Judge's Notes: Three Color Guard Elements

Guard choreography has been taught, drill spots have been learned, contest season is about to begin (or already has), so now what?

 

As the guard hits this point in the season where you transition from teaching choreography and drill to starting performances at contest, it may feel all that is left to do is clean, clean, clean. Cleaning and clarification of routine is always important and a must for readability for the audience and judges. But here are a few other areas of
importance as well:

*TRANSITIONS--Examine your transitions from one piece of equipment to another. Are they seamless or are they a distraction? Equipment transitions should be one of two things: invisible or spectacular. An invisible transition would be something no one
notices; a new piece of equipment just seems to appear effortlessly as the music changes. Or, if you can’t hide the transition, make it something interesting to watch. It should be written in a very creative way to enhance the production. Also, transitions are
not a time to drop performance qualities. It is important to make sure your performers remain in character through a transition.

 

*MUSICALITY--Is the guard the VISUAL MUSIC of the show? The audience should SEE the music on the field through the guard performance. If the music is fast and aggressive, the work should also be swift and powerful. If the music is slow and lyrical,
the work should be breathy and flowing. Large impact moments in the music must be reflected in the guard routine. Assess this from the press box to get a full ensemble viewpoint.

*TECHNIQUE--And finally, now that contests have started, it is not the time to quit doing technique blocks (I really feel there is never a time you should stop doing technique block!). Set aside 10-30 minutes of every rehearsal to address proper technique.
Continuing to do basic fundamentals will make your guard stronger, build endurance, and help the group look more confident on field. Proper technique will also help members manage the seasonal elements that guards battle in the fall—wind, sun, rain, etc.

 

In my years of working as a guard director, I have seen transitions, musicality, and understanding of technique commented on by judges often. Addressing these points will help your guard deliver their best possible performance.