He shot him like 9 times at close range and I’m looking at this like I know he dead. Then a car pulled up and the man who was shooting got in the car that pulled off, so I got to my car and got my gun and shot back at the car like 6 times but they still got away.
Jerry, I’ve watched you from the very beginning. You’ve come a long way. Who do you credit with teaching you this dance and how long have you been Steppin?
Well T, I have been Steppin’ for almost 3 years now [and] I’m really having a lot of fun. In my Steppin’ career I give credit to Dre, Ty Skippy, Tori and Nikee, and Tyk. It all started with Dre; Dre got on my nerves but he pushed me really hard to be the best that I can be. That’s where the love for Steppin started for me. Dre showed me the basic 8-count and gave me some nice moves to start off with. Thank you Dre. Then I took lessons from Ty Skippy. I went to him every week for a full year. Ty showed me footwork and how to hear the music and dance to whatever type of song the DJ played, slow or fast. He showed me how to combine the 6 count and the 8 count together so I’m able to do more moves. When I first went to Ty he said that he was gone give me everything that he got and anything I wanted to learn he would show me … and he did that. Thank you Ty Skippy. I never took lessons from Tori and Nikee; I already knew how to dance when I hooked up with them, but they did smooth me out and slowed me down. I didn’t realize that I was going that fast. Thank you Nikee and Tori. Then Tyk. I never took lessons from him but he is the one that I watched the most. Tyk is smooth with his dance … Tori pointed him out to me and I have been watching him ever since. I watched a lot of his videos over the years. Thank you Tyk for putting in all that work, I hope I run into you in a contest one day before you stop doing contests. Yeah, I said it! (Laughing)
A lot of people were wondering when the next generation of dancers would emerge. Do you feel as though the Dre’s, Tyk’s, and Westside Mike’s of the world have passed the torch to you?
I think they have … somebody’s got to do it. I think I’m strong enough to do it and I want to do it. I wish that I had more male dancers like myself to come with me. I think the dance is going in a new [direction], but we have very few dancers that want to step up. I think this year 2011 was the year for anyone who wanted to show the Steppin’ world what they are made of. [With] Dre, Tyk and Westside Mike sitting down the window was wide open. The ones who showed up really did a good job.
How do you feel about your performance in the World’s Largest Steppers Contest this year? Would you do anything different?
No I would not, I’m happy with what we did. I have been holding on to that move for a year. I just wanted to get it out; I want to thank Cheena for trusting me to do that move.
You participated in two contests one month apart. How long and how often do you plan to compete?
I’m going to compete for a long time. I’m having too much fun.
How did you hook up with Cheena as a partner?
I saw Cheena in Detroit at the White Party this past [June]. I had just threw my towel in and wasn’t going to dance cause I had asked three lady’s to dance and they didn’t want to compete. So I was sitting down at a table just chilling and I saw this girl dancing with Taboo and he was getting it in but this woman he was dancing with was hanging with him and she had this look on her face like it wasn’t nothing to her. I was like, ‘Hey she is pretty good, she’s smooth and she got a really nice sexy dance.’ So I called her up and asked her to dance and she tried to talk me out of it but I wasn’t having it. I felt like she was too good not to compete. It was funny that she knew who I was but I never noticed her till that day! Sorry Cheena! So she agreed to do it with me, and the prelim at Mr. G’s was the second time we danced. Thank you Cheena!
Did you realize her dress was coming up in the contest?
(Laughing) Nah, I didn’t see it. I have to say that, that was some of my fault cause I picked the dress, but I didn’t think that it would come up cause the dress was glued to her body. She had tape all under it so much that she could not sit down.
Who are your top three favorite women to dance with?
My top three is Cheena, Sunshine, and Tori.
What male Steppers did you pay attention to as you were starting this dance?
I pay more attention to Tyk Myn. He’s slick and smooth and that’s how I want to dance. I watch him a lot.
Are there any Steppers out there that you’d like to pick up a few pointers from?
Just Tyk Myn.
Are there any areas of your dance that still need work?
Yes, Walking and Trio.
A lot of people, especially in other cities, have problems getting men involved in the dance. You seem relatively young as well. What inspired you to learn how to Step?
Well T, before Steppin I was hangin with the wrong crowed. I use to go to the 50 after the Steppers left at night. A Stepper stayed after the music changed and my friend pointed this guy out to me and said that he was the coldest guy Steppin, and he was talking about Dre. I was like that little dude (Laughing), and he was like yeah. So Dre came over and gave us a plugger and I put it in my back pocket. So a few weeks go by and we was leaving the 50 walking to our cars and I heard a gunshot so I dropped to the ground and I turned around and looked up and there was a man shooting my friend. He shot him like 9 times at close range and I’m looking at this like I know he dead. Then a car pulled up and the man who was shooting got in the car that pulled off, so I got to my car and got my gun and shot back at the car like 6 times but they still got away. So I went to check on my friend and stood over him and asked, “You still alive?” He was and we called 911. So two days later I went to see my friend in the hospital and I asked him what was that about and he said he didn’t know. So I’m like I can’t be out with him and I’m being shot at and I don’t know why. So after he get’s well he go out to the 50 again. Now this time nothing happened but the guy who was driving was speeding and we got pulled over by the police. I was in the back seat of the car and I was like just let me get to my car. The police got us out of the car and they found a gun in the car and I’m like you have got to be kidding me. So they were going to lock us all up but they only locked up the driver, so I was done with those guys, but I still wanted to go out somewhere just to get out.
So a week later I went to the dry cleaners, and I went through all my pockets before I gave them my clothes and I came back across the plugger that Dre gave me, and I started thinking, I know it’s Steppin all over Chicago … maybe if I learn how to Step I can meet new people and have some fun, but I didn’t have a clue that it was like this. I never thought I would be doing contests, going out-of-town, and having video’s out and people know who I am all across the country. I’m still amazed about all the love and support I’m getting from everyone from all over. Thank you guy’s so much. That’s how I got here T!
Holy sh&%$! That’s an incredible story. I would have never guessed that from you. Man, Steppin’ probably saved your life. Literally! Good stuff man and keep up the good work. Is there anything that I forgot to mention?
Not that I can think of, if you have any more questions let me know.
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Tags: Interviews | Jerry Harris
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