Football games are the highlights of Friday nights for students. The beaming stadium lights, the action on the field, and of course, the halftime show. Cheer, the dance team, and the band take the stage to entertain the crowd. However, there is another group of performers that have the opportunity to shine on the field, and that group is our DHS Color Guard.
Color Guard contains many components with that of flags and silks, drills, complex choreography and various costumes. Despite the intense nature of this activity, there are many elements that are enjoyed by those who are involved. “My favorite thing about Color Guard would have to be experimenting with the different kinds of equipment we use and the people that I get to meet,” sophomore Olivia Hamer said.
The people watching the football games and competitions may see the beautifully effortless final product of the performances, but the day-to-day grind of Color Guard is hidden behind closed doors. One vital part of composing the performance is delightful to senior Madelyn Christopher.
“When we go back, we take videos of all the work we’ve done and everything, and I really like it,” Christopher said. “It’s so cool watching it all piece together and seeing the silks or the actual flag portion of it fly in the air and spin all over the place.”
Although Color Guard is an activity that can be pleasing and entertaining for viewers, it is not always a walk in the park for the performers.
“A lot of it is when you start doing Color Guard, you have no idea what you’re doing because a lot of people join and they don’t even know how to pick up a flag,” Hamer said. “I find that challenging because that was me when I started.”
Hamer may have felt like she was struggling in the beginning, but she is certainly thriving along with Christopher. Being involved in DHS Color Guard is not an easy task, as it takes swift precision and clear motions to make the routine appear effortless.
“Sometimes, the weather becomes your biggest enemy,” Christopher said. “When it’s raining outside, the pole gets slippery and it flies out of your hand…mother nature is my biggest enemy.”
Despite the potential difficulty of the weather and confusion about tactics, Color Guard is also an activity that involves collaboration between teammates and attention to detail. Hamer takes notice of this aspect of Color Guard and uses it to apply constructive criticism that she has received to her practices and performances.
“They [other members of DHS Color Guard] really impacted me because they always tell me that either some of the stuff doesn’t look as good as the other stuff and they give that really useful feedback,” Hamer said.
Cooperation between members of DHS Color Guard is relevant in terms of learning from others and simply conversing with one another. Christopher is aware of the vast spectrum of working as a team and how she sees it as enjoyment.
“It impacts you from literally just trying to move around onto the field to conversations outside of everything,” Christopher said. “Of course if you have good people surrounding you, it makes it that much better.”
With any activity involving dynamic choreography, large props, and potentially restricting conditions, hardships are inevitable. However, Hamer and Christopher have proven that these tribulations can be overcome through determination, team work, and repetition. DHS Color Guard is more than just the performers with the band; they are a force to be reckoned with.
