New Historian “Steps” Up

Erin Barlow

By Matthew Rogers

Texas State student

Senior member of the Texas State Harambee Step Team Erin Barlow “stepped” into a new position. Barlow became Harambee’s most recently appointed officer as the team’s historian. 

Barlow is a senior at Texas State and has been a member of Harambee for almost three years. Harambee was founded in 1995 as Texas State University’s official hip-hop dance company. The word harambee is Swahili for unity, something Barlow cites as the group's most important quality.

“In a campus that is very diverse it’s sometimes hard to find unity within the diversity, and within [Harambee] I believe we have plenty of both,” Barlow said.

Barlow was a dancer long before Harambee. Her love for dancing developed when she became a member her high school drill team. She cites her love for dancing as her reason for joining Harambee at Texas State.

“I loved the dance aspect but not so much the “drill” part of it and its restrictions,” Barlow said. “I came here my freshman year and just fell in love with how laid back and dance-centered the organization was.”

Harambee has seen many changes since Barlow has been its historian. As a historian, Barlow is responsible for taking pictures and publicizing the organization.

“I have done a lot more with videos as opposed to pictures,” Barlow said. “I have made available to our teammates videos of our choreography and steps so they can practice at home.”

Barlow said that as a member of Harambee she is more comfortable being herself among a campus of over 30,000 students.

“Its fun," Barlow said. "You meet tons of new people and you get to perform all the time."

Barlow says that anyone can dance but not many can perform; being a great performer requires confidence in every step you take.

“I used to dance while thinking to myself: 'Is this right? I hope I don’t look stupid doing this' but now I’m like: 'Oh I know I look good!'" Barlow said.

Mr. President

Johnny Cardoza

By Isaiah Reed

Texas State student

Every great organization needs a leader. That's where Johnny comes in.

Harambree president Johnny Cardoza is the elected leader of the group and in charge of decisions that determine the whole groups future.

"My main role is scheduling performances and keeping the team together, getting them to practice, keeping a schedule, making sure the girls and guys are ready to dance and making sure their money doesn't go to waste," said Cardoza.

"We're here to dance and we're here to perform."

A four year Harambree veteran and almost two year executive board member Cordoza will be completing his first semester as president this December.

"We're still open to anyone choreographing and stuff like that," said Cardoza, "we're all about equal opportunity."

Cordoza has been around the organization long enough to have seen previous presidents and has his own vision for the future.

"I've seen Harambree change and evolve into an amazing group and in the future I hope we continue this tradition of keeping the creativity alive and staying original."

"We want to stay true to what Harambree means which is togetherness, family, and unity and just having fun at the end of the day."

Harambee dancing in the Quad to show their

creativity and promote their organization.

The Rise of Harambee’s Step Team

Kenjewel Hayes

By Sammantha Johnson
Texas State student

Harambee plans to stomp out the competition in the Non-Traditional Step Show at U.T. Dec. 2 with new step master Kenjewel Hayes.

Under the direction of Hayes, Harambee won their very first step show
hosted by the Texas State Delta Sigma Theta Chapter Spring 2011.

This Fall 2011 semester, the U.T. step show is an opportunity for
non-Greek steppers to showcase their talent as well the as the opportunity to
compete.

Harambee has entered twice before, but this year they believe they will
be victorious.

“We’ve been working really hard because we’ve never won this one before,
but we’re going to take it home this year,” said Hayes.

Texas State senior Hayes, has members learning an intricate routine where
they must land in a push-up position at the end of the step.

Creating tough routines is one of the difficulties of being a step master.

Being Hayes’ first time as a step master, she never thought this position
would be so demanding. Hayes knew of the hardships because she stepped ever
since high school, but now she has many obligations within her position.

“I could make up steps but I didn't realize that being step master required booking shows, creating themes, writing scripts, deciding and creating or finding where to buy costumes and so much more,” said Hayes. “Yet my team members helped me through it all.”

As a senior anticipating graduation, Hayes said she would miss the love
and the support from her team.

“I love being on a team that is like family,” said Hayes. “I'll miss just the
ability of performing for my classmates who have amazing talents of their
own. “We're certainly a group of divas but divas with hearts of gold!”

Freshman feels at home in Harambee

Gema Munoz

By Olivia Gustin
Texas State student

New to the Harambee dance team is Texas State freshman Gema Munoz. Munoz joined in the fall as an outlet for her love of hip-hop and dance.

"I love to dance modern and jazz too but hip-hop is also incredibly uplifting for the body and for the soul," said Munoz.

Since becoming a member of Harambee, Munoz says her most valuable experience has been performing in the Homecoming Talent Show.

"It took perseverance and commitment from everyone on the team to balance school, friends, work and Harambee," Munoz said.

The dedication and late-night rehearsals that the team put in was well worth it when Harambee won first place in the dance category.

Munoz says she would encourage other students to try out for Harambee and praises the organization for its positive representation of Texas State. She admires the diversity and dynamic character that the dance team offers.

"Although we all come from different backgrounds and have unique personalities, we are like a family joined together by our love for dance," Munoz said.

The word harambee is Kenyan for unity and Munoz commends the organization for upholding its goal.

"I believe in our mission and think we do a great job of incorporating that idea in every rehearsal," Munoz said.

Munoz's passion for Harambee is also due to the freedom she enjoys when she is around the other members. She said she always feels like she can be herself and loves having new experiences with people she shares a similar interest with.

"We come together numerous times a week and, even though we work hard, we enjoy ourselves and have a lot of fun together," said Munoz. "Harambee is for students who have a passion for performing and love to dance."