Steppin' on Water 2024

Directed by Rodney Lucas

On Chicago's Southside, Rodney Lucas takes a nostalgic ride through the gliding footwork, elaborate looks and characters of the Chicago Steppin’ scene. Born on the Southside of Chicago, Steppin’ is a dance rooted in its community – growing out of neighborhood parties, and the tight social scene that expanded around it. Evolving with soul music as a collision of ballroom and swing, with parallels to the jitterbug and the hustle, the Chicago Steppin’ scene lives on through a close pool of Southside icons, connected by a gravitational pull to its fast footwork, old-world charm, and smooth, sensual movements.