2024 WGI Discussion Thread

[Rubisco]

I'm just going to post a few, I'm at work and have limited time. I want to eventually do some of the Houston Opens.

I've already talked about Pearland and TWHS A. Congrats to TWHS A on their Houston Regional win! I had my suspicions that might happen. Their show might not be the flashiest one in the world, but you can clearly see the attention given to fundamental training, which is extremely important in A class. Also, congrats to Grand Oaks for making a comeback in finals. Ever so slightly off the podium, but comfortably division one. Both them and Cypress Woods should do well at Dayton.

Over in Dallas, Hebron made a big splash, winning in the A class. I recall they were on the list to attend Dayton last year, but pulled out, maybe in part because of lackluster competition results compared to the prior year. So, winning Dallas is a fantastic development for them, although it makes me wish they were attending Dayton this year. Their show is called If I Only, and is of course inspired by the Scarecrow from The Wizard of Oz. This version of the song is a crooner version with a lush orchestral accompaniment. The yellow brick road curves up and around the stage, fading into the distance. Right next to it is a patch of grass and some haystacks where the performers begin, lying around a scarecrow. I'm actually pretty dazzled by the use of perspective in this set design -- it almost looks like they're actually there at times, particularly when they're on the yellow brick road. (Maybe a little less so when they're in the sky tossing rifles or flags. 😄) This version of the song is a bit slowed down, but draws out the sadder essence of the song. The performers really capitalize on that with wonderful expressive qualities, giving us some smooth, legato movement, before the tempo picks up and gives us something a little more upbeat. I like the variety here, also the attention to character. They're also already quite clean, despite some challenging phrases. Just a lovely show all around.

Coppell's varsity guard in Open class is performing a show called In Fantasia, featuring the song of the same name by Kishi Bashi. It has an ethereal, futuristic sound, with trippy electronics, shifting orchestral chords, and highly evocative lyrics. "In fantasia the mirrors lie to us they plant a seed/one by one we build an empire where devils roam and breed/fading sunsets, to forget them is the mark of death/as we break in through the window of mind and greed." I'm not 100% sure what it's about, perhaps about the toxic influence man has had on nature. In any case, the show is fascinating. The set looks subterranean, like we're in a cave, with a glowing crystal in the center of the stage. The performers move onto the stage with such energy and clear articulation, it really pops upstairs. I love when the song shifts up into the Japanese, and we get that beautiful mixed sabre and flag moment. The interrelationship here between the choreography for the two different pieces of equipment is clear. This is really important in moments of close proximity, for us to see that the two sets of members aren't just doing their own thing, which looks messy and illogical from upstairs. @packwick has described it on Discord as the two needing to have a dialogue, which I like. Generally speaking, I think the staging is a lot clearer than last year's show. The performers are also killing it. The flag feature at the end is expertly done -- gorgeous and dynamic. The orchestral music there is really beautiful as well. The transition to the more quiet ending feels a little abrubt right now and could maybe be a bit smoother. Just a minor complaint. Fantastic job overall. I noticed that Coppell's A guard also did well at Dallas. They could have a real pipeline of talent funnelling into the varsity guard for the next few years.

Marcus' show The Aeroplane is every bit as elegant as you might expect. After prelims, Marcus was hanging with Centerville, the top Open guard in the country, until the judges at Avon decided to bump pretty much all their scores way up. It'll be interesting to see "the truth" when Dayton rolls around. Anyway, when's the last time you've seen a guard build an airplane on the floor? Well, that's what Marcus does this season, gradually as the show progresses. It's an old-timey aeroplane made out of wood. The floor itself appears to be the blueprint, on a sort of beige parchment. The song, fittingly, is Tim Minchin's The Aeroplane -- the duet version with Asmara Feik. "If I had the blueprint or the brain/I would build an aeroplane/with fashion wings of balsa wood and glue/and I would fly to you." So, really, it's a sweetly sentimental little love song. Compared to Coppell, the movement is a tiny bit more fluid and graceful, to match the music. I love this traveling dance canon at the beginning, starting with the partnering and then those staggered temps du fleches. The sabre phrase in the top left corner of the stage near the beginning is so beautifully done, very lyrical with the blending of the movement with the equipment. I love how that follow-the-leader phrase in the pink/purple flags unwinds and pushes out to the edges of the stage during the little piano interlude. Wonderful transition. Actually, it reminds me a bit of some of Marcus' drill in their marching show last season, which was outstanding. Now Tim's voice enters, and it has got more bass than the woman's voice, so Marcus smartly brings out the rifles, which have a bit more visual volume. They also change to green flags. Amazing efforts from the performers. When the plane is complete in the center of the stage, we get that final blue flag feature, like we're up in the sky. Very lovely show.

Flower Mound's World guard is doing something kind of similar. Their show is called Fly. The floor is a gorgeous blue sky with clouds. What appears to be two musical staves intersect at the top left corner of the stage. The performers are in black tights and shorts and sit on black stools on the lines and spaces of the staves, like they're musical notes, or alternately, like blackbirds on wires. The song, after all, is a female cover of The Beatles' song, Blackbird. It's just the woman's voice and the piano -- very smooth jazz, carefree, and upbeat. There's an overall sunny quality to both the song and choreography during this first part. Meanwhile, the staging designer has done a pretty expert job of maintaining our focus throughout. They've done a good job of leading our eyes to various performer moments, even right at the beginning, for example, with that diagonal that leads straight to the sabre block in the top left corner of the stage. The staging and choreography are detailed, but they don't look excessively busy, which is great. Lots of fun level changes with the stools, of course. You know you're in world class when the rifle line does that ripple of 5s with the turn and then catches them at port while seated on the ground. Wow! Now the music slows down, and the performers showcase their more lyrical talents, although only briefly before the music picks back up. Overall, it's a breezy, well-staged, and well-performed world class show. Will it make finals at Dayton this year? I think there's a chance. But I also think it could benefit from more strangeness, if that makes sense. It's that sort of It Factor that makes a show stand out in the grand scheme of things. Like, how can you make this show different enough from the "up in the sky" shows we've seen before, so that we can't stop thinking about it? The dramatic moments in the soundtrack are also a bit more subtle than other shows, so the designers have to work harder to emphasize those moments. Nevertheless, I think there's a chance they sneak in at Dayton. We'll have to see what some of the Florida and California guards look like.

I've already talked about TWHS World. The Light You Cannot See. Just pure poetry, with the show's intellectual and emotional depths expressed entirely visually, no explanation needed. I love the addition of the two-sided white and murky brown unitards, both because it creates the cool visual effect of going into and out of the stage (which isn't an especially novel effect) but also because it seems to indicate that the "light" is intrinsic to the performers. Even the stillness and emptiness of parts of the opening staging bother me less, because they now seem thematic, moving from that depressed state to that magnificent ending where the white flags fill the floor with light. That's gonna be an all-time great emotional moment, buoyed by the incredible depth of the performers' skills and that unbelievably goosebumpy soundtrack. They are doing things that simply no other high school guard can do. It's a huge risk having that many kids do that many skills simultaneously. As we marching fanatics know, it just takes one kid to screw it all up. Anyway, I hope they can polish this beast of a show, can clarify some of the busier staging moments, and can connect some of the phrases a little more smoothly with movement between them. I also think they could add a few more seconds of the very end of that Gregson solo violin divisi piece to give us a fuller denouement. Regardless, I think the overall package is pretty sublime. I don't see them off the medal "podium" this year.

[Sideswiperr]

21 minutes ago, Rubisco said:

I'm just going to post a few, I'm at work and have limited time. I want to eventually do some of the Houston Opens.

I've already talked about Pearland and TWHS A. Congrats to TWHS A on their Houston Regional win! I had my suspicions that might happen. Their show might not be the flashiest one in the world, but you can clearly see the attention given to fundamental training, which is extremely important in A class. Also, congrats to Grand Oaks for making a comeback in finals. Ever so slightly off the podium, but comfortably division one. Both them and Cypress Woods should do well at Dayton.

Over in Dallas, Hebron made a big splash, winning in the A class. I recall they were on the list to attend Dayton last year, but pulled out, maybe in part because of lackluster competition results compared to the prior year. So, winning Dallas is a fantastic development for them, although it makes me wish they were attending Dayton this year. Their show is called If I Only, and is of course inspired by the Scarecrow from The Wizard of Oz. This version of the song is a crooner version with a lush orchestral accompaniment. The yellow brick road curves up and around the stage, fading into the distance. Right next to it is a patch of grass and some haystacks where the performers begin, lying around a scarecrow. I'm actually pretty dazzled by the use of perspective in this set design -- it almost looks like they're actually there at times, particularly when they're on the yellow brick road. (Maybe a little less so when they're in the sky tossing rifles or flags. 😄) This version of the song is a bit slowed down, but draws out the sadder essence of the song. The performers really capitalize on that with wonderful expressive qualities, giving us some smooth, legato movement, before the tempo picks up and gives us something a little more upbeat. I like the variety here, also the attention to character. They're also already quite clean, despite some challenging phrases. Just a lovely show all around.

Coppell's varsity guard in Open class is performing a show called In Fantasia, featuring the song of the same name by Kishi Bashi. It has an ethereal, futuristic sound, with trippy electronics, shifting orchestral chords, and highly evocative lyrics. "In fantasia the mirrors lie to us they plant a seed/one by one we build an empire where devils roam and breed/fading sunsets, to forget them is the mark of death/as we break in through the window of mind and greed." I'm not 100% sure what it's about, perhaps about the toxic influence man has had on nature. In any case, the show is fascinating. The set looks subterranean, like we're in a cave, with a glowing crystal in the center of the stage. The performers move onto the stage with such energy and clear articulation, it really pops upstairs. I love when the song shifts up into the Japanese, and we get that beautiful mixed sabre and flag moment. The interrelationship here between the choreography for the two different pieces of equipment is clear. This is really important in moments of close proximity, for us to see that the two sets of members aren't just doing their own thing, which looks messy and illogical from upstairs. @packwick has described it on Discord as the two needing to have a dialogue, which I like. Generally speaking, I think the staging is a lot clearer than last year's show. The performers are also killing it. The flag feature at the end is expertly done -- gorgeous and dynamic. The orchestral music there is really beautiful as well. The transition to the more quiet ending feels a little abrubt right now and could maybe be a bit smoother. Just a minor complaint. Fantastic job overall. I noticed that Coppell's A guard also did well at Dallas. They could have a real pipeline of talent funnelling into the varsity guard for the next few years.

Marcus' show The Aeroplane is every bit as elegant as you might expect. After prelims, Marcus was hanging with Centerville, the top Open guard in the country, until the judges at Avon decided to bump pretty much all their scores way up. It'll be interesting to see "the truth" when Dayton rolls around. Anyway, when's the last time you've seen a guard build an airplane on the floor? Well, that's what Marcus does this season, gradually as the show progresses. It's an old-timey aeroplane made out of wood. The floor itself appears to be the blueprint, on a sort of beige parchment. The song, fittingly, is Tim Minchin's The Aeroplane -- the duet version with Asmara Feik. "If I had the blueprint or the brain/I would build an aeroplane/with fashion wings of balsa wood and glue/and I would fly to you." So, really, it's a sweetly sentimental little love song. Compared to Coppell, the movement is a tiny bit more fluid and graceful, to match the music. I love this traveling dance canon at the beginning, starting with the partnering and then those staggered temps du fleches. The sabre phrase in the top left corner of the stage near the beginning is so beautifully done, very lyrical with the blending of the movement with the equipment. I love how that follow-the-leader phrase in the pink/purple flags unwinds and pushes out to the edges of the stage during the little piano interlude. Wonderful transition. Actually, it reminds me a bit of some of Marcus' drill in their marching show last season, which was outstanding. Now Tim's voice enters, and it has got more bass than the woman's voice, so Marcus smartly brings out the rifles, which have a bit more visual volume. They also change to green flags. Amazing efforts from the performers. When the plane is complete in the center of the stage, we get that final blue flag feature, like we're up in the sky. Very lovely show.

Flower Mound's World guard is doing something kind of similar. Their show is called Fly. The floor is a gorgeous blue sky with clouds. What appears to be two musical staves intersect at the top left corner of the stage. The performers are in black tights and shorts and sit on black stools on the lines and spaces of the staves, like they're musical notes, or alternately, like blackbirds on wires. The song, after all, is a female cover of The Beatles' song, Blackbird. It's just the woman's voice and the piano -- very smooth jazz, carefree, and upbeat. There's an overall sunny quality to both the song and choreography during this first part. Meanwhile, the staging designer has done a pretty expert job of maintaining our focus throughout. They've done a good job of leading our eyes to various performer moments, even right at the beginning, for example, with that diagonal that leads straight to the sabre block in the top left corner of the stage. The staging and choreography are detailed, but they don't look excessively busy, which is great. Lots of fun level changes with the stools, of course. You know you're in world class when the rifle line does that ripple of 5s with the turn and then catches them at port while seated on the ground. Wow! Now the music slows down, and the performers showcase their more lyrical talents, although only briefly before the music picks back up. Overall, it's a breezy, well-staged, and well-performed world class show. Will it make finals at Dayton this year? I think there's a chance. But I also think it could benefit from more strangeness, if that makes sense. It's that sort of It Factor that makes a show stand out in the grand scheme of things. Like, how can you make this show different enough from the "up in the sky" shows we've seen before, so that we can't stop thinking about it? The dramatic moments in the soundtrack are also a bit more subtle than other shows, so the designers have to work harder to emphasize those moments. Nevertheless, I think there's a chance they sneak in at Dayton. We'll have to see what some of the Florida and California guards look like.

I've already talked about TWHS World. The Light You Cannot See. Just pure poetry, with the show's intellectual and emotional depths expressed entirely visually, no explanation needed. I love the addition of the two-sided white and murky brown unitards, both because it creates the cool visual effect of going into and out of the stage (which isn't an especially novel effect) but also because it seems to indicate that the "light" is intrinsic to the performers. Even the stillness and emptiness of parts of the opening staging bother me less, because they now seem thematic, moving from that depressed state to that magnificent ending where the white flags fill the floor with light. That's gonna be an all-time great emotional moment, buoyed by the incredible depth of the performers' skills and that unbelievably goosebumpy soundtrack. They are doing things that simply no other high school guard can do. It's a huge risk having that many kids do that many skills simultaneously. As we marching fanatics know, it just takes one kid to screw it all up. Anyway, I hope they can polish this beast of a show, can clarify some of the busier staging moments, and can connect some of the phrases a little more smoothly with movement between them. I also think they could add a few more seconds of the very end of that Gregson solo violin divisi piece to give us a fuller denouement. Regardless, I think the overall package is pretty sublime. I don't see them off the medal "podium" this year.

You’re insight is always appreciated, I really enjoy reading this as it gives me insight on what others are thinking and things I haven’t caught.

[Rubisco]

There are videos of guards we haven't seen compete at WGI yet popping up on YouTube. Falling down a bit of YouTube hole.

Here's Invictus. A Creep show called I Don't Belong Here.

https://youtu.be/GWDsv1WtgWQ?si=YR3Ax2LuhQD_Mt_e

Here's Palm Desert High School (not middle school) performing Discov(RED). I recognize the music as Ezio Bosso. The cloud one that Onyx did in 2015.

https://youtu.be/j7k7cgrFK0c?si=JwckdUm9IKxCYgx5

[packwick]

cywoods not on scholastic A standings list. withdrawn from Dayton? they're still listed in the current entries.

if so, booo!

[Tubalord11]

Just saw the Austin Regional is the 2nd-3rd, which is my first weekend of spring break 🥳

Better more, I'll be home alone for this weekend, so I'll be able to watch on the big screen, yay! Will most likely cover all the groups again like last weekend, super excited to see some more amazing guards!

[packwick]

AMP is pretty meh this yr. normally not as into them as the general audience but even the crowd rxn seemed pretty tepid compared to usual. also think Avon did the witch show WAY better back in 2008.

[packwick]

blah. and fusion's soundtrack is much too desultory. sounds like a failed experiment. IW looking pretty meh to me this season. we need reliable ol' POC. at least SW is strong i guess.

[J-Mike16]

I don't think Tarpon Springs MS Guard is competing in WGI but I think they absolutely should. I have been obsessed with them so far this season. They are currently ranked 2nd/28 in Scholastic AA, just weeks after promoting from Scholastic AAA. I can't believe I'm saying this, but they are rivaling Palm Desert Charter MS for best MS Guard. Their rifles are out of this world good. 

 

[LKendrick]

Was super impressed with Arlington and Billerica Memorial on Flo today.  Billerica is always super simple but beautifully clear and pretty.  Really liked the Lizzie Borden show from Arlington as well.  Both should do really well down the road in Dayton.  Have some thoughts on AMP and need to see Fusion develop.  But strong scores today.  
 

Crazy that Noblesville started the season in Scholastic A.  3 points up on the field in Chicago prelims in Scholastic Open with an 82+.  Their show is beautifully nuanced and crafted.   Going to be stunning down the road.  

[packwick]

the top 4 As from WGI Houston were fab again tonight at Pearland, as was twhs world. twhs world had a new, longer ending. very interested to see if they get their typical big Austin score bump next week. pretty much everyone in SW needs one to catch up to Avon, who's projected to get around a 90 next week.

[Rubisco]

I liked Fusion well enough, but I'm not really sure what the point of the show is. It seemed a bit cerebral. I would have liked to have connected to it more emotionally. The performers were great, for sure, and there are some very cool moments in the staging.

[Bad.robot]

On 2/22/2024 at 1:52 AM, packwick said:

cywoods not on scholastic A standings list. withdrawn from Dayton? they're still listed in the current entries.

if so, booo!

Cy Woods parent here. As far as I know, we were never scheduled to go to Dayton this year. We have a brand new director. 

[packwick]

3 hours ago, Bad.robot said:

Cy Woods parent here. As far as I know, we were never scheduled to go to Dayton this year. We have a brand new director. 

maybe he was thinking about taking them but decided not to. they're still on the current entries list!!!

[gregorydf01]

On 2/21/2024 at 12:49 PM, Rubisco said:

There are videos of guards we haven't seen compete at WGI yet popping up on YouTube. Falling down a bit of YouTube hole.

Here's Invictus. A Creep show called I Don't Belong Here.

https://youtu.be/GWDsv1WtgWQ?si=YR3Ax2LuhQD_Mt_e

Here's Palm Desert High School (not middle school) performing Discov(RED). I recognize the music as Ezio Bosso. The cloud one that Onyx did in 2015.

https://youtu.be/j7k7cgrFK0c?si=JwckdUm9IKxCYgx5

Watch for the long bomb Rifle tosses near the end of the Invictus Show.  Wow!   Just insane and so much fun!

[LeanderMomma]

On 2/24/2024 at 11:46 PM, J-Mike16 said:

I don't think Tarpon Springs MS Guard is competing in WGI but I think they absolutely should. I have been obsessed with them so far this season. They are currently ranked 2nd/28 in Scholastic AA, just weeks after promoting from Scholastic AAA. I can't believe I'm saying this, but they are rivaling Palm Desert Charter MS for best MS Guard. Their rifles are out of this world good. 

 

They are definitely very good but they are not really even close to the level of PDCMS. I like the show a lot and they are definitely a talented young group, but they are lacking the skills, sophistication and maturity level that Palm Desert currently just oozes with. Those PDCMS kids are truly brilliant!

[LeanderMomma]

22 hours ago, gregorydf01 said:

Watch for the long bomb Rifle tosses near the end of the Invictus Show.  Wow!   Just insane and so much fun!

Can’t wait to see them this weekend live!

[J-Mike16]

18 minutes ago, LeanderMomma said:

They are definitely very good but they are not really even close to the level of PDCMS. I like the show a lot and they are definitely a talented young group, but they are lacking the skills, sophistication and maturity level that Palm Desert currently just oozes with. Those PDCMS kids are truly brilliant!

I mean you right lol. I'm just impressed that again its another middle school dominating the divisions down there in Florida.

[Rubisco]

Another big weekend for WGI! We'll get to see both the Austin and SoCal regionals on Flo. I can't wait to see what some of those California guards are bringing this year. I loved Arcadia's show last year. I'm wondering if they'll kick it up a notch again and stay top 5 at Dayton, or if Fishers will take their spot.

I wish we were getting the Orlando regional on Flo. I'd like to see how Tarpon has developed. It'll be interesting to see how they and TWHS score in SW this weekend, as the distance between their scores and 90 may tell us by how much Avon will beat them at Dayton. 😂 Of course, I'm hoping for a little bit more competition at the top!

[Tubalord11]

40 minutes ago, Rubisco said:

Another big weekend for WGI! We'll get to see both the Austin and SoCal regionals on Flo. I can't wait to see what some of those California guards are bringing this year. I loved Arcadia's show last year. I'm wondering if they'll kick it up a notch again and stay top 5 at Dayton, or if Fishers will take their spot.

I wish we were getting the Orlando regional on Flo. I'd like to see how Tarpon has developed. It'll be interesting to see how they and TWHS score in SW this weekend, as the distance between their scores and 90 may tell us by how much Avon will beat them at Dayton. 😂 Of course, I'm hoping for a little bit more competition at the top!

I'm really excited for Austin! I'll definitely try to catch some of SoCal finals, but Saturday will be all Austin. And I was thinking the same thing earlier today about Orland, I was really hoping to see Tarpon before Dayton, hopefully a video if put on YouTube or something, either way super pumped for the weekend! 

[Tubalord11]

Good luck to all the guards tomorrow! I’ve seen clips of TW’s, but I like to have my first view live, so I’m soooo excited for them, gonna be a great weekend of WGI! 

[Tubalord11]

Good morning, everyone! We are here live on Flomarching for the WGI Austin regional. It's gonna be a great day of guard and I'm super excited to see some shows for the first time, as well as some familiar faces. There is a BIG Baylor Basketball game at noon, so I will be multi-tasking during that, but I still plan to cover all the groups during that time. Good luck again to all the guards as we will begin shortly! 

[Tubalord11]

Weiss-A wash of color: Great start to today! Really nice bodywork to open up the show. Really love the different colors throughout the show. I do wish and think, that the show could have been a tad bit harder. It was a very slow show, and the weapon work followed, with very little to get from the show. The flag work was very colorful, and the soloist killed it. The team is super talented and could definitely handle a harder show, but it was still very enjoyable, great job Weiss! 

Hebron JV- good life: Love the dance work to open up the show. These orange uniforms look so good against the green, black and white tarp as we move into some real impressive flag work. Super talented rifle soloist in the middle of the beautiful flag movement, amazing slag trio after the rife moment as we close out with some more big flag work. These girls aren't far behind the varsity group, super talented. Do wish there was some more tosses all around, but still an amazing job Hebron JV! 

Clements- harmony in haring: Great opening dance work between our saber and flag duet as we move into some big saber work with flags in the background. Love the city-line tarp, adds a lot of color to the show. My goodness they are really good. A very high demanding show they are absolutely nailing. Love the mixed weapon work in the middle as we move into a big group flag moment that's sooo in time. Soloist were great, amazing design, just wow Clements, really hope we get to see them again tomorrow! 

[Tubalord11]

Cypress Woods: WOW!!! I see why they've been having such an incredible season because that was CLEAN. Love the opening bodywork with our saber soloist. They do such a great job of showing off their small groups with having the other members posing on the props, really effective. Big flag moment at the end was so in time, soloists were amazing, I mean wow, they are gonna do very well this weekend, can't wait to see that again tomorrow. Just such a well-designed show being executed at such a high level. This group is gonna be going big places these upcoming seasons, amazing job Cy-Woods! 

Azle- bridge: Thanks for making the trip down Azle! Loved this show at Dallas, and I do even more. Great saber soloist to start us off as they move into some really difficult flag work. Love the white uniforms against the blue flags. The rifle moments are just wow, amazing big flag moment in the end with our incredible rifle soloist showing off throughout as she crosses the bridge to finish the show. Another super talented group, wonderful job Azle, so clean! 

Cedar Park- The ever-expanding void and all its beauty: The opening dance work with the girls running in a circle around the void adds some really nice GE as we move into an opening saber/flag moment. Great coronation throughout the show, and I really like the brighter blue flags against the black uniforms. Soloists were great all around, and the staging really adds a lot of depth to the show with the different circle formations. So much to enjoy from this show, and that ending is just wow. Another very clean performance, amazing job Cedar Park! 

[Tubalord11]

Georgetown-drawing: For such a small group they are really good! Loved the usage of the pencil prop, adds some nice GE. Great solo moments throughout. Some incredible flag work, and I love the different flag colors, and tons of variety in weapon work, great job Georgetown! 

Round Rock: SO ENTERTAING!! Love the opening moment with some amazing dance work with some flags in the back. Great use of the big stage prop to help show off their incredible soloist. Love how the transition into the rifle work, which was very demanding and they nailed it. The narration helps add so much to the story, and they emotion from each performer helps elevate the show to the next level. SO much GE, and just a great group of performers, amazing job rock guard! 

Lockhart: WOW WOW WOW! Missed the name of the show, but they were SOOO good! The uniforms were great, adding a nice some individuality to the performers. The story is really easy to follow, and the show is so demanding, with so much exposure, but they make it look so easy. Another first-time viewing that has blown me away, really hope and think we will be seeing them again, incredible job Lockhart! 

Vista Ridge- Oh the things you will find if you don't stay behind: It's a Lorax show!! Lovley opening dance moment as the members slowly break away from the big circle. Love the usage of the big tree props, and the color plate is very nice. Great rifle work as things gets kicked off. The theme is a bit hard to follow, but they execution is definitely there. Really great flag work with tons of colors, though the bright neon green against the green uniforms was a bit distracting at times, think they could use better colors for the flags at times that don't take away from the performance, but an amazing job by the ranger guard! 

[Tubalord11]

Cedar Ridge JV-stone cold: Great dance work with our flag soloist as the flag members enclose the rest of the dancers. Great staging of the rifles in the middle of the split flag work that's still going on, love the bright purple against the black tarp as we move into a big gold flag moment. Soloist were amazing, and I love the constant freezing of some of the members to represent the being taken over with stone by Medusa. Just a great all-around show with so much talent, amazing job CR! 

McNeil- hold on tight: WOW! Such a cool show! Loved that opening with the super expressive bodywork surrounded with plenty of solo moments. So much depth to the show, and the performers really elevate the theme throughout. Tons of difficult weapon work that they make look so easy. Just a really magical performance, super clean and one I hope we get to see again, great job McNeil. 

 

I'll be taking a temporary break but will be back for Joshua