Black Reign Step Team reimagines Sinners in annual step show

Syracuse University’s Black Reign Step Team performed its 21st annual showcase, Sinners, for an audience of students, friends and Black Reign alumni at the Schine Student Center’s Goldstein Auditorium on April 16. 

“Throughout the show, we stepped through and around the audience where appropriate, utilizing the entire auditorium space with dynamic staging, sound effects, and moments where performers even jumped off the stage, making the experience more interactive and engaging,” Mera Singh, Black Reign’s vice president of external affairs, said in an email.

This year’s production was inspired by Ryan Coogler’s Oscar-winning film Sinners. Black Reign has a history of taking inspiration from the entertainment industry. 

Founded in 2005 by Tanira Lindsay and Mia Armstrong, Black Reign is the only step team not affiliated with Greek life on SU’s campus. Black Reign has also taken inspiration from Hollywood movies like Drumline and Mortal Kombat.

The performance followed the storyline of “Sinners” through their choreography, complemented by members wearing boots in their performance.

“In the original film, the guitar serves as a powerful symbol, used for ancestral summoning, representing Black history and resilience, and ultimately becoming a weapon against vampires,” Singh said. “As a step team, we adapted this concept by replacing the guitar with boots, using stepping as our form of expression and power.”

One segment of the show recreated the film’s “I Lied To You” scene. Other campus organizations like the Desi Performance Team, Kalabash Dance Troupe, Outlaws Dance Troupe, Citrus Dolls and more joined Black Reign on stage during the segment. 

“Sinners also celebrated the legacy and evolution of Black Reign, blending storytelling, culture, and performance in a way that reflects both our history and creativity,” Singh said.