WinterguardAfter their first season of hard-earned success, the York Suburban Indoor Colorguard Unit returns for a second year to participate in Keystone Indoor Drill Association (KIDA) competitions.
Manned by Brett Spahr and assisted by Felicia Rodriguez, this year’s team consists of twelve members, a number which has already doubled since their previous year.
Where did the inspiration come from to start such a successful program?
“We found trophies from when Suburban had a team in the 90’s,” said Rodriguez. “And we were like, if they had an indoor team then, why can’t we have one now?”
And thus, the indoor colorguard was born.
The mechanics of each show’s design may seem like a lot of work, but it all pays off. Mostly self-funded, the group purchases their own equipment, floor, and anything else they may need for their show.
The show itself starts with the music. For the division the guard currently resides in, the entire show must be at least three minutes long.
After that come the ideas for a specific theme or interpretation, and once that is decided, everything follows. While both instructors typically collaborate on costume and flag choices, Rodriguez comes up with most of the ideas for hair and makeup that will match the show.
All that’s left is the actual routine the girls will perform.
“There is a hamster in [Brett’s] head,” says senior Laura Blouse, one of two captains that help lead the group. Brett creates all of the routine and visuals that effectively portray the meaning of the show.
The girls spend a few weeks learning their show, and then they work to perfect it. Six hours each week and sometimes more go into dancing, spinning flags and rifles, and ultimately giving the show what it needs to convince the audience of their talent.
Did the team believe they were going to do so well in their first year?
“No,” says Spahr exasperatedly. “We were the underdogs; we expected to lose for sure.” But the team competed in five shows and came out on top every time.
As for this year, the team feels their season is progressing even more than the previous one. “We’re getting a lot more done this year,” says Rodriguez. “There is a serious dedication from the girls who are committed to this.”
Advice to anyone interested: Get yourself in shape for it, both physically and mentally. Rodriguez also says to watch some of the videos of other guards online, to get a handle on what she calls “the basics.” After that, you just have to ask for a flag and try it out.