Leon, can you describe Chicago-style stepping for readers?

Chicago-style stepping (or steppin'), like most dances that were born from the Black-American inspired lindy hop or the jitterbug of the 1920s and 1930s, it has multiple step patterns. It is a kool smooth club dance (ballroom, too!), it is an attitude and a style. It is NOT fast dancing like you might see in salsa, lindy, or the hustle. It's not as tightly "slotted" as the west coast swing (as typically danced) but it is mostly a slotted dance but with some circular and side by side patterns. In general, closed position patterns are few, there are no real kicks or bouncy steps like there are in some swing dances. And most of all is a partner dance, not a line dance and not the college fraternity step (stomp) dancing.

To conclude stepping is a club dance so you will see many things/dance moves thrown into the dance on the dance floor. But, there are many of us in Chicago that try to keep the dance's tradition of being the smoothest dance in town. [I know some stepping (a.k.a. "spin-her-rella") instructors have salsa-erized the dance they teach. I think they are one spin away from a backlash from folks that do not like all that spinning and sweating in their sharp outfits.]