Standing in a circle, 10 Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority members clad in sweat pants, T-shirts and tennis shoes clasped hands and bowed their heads. They said a prayer full of thanks and requests for guidance in schoolwork, persistence and help putting one foot in front of the other.

Then the women took their places in a designated formation and, for the next several hours, filled a dimly lit garage with sass, energy, hip-shaking, claps and stomps.

It was one of many regular practices for the sorority. The group has practiced five nights a week for six weeks in preparation for Oct. 28’s “Battle of Divinity” Homecoming step show.

After prayer and stretches, the steppers would rehearse their 13-minute performance repeatedly, breaking it into several parts and practicing each separately, then together.

Two previous chapter members functioned as coaches. They analyzed the women’s moves and reminded them to “work it out,” keep their arms straight, not say “can’t,” give more facial expression and focus on timing.

Steppers practiced through sprained ankles, sore knees and exhaustion. They sweated, and they ran out of breath. But they kept pushing each day because their eyes, like those of the other six participating fraternities and sororities, were on the prize: bringing home first place and bragging rights from the highly anticipated annual step show.

Bowling Green senior Shante Hatchett, an AKA stepper, said participating in the show is worth all the time and energy sacrificed. She stepped in the 2004 show that AKA won, and she remembers the taste of victory.

“It’s a great privilege to be on that stage and to be part of such a rich tradition,” she said. “The feeling of winning is not explainable, because not only did all your time and sacrifice pay off but it means that you pleased the audience. It’s the biggest pat on the back. Plus, it’s nice to have that trophy to sit out just because you can.”

Steppers from Delta Sigma Theta and Sigma Gamma Rho sororities and Omega Psi Phi, Kappa Alpha Psi, Phi Beta Sigma and Alpha Phi Alpha fraternities have been in similar situations: long, tiring, daily practices in preparation for their big moment and their shot at first place.

Louisville sophomore Brandon Smith, historian of and stepper for KA Psi, said that since the end of September, his fraternity typically practiced for about four hours each night in the old parking structure or in Grise Hall. They even held twice-a-day practices as the show’s date approached.

The seven steppers ran through the entire performance a couple of times. Then they concentrated on the parts of their routine that they were weaker in and rehearsed those over and over.

KA Psi won the competition in 2005, so they put in extra effort to be original for this year’s performance in hopes of nabbing the trophy again, Smith said. Besides tradition, entertaining and unity, winning is what the step show is all about, he said.

“If you win, you’re known as the step champions for the rest of the year, and you get bragging rights,” Smith said. “You want to be the best, and you sacrifice to be the best. No one wants to lose.”

Nashville junior Mark Clay, president of the Alphas, said he agrees.

“If you win, it’s a pride thing,” he said. “If you lose, it’s disappointing because you worked so hard. But then the disappointment turns into determination to do better next time.”

The five Alpha steppers have been practicing nightly since school started. They often arrived to practice early to squeeze in extra rehearsal, working with each other on weak areas of their performance.

Although the men had fun together, it was no time for play once practice started. Practices were strenuous and focused, because not only do the steppers want to be champions during their national fraternity’s centennial, they want to reclaim the bragging rights they held after winning the show in 2000, 2002 and 2003.

“This is a big year, and we want to win,” Clay said. “It’s an imperative show that I’m excited about and can’t wait to see.”

To see the sororities’ and fraternities’ hard work in action and who walks away with the title, attend the step show at 8 p.m. Oct. 28 in Diddle Arena.

Reach Ashley Maines at features@wkuherald.com.