Logan’s Run - Somewhere along the line, step show judges began thinking a stepper running across a bunch of backs was a miraculous stunt. Well, SURPRISE — it’s really not that difficult. Not to be hating on the stunt (since I too have lent my back as a stepping stone, and have run across backs), but c’mon….a 9 year old from the projects can perform this balancing act. Even worse, most of the time it really doesn’t mesh with the rest of the show! Be sure to carefully weave this stunt into the thematic story line because it can seem real random (like there was a severe brain fart) if it isn’t executed properly.

The Ripple Sequence - A CLEAN ripple is one of the most impressive techniques to see in a step show, hands down. As the ripple increases in difficulty, adding ripples inside of ripples, reverse ripples, etc, the series becomes increasingly more impressive. You can’t knock a quality ripple sequence…..however, a wack ripple is just that…WACK. Ripples with lags in them make the team look like amateurs; in fact, when the timing is off, it can no longer be called a ripple….just call it a WTF! cuz that’s what everyone in the audience is thinking. Be sure to put the necessary practice in to ensure that your ripple is fluid and flawless. If you choose to make it complicated, don’t let the level of difficulty compromise the fluidity of the sequence.

The Co-ed Routine - The jury is still out on this particular wow-factor tactic. The idea behind a Co-ed routine is to create a new spin on a particular step, usually a traditional step, by involving the opposite gender. Sometimes, this can be really hot — especially when the added element increases the level/intensity of the particular step. Other times….this looks like a Nickelodeon midday TV show gone horribly awry! Add ACTUAL STEPPERS, not random men or women. And, be sure that the addition of the opposite sex enhances the quality of the step, rather than causing it to look like an unedited Tae-Bo infomercial.

Big Man/Little Man - These are two of the most common stunts used in step shows nationwide. To refresh your memory, the “Big Man” is when one step team member sits upon the shoulders of another step team member, whereas “Little Man” is when one step team lays on his back, knees bent, and another member positions him/herself at the trunk of the member lying down. Audience members can pretty much bet a paycheck that either big man or little man will be used in any given step show. What makes the two moves trite isn’t the lack of difficulty or the overuse of them, but the complete lack of creativity once the moves are implemented. Big Man often ends up looking like an attempt to change the net on a basketball goal, and little man usually falls victim to the regular 8th grade - minded sex jokes. For the umpteenth time, DO SOMETHING WITH THE STUNT!! Make the big man move a considerable distance, make 3+ big men (usually teams only do one), switch people on top, something other than a solid big man or a stepping big man. Use little man in an innovative manner by transitioning into it or out of it with another stunt, do other actions than steps in little man position; just expand the use of both big man and little man, and the stunt will seem revamped.