Alpha Lambda Sigma Chapter

By JaNAE’ BATES
Contributing Writer

The women of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc., Alpha Lambda Sigma Chapter presented their annual Rhomania Debutante Ball . This was an elegant evening engaged with awards, gowns, tuxedos, ballroom dancing and African overtones. The African theme for the event was from the Akan people: “Tabono: Strength, Confidence and Persistence.” The guest presenter for the evening was Kimberly Gill, anchor of WEWS Channel 5 News.  This was her second consecutive year serving as their presenter.
Nine young ladies from various backgrounds currently in their 11th or 12th grade as well as their escorts and parents participated in the event.  The evening started early with an hors d'oeuvres hour. During this time, guests were able to review the accomplishments of the participants.  These accomplishments included community service at various charities and organizations as well as completing a detailed and creative scrapbook of the nine-month journey they took through Rhomania.   

Rhomania utilizes the nine months by cultivating the young ladies through workshops, seminars, community service, essays and of course, rehearsals for the ball. However, until recent years, the Sigma Gamma Rhos of Cleveland took a 25 year hiatus on the cotillion balls and using the youth delegated funding for scholarships.  Vikki Pruitte-Sorrells, chairperson, said, “Even with the financial hardships of the recent years, we have still been able to hold the ball for the past three years in addition to still giving out the scholarships.” 

Following the opening hour and a heartfelt African American National Anthem sung by Cleveland School of the Arts student, Curstyn Franklin, the presentation of the debutantes began with the awards. The Beatrice Fox Award was awarded to Pollard.  This award came with a special trophy as Beatrice Fox was a life member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. as well as pioneer and civic leader throughout the city of Cleveland. Fox was the first African-American principal at A.J. Rickoff Elementary School and among the first African-American Administrators for the Cleveland Municipal School District. Additionally, Fox was the convener and founder of the National Pan-Hellenic Council of Greater Cleveland. This award was granted to the Pollard for exceling in every aspect of the Rhomania Program and according to the committee, went above all expectations. Pollard said, “It was such a nice surpirse and this was a great experience. I was able to meet new people and learn how to do new things.”

A fresh surprise during the ball was the exposition of ‘Urban Ballroom Dancing.’ “So often at cotillions you see the Waltz or the Charleston but in keeping up with our African theme we decided to use urban ballroom dancing,” said Pruitte-Sorrells. “It comes out of African American culture and it is something that they won’t forget and continue to do after this is over.” This form of dance was presented as a graceful and much more elegant version of the Cha-Cha Slide and consisted of the calling out of moves and maneuvers over a smooth, jazzy melodic beat.