Jane D'oh

You're right. I predict more bands across the country will follow Avon's lead and start going to San Antonio in future years, and it will soon be perceived as the de facto Nationals if BOA isn't careful.

I agree that using a dance team to expand the guard/supplement the show seems very smart. Ronald Reagan has about 40 guard and 40 dancers, which creates just an enormous presence on the field and is very effective. But they do have a guard, which uses equipment and does it very well. Vandegrift has a dance team ONLY, which barely uses any equipment. Are there others like that? What's the incentive for groups to go for the difficult equipment work if dance alone will suffice for very high visual scores? The Austin band you're thinking of with a dance team is in fact Vandegrift, btw. They're called the Vision Dance Company or something like that.

Question from a noob: I loved Vandegrift's show, and I think their dance team does a fantastic job. But how can they be judged on the same standard as groups like Avon and Bowie, whose guards spin and toss every kind of equipment like maniacs and with incredible skill? Vandy just does some swing flag, and I don't remember seeing them toss anything.