Southaven Color Guard/Winter Guard
Color Guard Membership
Auditions for the marching band are held each spring and are open to all female band members in good standing and to female non-band members that are approved by Mr. Hisaw and/or Mr. Sanders. Everyone interested in being in the color guard is required to audition. For the 2008-09 season we are offering the audition opportunity to students in the eighth through twelfth grades. Students that have never auditioned have the same opportunity as do students that have been in the ensemble before. Because of how the activity continues to advance, it’s important to start everyone at the basics and build from there each year.
Physical Fitness
Due to performance demands of the Southaven Band, a physical fitness test will be required. To be awarded a position in the guard each student will have to pass the test before the end of the school year in which they audition. This is not based on the body mass index but on the ability to perform fitness skills in a given time frame. Each student has the option to run a mile in 10 minutes or do 30 push-ups and 30 sit-ups in less than five minutes. The test must be passed before the end of the school year the auditions are held in.
Educational Philosophy
The educational premise of the color guard is to develop the student’s movement and equipment skills. Focus will be given to performance methods and techniques as well as a broad range of movement, dance and equipment skills. For the 2008 marching season all students will be required to perform flag and movement/dance skills. Positions will also be offered for principle dancers and rifles. Based on the skill level of the audition class secondary positions could be offered as well.
Rehearsal and Performance Attire
The following dress code will apply for all rehearsals:
| Form fitting black shorts and black tank top. No graphics, silkscreen or embroidery will be allowed. |
| Hair is to be pulled back away from the face and secured up. |
| No jewelry of any kind is allowed during rehearsal. |
| Good running shoes are required for all outdoor rehearsals. |
| Undergarments for runners or sports are the best choice for rehearsal. Support is a must for the level of physical test the students go through. |
In performance, uniformity is a must.
| Those students that wear eyeglasses should have contacts, if at all possible. Flag fabric can get caught around the glasses resulting in injury to the student and damage to the eyeglasses and guard equipment. Also, the lenses are light catchers and reflect stadium lights. This calls undesired attention to the individual and can hinder the peripheral vision of the other students when performing unison efforts. If contacts are not an option…frameless glasses are certainly safer and less obtrusive than rimmed styles. |
| Mrs. Jenkins will speak to the students about undergarments in costume. Each individual body style will be taken into consideration and appropriate undergarments will be required. While this often is not a choice the student/parent/guardian would make personally it’s what is appropriate for dance, theatre and pageantry. The choice will also allow the student to be uniform with the ensemble and be most comfortable in the performance arena. |
Rehearsals:
The Southaven Color Guard is an extra-curricular ensemble that rehearses with the marching band after school on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 4:00 – 6:00 during the fall marching season. Performances and competitions are listed on the Fall Calendar found in this handbook.
The Southaven Winter Guards consist of both an "Open Class" guard and an "A Class" guard. Placement within these two ensembles will be determined through an audition process held in January. These groups will rehearse on Mondays and Thursdays at the conclusion of the January audition process.
"A Class" Guard rehearsals will be held from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm. "Open Class" Guard rehearsals will be held from 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm. Mississippi Indoor Competitions are held on weekends beginning in the middle of February until MIA Championships the last weekend of March. The SHS Winter Guard competition schedule will be released when the MIA schedule is released.
Additional costs for winter guard participation outside of
the normal band account may include:
|
Uniform: Estimate $150.00 ("Open Class" only. "A Class" will use the fall uniform) |
|
Choreography: Estimate $50.00 |
|
Travel: Estimate $50.00 |
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Weapons (if needed): Estimate Rifle: $35.00 Saber: $200.00 |