After the fall of the
1996-1997 Step Team of Reynolds High, many students were left wondering if
Reynolds would be able to have another active Step Team.
The six members
of the senior class of 1997-1998 banded together to form Zu Phi Zu. Those men
were Arlis Murray IV, Joe Brim II, Carlos Summers, Brandon Carter, Alex Canty
& Chris Blackwell. However, since the suspension for any step team
was to last for a full year, these men were unable to represent the school in
competitions. They were able to perform for local civic organizations.
While Zu Phi Zu
petitioned for a step team and failed, Brandon Johnson, Jason Belo and James L.
Imes were also trying to bring a step team to Reynolds High School. They
brought their friend, Damien Gardner and they petitioned for a step team. They
were permitted to organize but not to join Zu Phi Zu because they were
sophomores and not seniors and Zu Phi Zu was not officially recognized by the
administration of Reynolds High as a step team.
They were not
forbidden to work with them.
Brandon Johnson
and James L. Imes started learning steps from Zu Phi Zu and during this time,
they came up the first routines for the new step team. The four young men found
an advisor, Mr. Zach Hargett, with the help of their Vice Principal, Mr. Holt.
Together, they came up with the name, creed, and constitution for Iota Xi Phi.
They were granted recognition as a step team for the school on May 15, 1998.
During the Summer
and the Fall of 1998-1999 school year, the newly formed Iota Xi Phi looked for
an active undergraduate fraternity to work with and learn steps from. These
young men were eventually introduced to Jon Lindsey, a member of Alpha Phi
Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, and he introduced them to the members of the
Beta Iota Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated at Winston Salem
State University. They worked on putting together a new show and have worked
together ever since.
The goal of
Iota Xi Phi is to work with the community and to win step competitions in which
they will use the money they win to donate to charities who look to uplift the
youth and the African American community.
