something for the future. We need to invest in that.”
For many in the audience, their victory carried a deeper meaning. Alison Kean Wright, class of 1986 and a proud alumna member of Delta Sigma Theta Incorporated, said the performance transported her back to her own college years. “I used to step, so it brings back memories,” Wright said. “I definitely can’t do what they can do now, but it’s all about tradition and celebrating our sorority and our chapter.”
Another Delta and advisor to the current chapter, Joni Johnson Williams, class of 1987, said mentoring today’s members of the Eta Kappa chapter keeps her connected to the organization’s legacy. “Their energy and enthusiasm remind me why I wanted to be a member in the first place,” Williams said. “They always bring new ideas, and it keeps the tradition alive.”
The Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. followed with a creative Squid Game-themed routine that turned the arena into a neon-lit performance.
The fraternity competition was equally fierce. The men of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. delivered a cinematic performance inspired by ancient Egypt, complete with mummy-wrapped costumes and a museum-themed storyline that morphed into a high-energy dance sequence. Their set paid homage to Michael Jackson’s “Remember the Time” while mixing in contemporary hip-hop music; ultimately winning them first prize for the fraternities.
Zion Horn, a senior software engineering major from Chicago, said the team’s performance was the product of practice and focus. “Hard work and practice lead to preparation,” Horn said. “Even when you don’t see the results, you keep going. The crowd’s reaction made every step worth it.”
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. (the “Q-Dogs”) capped off the night with a funk-filled spectacle straight out of the 1970s. Dressed in open-collar shirts, Afros, and flared pants, the Qs strutted down a Soul Train line to tunes such as “That’s the Way (I Like It)” by KC & The Sunshine Band, aiming to embody the spirit of the disco era with charisma and rhythm.
For first-year Spelman student Haley Buckner, a health science major from Nashville, the step show represented her first real taste of Spelhouse spirit. “It’s fun, the sisterhood, coming together, and having a break from studying,” Buckner said. “You really feel the energy of Spelhouse.”
