Standing ovations are rare, especially at the Fieldston School on sleepy Thursday mornings. Students trudge in from their C band classes, put their phones away and prepare for the weekly assembly; this January, however, the usually sleepy and quiet auditorium exploded with energy and excitement when the Unity Queen Steppers stepped onto the stage.
The schoolwide assembly, led by the Black Student Union (BSU), intended to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. BSU emphasized the importance of “Drawing Parallels to Our Progress,” by connecting events and historical figures to trends and modern-day activists. The assembly struck a perfect balance between educating the community on necessary historical facts and figures and maintaining accessibility to students (ex. A TikTok video about a chair, relating to a race-related incident from 2021)
After completing most of their presentation, BSU concluded by highlighting historically Black universities (HBCUs), and one of the traditional practices of the schools – step, which the presentation defined as “a percussive form of art, using a combination of clapping, stomping and spoken word to produce complex poly-rhythms.”
Next, as a complete surprise to the audience, Fieldston’s Dean of Student Engagement Ruth Taveras introduced the Unity Queen Steppers, a step-team from the Unity Prep Charter School in Brooklyn. Taveras, who worked at the school for four years, said she absolutely fell in love with the community and the passion. “I promised myself I would bring them to every new school I came to,” she said.
And so, as Taveras cheered, “Brooklyn, Bronx, let’s go!” the step-team took the stage.
They began in the wings, a sole team member walked across the stage. Surprisingly, she wore a bright orange Fieldston shirt, the eagle head splayed across her chest. Theatrically, she said, “More homework??? Today’s assignment: write a letter to Dr. King”
“Dear Dr. King, it’s 2025 and we still..” she paused, “have a dream.”
With that, her teammates began to stomp from the wings, and the heartbeat of the performance rang out.
Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of the performance – it just kept going. The steppers completed section after section, with intricate beats, hand motions and chants, displaying fierce athleticism and confidence.
“It was so impressive,” said Ava Clark (Form VI). “It just made you want to stand up and clap your hands with them.”
Albeit tentatively, Fieldston students joined in by clapping and cheering along. Near the end of the performance, after one final section, the audience erupted into a raucous standing ovation. The steppers stood proudly on stage, some smiling in disbelief, as they basked in the cheers.
“It gave me life this morning,” said Alwin Jones, Head of the English Department, who grew up in Brooklyn. “Seeing this was like seeing a piece of home come to life in a way I never thought I’d see on a Fieldston stage.”
The assembly concluded with murmurs of “That was the best of the year, of all time!” and Taveras announcing that the steppers would be in the commons for a meet and greet during funny time.
Soon, the commons were filled with the same infectious energy of the auditorium. The unity queens mixed with Fieldston students, the stage was a blur of energy and enthusiasum.
“They’re so iconic, they’re so baddie,” said Ava Love (Form VI), a member of BSU. “It’s nice to see some Black representation at Fieldston. We had a cheer team for one year, and that wasn’t so successful, so this was an improved, diverse experience that people don’t get to see at Fieldston”
Parker Nam (Form III) added: “I have a lot of respect for everybody who is dancing, they came to a random school they’ve never seen before, and they danced on the stage, which takes an incredible amount of confidence.”
Some of the steppers admitted to having extreme nerves, although never it never showed. Alice, senior from Unity Prep, said, “I was really nervous, I’m still really nervous, but my coach gave me the opportunity, and always taught me to be myself and have fun.”
Aniah, a 9th grader, added that her stepsisters help her calm her nerves, which received a chorus of “yesssses” from the crowd around her. “Step helps me express myself,” she said. “And it’s a big community builder.”
Some senior steppers, already into college, said they “very much” plan to continue stepping in the next four years and beyond.
The team’s head coach, Alley Olivier, founded the program in 2016 and has directed it ever since. In college, at Temple University, Olivier was a member of the Ladies of Elegance Step Organization. “Step gives me an opportunity to express myself and leverage my voice,” she said. “It’s not just about using your body as an instrument but also about telling a really impactful story.”
Olivier also emphasized the importance of step in the Black community. She said, “A lot of people feel like their bodies and voices are not their own, and step allows them to take that back.”
Most importantly, said Olivier, “every girl leaves knowing they’re a queen, the most important piece on the chessboard.”
Olivier then led the mixture of students – some Fieldston some Unity prep – through a routine, going step-by-step, and cheering loudly, no matter what.
Taveras sat and watched her past and present schools dance, laugh and step. She said, with her hand over her heart and a beaming smile, “It’s a forever connection that we’ve made today.”
Watch the Step Team’s performance here: https://sites.google.com/ecfs.org/fieldstonvideoarchives/24-25?authuser=0
