With World's Largest contest wins dating back to 2000 and her most recent wins coming in 2008, Lady Margaret has been laying it down for 8 of the 10 years that she's been dancing. Margaret and Dre upped the ante 3 years back when they changed Steppin' contests forever by added breathtaking dips and high energy showmanship.
Then,there's the controversial side of Margaret ... the side that lead many to believe that she both creates and enjoys drama. Lady Margaret addresses this and more in her first ever ChiStepper interview.

T. Pratt (TP): Lady Margaret, it’s a pleasure to have you on ChiStepper.com, what took you so long?

Lady Margaret (LM): Okay, the REAL reason is that I don’t have a computer, but I check you out every now and then to see what’s happening.

TP: I see that you took over the Sunday teaching and after party slot at 3G’s (Club D’Elegance). How is it working out so far?

LM: Well um … last week was my first week. I’m getting the word out. I’m trying to bring it back to what it used to be. It used to be home. I still call it 3G’s, not Club D’Elegance. So I’m trying to bring everybody back home.

TP: I have a good question for you, are you better at teaching or dancing?

LM: Okay … Well, you’d have to ask my students. (Laughing) I think I’m great at both.

TP: When the new skool guys grab you to dance, they give you a million turns because they know you can execute them. Are you cool with that, or do you wish they would slow it down sometimes?

LM: I do wish they would slow it down sometimes. Because I have a lot of footwork and I can’t do it when I’m always in a lot of turns. I don’t want to be known as a fast dancer, a slow dancer, or just for footwork. But I have good footwork and I can’t do it when I’m always being turned.

TP: You have a really impressive resume. Would you consider yourself the Queen of the New Skool women Steppers?

LM: Wow! I consider myself the queen of clean-ups. (Laughing)

TP: What Steppers did you admire starting off?

LM: That’s a good question. Starting off, the first person that I saw and just fell in love with was Tina Moore. But I thought she was so far from my level. Danni Moore was closer to my level and at a place that I could actually achieve. To name a few more, Vicki [Singleton], Jackie [Dace], Lil’ Punkin, a girl named Beverly that used to come to Donnie’s [Davis] class, Kiana [Moore] … I loved Kiana … that girl was just amazing to me. Then I have some people I admire now, like Dimples. I watched her last night. Her movements are all on the 8 and she just floored me with her footwork.

TP: Do you still get nervous before contests?

LM: Yes! (Laughing) I get butterflies in my stomach and my hands start shaking. Tyk Myn couldn’t believe it down in Atlanta. He said, “You’re nervous?”

TP: Congrats on your two wins with Tyk Myn this year. Who makes you more nervous to dance with before a contest, Tyk or Dre?

LM: Umm … That’s a good question. I know Dre’s intensity with the dance ‘cause I’ve done at least 3 contests with Dre. I’d never done a contest with Tyk, so it was like a personality change. I didn’t know this side of Tyk … the competitive side of Tyk. He would be like, “You have to get this.” I never felt it with Tyk because I never danced with Tyk. Dre, I’ve danced with him and I’m used to him and I like the way her practices. So I would have to say Tyk.

TP: How much longer do you plan to compete?

LM: Well, I want to do 2009 and 2010. Then I want to give myself a break. Next year, if they have the Masters, I might do the Masters. But next year, if they have the Originals, I want to do the Originals with Nate [Powell].

TP: If a new stepper came up to you and said, “Lady Margaret, what is the key to following so well?” What would you tell them?

LM: Oh wow! I like that question. For me, I think the key to following well is not to do anything extra when he has your hands. Don’t do any footwork while he has your hands and take all of your steps. Also, loose arms … well, when they’re supposed to be loose, because sometimes your arms need to be tight. And practice. You can’t come to class for a year and expect to be cold.

TP: What up and coming female Steppers do you think we should keep our eyes on?

LM: Wow! Ummm … hmmm … hmmm ... It’s so many. Ummm ... I actually have a class on the Westside too and I have a student over there. Her name is Toni, and she just came to me. Not a lot of people have seen her dance, but she has a lot of commitment to the dance. I can see her doing her thing because of her commitment.

TP: You’ve had your fair share of drama on the set …

LM: (Cutting In) … See you were doing good. (Laughing)

TP: No! Wait a minute. You’ve had your fair share of drama on the set, but you’ve been pretty laid back lately. Is it that no one is bothering you, or did you change something about yourself?

LM: Well um, I’ve heard that people think that I like drama. But I really really don’t. I really like to have fun and enjoy what I do, whether it’s a 70’s party, Steppin’ or whatever. What I notice is that I do put myself in predicaments that cause me to have to reevaluate what I do. So I have to think about the situations that I put myself in.

TP: In your opinion, can you make true friends on the steppers set?

LM: In my opinion, my true friends go back 30 years plus. My youngest friend that’s not on the steppers set is 19 years. After that, my other friends have been my friends 30 years. The only person that I do hang with that I’ve met on the set is Lou [Kimborough]. I’ve been knowing her for the 10 years that I’ve been on the set and we go out and do stuff together but that’s about it. I’m not trying to offend anybody and I have love for everybody, but I’ve tried to make friends on the set and it just doesn’t work for me.

TP: What about a relationship? Is it possible to have a loving trustworthy relationship in the Steppin’ arena?

LM: I think it’s possible. The thing about the Steppin’ arena is it’s like any other arena. Whether it’s arts and crafts or whatever. I know people who have gotten married and they come out and have a good time and everything. So I think it’s possible.

TP: If you go out Steppin’, what song does the DJ have to play to make your night?

LM: That changes every 3 months. Every 3 months I get a new song. When “On The Ocean” came out it was my song. Now, not so much … but we got his music before everybody else.

TP: So what is the song now?

LM: Whew! I love that song, Lady … I don’t know who made it, but that’s the song that I have to hear?

TP: That’s “The Mighty Bop” I think.

LM: See we get music and it ain’t no artist or name on it.

TP: Is there anything part of your Steppin’ game that you still want to improve?

LM: Yes! I want to develop freestyle and I want to develop old skool like how Darrell Davis dances. Lola knows how to do it to. How to go from that up beat to that down beat. And Freestyle is such hard work.

TP: It’s been such a pleasure having you on ChiStepper.com. It was long overdue. Do you have any closing thoughts?

LM: Well um, oh, yeah … bring 3G’s on Tuesday’s and Sunday’s back to the way they were. I look forward to going to a big set and there’s nobody there. Those were always my favorite two days. Tuesday is Darrell Davis’ and Sunday is me.

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