Date:  April 8, 2003
Contact: Irene Cromer
(703) 791-8720
or:
  Myca Gray
  703-730-7000

Gar-Field High School’s premier step team, ESSENCE, coached by Myca Gray, won its first South Eastern Regional Step Team Competition recently in Atlanta.  The performance, entitled “United We Step,” featured a multicultural step introduction and showcased traditional dance and rhythms from various American cultures.  

Thirty-two teams from Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia, North and South Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, Florida and Georgia gathered outside Atlanta for the annual competition, including West Potomac and Northwestern, teams with which Gar-Field’s ESSENCE has often competed in the past.

ESSENCE returned to the School of Champions with four regional awards: Regional High School Champion, first place for theme, first place in appearance, and second place in performance.  The team was judged in the following areas: precision, creativity, attire, vocal clarity, complexity, unity, crowd reaction, transitions, showmanship, and overall performance.  

Participation in ESSENCE at Gar-Field is a year-long commitment, and students begin daily rehearsals, physical training, and choreography sessions in August to be prepared for competitions and performances throughout the school year.  
This victory qualifies the team for the National Championship competition on April 12 in North Carolina.

 The regional competition was hosted by South Cobb High School under the co-sponsorship of marketing agent Rene Atkins, actor Emanuel Lewis, and recording artist, Pelle-Pelle.