When you first meet me, you’ll quickly learn about one of my deepest passions: color guard. It’s more than just an activity; it’s a vibrant thread woven into the fabric of my being, a love that infuses my life with meaning and intensity. Often met with puzzled looks and vague understandings, color guard is frequently simplified to “that marching band thing” or just “spinning flags.” But to truly grasp it, you need to understand that color guard, much like love itself, is a complex and multifaceted experience.
You know that exhilarating rush when you make an impossible catch? That split-second moment of pure instinct and perfect execution? Imagine amplifying that feeling, transforming it into a synchronized art form. That’s the essence of color guard. It’s about launching a silk flag soaring high on a six-foot pole, watching it spin and dance through the air, and then seamlessly catching it behind your back, all while maintaining a graceful smile. Now, picture nineteen other performers executing the exact same feat, in perfect harmony, at the very same moment. This is the captivating precision and unity that defines color guard.
Color guard is a unique tapestry woven from threads of dance, theatrical expression, and exceptional hand-eye coordination. It demands the discipline of a dancer – impeccable technique, pointed toes, and graceful lines – combined with the skill of manipulating equipment like flags, rifles, and sabres with breathtaking precision. All of this unfolds while captivating an audience, embodying a character, and narrating a story through movement and artistry. It’s a world where precision meets passion, where every movement is deliberate yet imbued with emotion.
The beauty of color guard lies in its delicate balance between meticulous precision and unrestrained artistic expression. Every count, every fraction of a count, is meticulously planned and executed. Performers are acutely aware of every angle of their equipment, each release, rotation, and catch. Yet, simultaneously, there’s a profound awareness of the body as an instrument of expression. Every arm movement, every leap, is precisely timed and choreographed, even down to the breath, synchronized with the rhythm of the performance. This rigorous precision, however, serves as a canvas for incredible expressiveness. Embodying a character and performing for an audience ignites a uniquely rewarding and exhilarating feeling, a vibrant emotional palette brought to life.
The bonds forged within a color guard unit are unlike any other. These are connections forged in the crucible of shared challenges and triumphs. We endure intense training together – the infamous camp weekends filled with exhaustion and sweat, muscles screaming with every movement, and knees bruised and battered. There are days of relentless practice, where perfection seems perpetually out of reach, and the finish line feels distant. But then, we perform. And in that shared performance, something magical happens. Even with years of experience in singing and theatre, nothing compares to the electrifying energy of an arena erupting in applause because your flag feature landed flawlessly. In color guard, you don’t just perform for yourself; you perform for your guard, for the collective entity, for the shared dream into which you’ve poured your heart, sweat, and tears – a true labor of love.
When I express my love for color guard, I’m talking about the profound satisfaction in repetition, in throwing the same toss hundreds of times until it becomes muscle memory. It’s the pure joy of finally mastering a challenging technique that once seemed impossible. It’s about the shared endurance of holding a count for what feels like an eternity, the badges of honor worn as knee bruises and calloused feet, and the comforting familiarity of an endless wardrobe of black dance attire. It’s the exhilarating thrill of performing for a crowd, the dramatic exhale perfectly timed on count five – these are the nuances that paint the vibrant picture of my passion.
One of my most cherished color guard memories is etched vividly from the 2015 WGI World Championships. After pouring our hearts into our semi-finals performance, my guard and I stood anxiously on a Dayton street, outside the Convention Center arena, awaiting the results that would determine if we would advance to finals – the top 15 units vying for the championship. When the news broke – we had made the cut, securing fifth place for finals – elation exploded. Screams of joy, tears of relief, and heartfelt embraces filled the street. My friend Bridget’s hug left a smear of her show makeup on the white apron of my uniform, a stain I’ve treasured and never washed away – a permanent mark of that unforgettable moment of shared triumph and love for our art.
This year, being unable to perform has been a poignant experience, watching my guard present an incredibly moving show from the sidelines. My heart swells with pride for them, and the yearning to spin again burns brightly within me. When I say “I love color guard,” it’s not a casual hobby or a passing interest in “twirling flags.” It’s a profound passion, an intrinsic part of who I am, a vibrant color in my life’s palette that I can never bear to be separated from for long, a constant force that inevitably draws me back.
If you seek an experience that touches the depths of your emotions, I urge you to explore Artistry IN BLUE’s 2015 Program “The Lonesome Rag Doll,” which captivated audiences, earned fifth place, and won the Fan Favorite award. Prepare to be moved:
To delve deeper into the captivating world of indoor performing units, visit www.wgi.org or WGI Zone on YouTube. To discover the dynamic universe of Drum Corps International, explore dci.org. Uncover the spectrum of passion and dedication that fuels these incredible art forms, and perhaps you too will find a color that resonates with your own heart’s passions.
