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The Texas Panhandle’s first step competition took place at WTAMU on April 27.

Men of E.X. Clusive and Lady E.X. Clusive, WT’s own step teams, hosted the event in Mary Moody Northen Hall at 7 p.m.

Local step teams, including the Amarillo Venom dance team, the Texas Tech step team, Greater Love Temple youth step team and Tascosa High School’s soloist, Joel Miller, participated in the contest.Vice President of Lady E.X. Johnae Walton, a Nursing major, said hosting the show was a chance to have fun.

“It’s one big competition. We’re actually not competing in this one because we hosted it,” Walton said. “It’s just a great time really.”

Walton is a founding member of WT’s Lady E.X. and is celebrating her second year with the close-knit group.

“[The step teams] have become my family,” Walton said.

Loud cheers erupted from the audience when 16-year-old Joel Miller graced the stage.

“[It took me about] 30 minutes to come up with a routine,” Miller, Tascosa step captain, said. “Four of us [from Tascosa] were supposed to open for the competition, but they bailed and I had to step up to the plate.”

Excitement in the auditorium grew with every passing act.

Lady E.X. supporter Marley Sparkman, an Agricultural Media and Communications major, enjoyed the enthusiasm from the performances.

“Our campus is very conservative,” Sparkman said.  “And then you come to something like this where you can be excited and be loud and just get to express yourself.  My favorite part is all the individuality in it.”

After judge deliberation, Greater Love Temple was awarded first place.  However, participating dancers enjoyed celebrating the art of self-expression.

“Not a lot of people get to express them by dancing, but I put everything that I have into it,” Miller said. “So it’s actually like I’m talking to you, but through dancing emotions.”