The party is packed wall-to-wall, but people begin to separate to leave an open space in the middle. A line of members from Sigma Lambda Beta begin to weave through the crowd, moving with the beats and rhythm of the music. The group is strolling.

Strolling is a lot like stepping, which many will remember from “Stomp the Yard.” It is usually performed in a single-file line, and the group will do synchronized steps and clap to the music. The dances are choreographed and practiced so that every member is right on point. Strolling takes a bit of confidence: One must be willing to push people out of the way at parties so the group can show off its moves.

Strolling has become a large part of the Greek community in recent years but has been a long tradition within the Black Greek system. Many multicultural fraternities and sororities stroll as a way to gain more members and to advertise.

Each organization puts its own spin on strolling to make it have personal meaning to them. Sigma Lambda Be  ta International Fraternity likes to add a Latino flavor to their strolling. The Betas decided to hold the event “Stroll Like a Beta” to show non-Greeks what strolling is all about.

The event will be held in Gregory Hall on Saturday. Tickets will be sold in advance or at the door for $2. The Betas expect the event to attract a large audience.

“We posted it a little less than month ago and the first day within minutes we had maybe over 100 people saying they were going to go,” said Jamaal Rahman, junior in AHS and fundraising chair for Sigma Lambda Beta.

They are expecting audience members from all over, including their brothers from Illinois State and Eastern Illinois Universities, Rahman said.

The event will consist of a competition between four teams with five to 10 members who are not a part of a Greek organization. Over the last month, the Betas have coached these teams. A panel of judges will evaluate the teams, and one will be named the winner. The team members have shown a lot of enthusiasm for the competition, according to Louis Perez, junior in LAS and stroll chair. Some have uniforms and even playful trash talking has occurred.

“All the brothers are talking smack to each other saying that ‘Our team’s going to win.’ … We have been making videos and have been practicing really hard. We are ready for it,” Perez said.

The teams have been working hard to pick up the techniques of strolling at their practices, which are twice a week for a few hours. In total, they will have about 12 practices before the event. Rahman said strolling isn’t too difficult to master.

“If you don’t have rhythm, you can get it, but it takes more practice. If you have rhythm, all you need to know are the moves and then you will be able to do it,” he said.

The Betas had heard of other fraternities teaching people how to step, so they decided to host a similar strolling event. The original idea was to make money for the fraternity, but since then, it has turned into much more.

The Betas hope the event can inform about the strolling culture and show people what their organization is all about. On top of the team competition, other organizations will be strolling and stepping at the event. Felipe Cueva, junior in ACES and president of Sigma Lambda Beta, said that the event is a way to bring people together on campus.

“What we are trying to emphasize is the multicultural population on campus, especially when it comes to Latinos. A lot of us feel like we are very divided, in terms of everyone is in their own organization,” Cueva said.

The event is an opportunity for people to come together who don’t necessarily have to be Greek to enjoy it.

“Hopefully it is a tradition that comes up next year and the year after, where we will have the whole Latino population or even the whole U of I campus strolling,” Cueva said.

Haley can be reached at [email protected].