Welcome to St. Louis, Missouri & The Art of Chicago Style Steppin'!
Editor's Update: May 17, 2012

Tony James

A List Stepper
Former Owner Club 30-Something
Founder & CEO JET Black Productions
St. Louis Top MC
Stepper's DJ
Steppin' & Slidin' (Line Dancing) Instructor
Editor Website: stlweeklyword.com
Editor: St. Louis Weekly Word & Weekly Update
(Information Newsletter on Special Events, Business,Parties and Stepper's Set
happening in the St. Louis Area)

Contact Tony and get added to his Email List:
tonyjam2000@yahoo.com

St. Louis Stepper's MC & DJ Tony James has truly earned the title of A List Stepper in St. Louis. It was hard for this editor to believe Tony has only been Steppin' since May 2009.

Tony has his own style. That's right a style of his own. He did what I have been preaching to all our stepper's "Learn the basics then practice and put your own flare to it, make the dance your own. Be unique, never try to look like everybody else. I have watched him learn and grow. He understood that Steppin' has a history, he understood the difference between Old and Nu Skool Steppin' he understood the dance, the music and how to show patience with beginners, he understood how to encourage, he understood how to promote Steppin' he just plain understood! For a stepper not understanding it's history and/or why the dance was created you never graduate.

I asked Tony to give me a short Bio on how he got started Steppin' he sent it to me with a note: use what you need and pitch the rest. I found his Bio so interesting I decided to use it all.

STL Stepper, Glenda & Tony

In His Own Words

One night I watch Iary Israel and Yvonne Collins along with Paula Crawford Steppin' at Leta's Birthday Party at the Starlight Room in St. Louis. I was impressed! Had to find out where else they were Steppin'. Word of Mouth Entertainment was having a Stepper's Set that Wednesday at Imperial Palace. Iary the president, was so generous with his time and talent I was able to get out there right off the bat and fail my way forward. I fell in Love with the dance. I danced every song that night. I wanted to be the best, if I was going to do this dance called Steppin' Chicago Style I decided to be excellent at it. I needed classes.

Started taking Iary's class at Studio Z on Monday nights. After about (3) weeks Iary asked me to help and work with the men when he couldn't be there. Now I was TOTALLY HOOKED! "So in Love." After that I was at every Steppin' Set I could get to. I would track Iary down, trying to get him to show me and/or teach me more. Every time I asked he did.

My Experience

The Celebrity Room reopened in April 2009. I started doing their Happy Hour and included Steppin' Music in my program. As a DJ and former club owner (30 Something) I was asked to sit-in at a few of Word of Mouth's Stepper's Sets.

Once that was accomplished, every 3rd Friday I started hosting 250-300 Sliders at the Ambassador. What did the Sliders ask? Show us how to Step. Now I was teaching Steppin' Basics to the Sliders. When Nicola (Nicky) Thomas created STL314 Steppers Club, she agreed to piggyback with my class, it was on!

Most Recently I started "After Seven Soiree" at Club EXO, downtown St. Louis every Friday night along with STL314 Steppers. We do Steppers Basics Class starting at 6 PM. Where I go, Steppin' must go. Still doin' the Sliders thing at the Ambassador every 3rd Friday as well. So I guess I'm the "Fly Jock"...lol

What I Hope to Accomplish

I hope to increase the number of people who want to learn the "Art of Steppin'" so where ever there's a party in St. Louis we'll be Steppin'. We will always be Slidin', St. Louis is a Slidin' Town but we will be Steppin' as well! "We Are The Life of the Party"

I believe Steppin' is so wonderful that I asked my wife Joyce to learn. Now we go to a steppin' set at least once a week.

Love to All and Keep on Steppin'
Tony James

Need I say more, wonderful Bio Tony keep up the great work it is appreciated. You have a goal and we know you will make it happen.

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Tony James