Let it Snow, Let it Show
On Jan. 29, BVH Winterguard performs their first showcase of the season
On Jan. 29, BVH Winterguard prepares for their first showcase of the season since 2020. The purpose of this showcase was introduce what the Winterguard team has learned so far during this semester.
February 14, 2022
Music from a recorded track bounces off the walls as flags and rifles fly through the air. Students coordinated in their designated positions, fidgeting through their nervousness but overall e ready to perform. On Saturday Jan. 29, Bonita Vista High’s (BVH) Winterguard performed their first showcase in Riverside at Ramona High, hosted by the Westcoast Winterguard circuit.
“It was not a competition, we were performing in front of judges but they were not judging us. They were just giving us notes on how to improve the [showcase] in the future,” Winterguard captain and senior Abby Withrow said. “We did two runs so they [the judges] could see what was a fluke if we messed up and what was like ‘oh they actually need to work on this’ cause you know, first show jitters.”
According to Winterguard Director Gisselle Cardenas, the purpose of this showcase is to introduce what the performers have learned in front of an audience and adjudicators. The teams received feedback that they can use for future showcases.
“I find that watching their [other schools’] shows makes me think ‘I really like how this performer did this’ or ‘I really like this toss’ or ‘I really want to learn how to do that, maybe I could ask the coaches if I could do this as a solo,’” Withrow said. “So you can use other people to inspire you to do better instead of [thinking] ‘oh my gosh they’re so good I hate them for that, no one can be better than me.’” It [Winterguard] is a whole different menu, it is a whole different style and it allows us to focus more on what is happening with the [Winterguard]. — Band Director Mark McCann
As with many things, COVID-19 has affected Winterguard and forced the members to make accommodations. This has affected many aspects of the showcase including a smaller sized audience. In addition, student absences due to COVID-19 have slowed down the process of the preparations.
“We have some students that have never done this before, being that they’re new or sophomores,” Cardenas said. “For our returning students, they lost a year of training because they were not able to be here [during distance learning], so it felt like a culture shock [to them] in a way.”
Adjustments had to be made, such as rearranging props and chairs for a student that was unable to attend this showcase. Even though only a single student was missing, the whole team had to adjust to this change.
“[The performance] is definitely being altered. As far as the judge’s perspective, I think that they are aware that we are in crazy times [due to] COVID-19, so when they see someone missing in our performance they don’t judge it anymore, they are just like ‘okay we understand,’” Cardenas said.
Additionally, Band Director Mark McCann explains that BVH’s Winterguard hasn’t been able to perform since their last season in 2020 that was cut “incredibly” short due to school closures. Therefore, this showcase was exceptionally special to the members of Winterguard. Even though performing may be different due to COVID-19 protocols with weekly testing and mask protocols, Winterguard was able to overcome these challenges.
“It is kind of a continuation of what Colorguard did in the first semester,” McCann said. “[Band] plays live music and the Colorguard performs along with that music; whereas, [Winterguard] are their own individual independent unit where they perform by themselves without the other instrumentalist.”
McCann witnesses Winterguard’s rehearsals daily during their fifth period class and on Tuesdays and Thursdays after school every week. During these rehearsals they learn how to spin a rifle, flag, saber, dance and are also taught choreography and spacing.
“It [Winterguard] is a whole different menu, it is a whole different style and it allows us to focus more on what is happening with the [Winterguard]. [This] presents a better challenge for them which also presents a more artistic design specifically [for Winterguard] because it completely utilizes them,” McCann said.
In Winterguard, students are given more creative freedom on how they choose to perform through music, props and choreography. However, Colorguard is limited to the music available from the band and choreography that goes with it.
“There is [no] thinking about ‘oh where is the band going to be’, ‘what is the band doing’ and ‘how is this working together.’ This is [a] really cool way to approach it, it is their opportunity to artistically do everything for [Winterguard] and make the show about the skill set that is required,” McCann said.
Facial expressions are also a big part in performing. Many members have had to adapt and learn how to not just perform with the lower part of their faces, but also the upper part due to COVID-19 mask protocols.
“I like to say that any emotions you feel, you need to use them to your advantage and not let them work against you. So if I am feeling really sad or angry, I want to put that into my work so I am not letting it carry me down,” Withrow said.
Withrow and her team have been able to overcome some of the nerves that appear when performing. Although it has been about 2 years since winterguard’s last showcase, the team was able to work together and successfully perform at their latest showcase.
“Coming to [BVH] has been really awesome [because I get] to see the dynamic that these kids [in Winterguard] have and their work ethic. It has been really great because it reminds me of why I do what I do,” Cardenas said.
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