Schools
Butterflies and A Little Hendrix: All Part of a Panther Band Winterguard Season
Performances were action packed and visually stunning.
Before the marching season ended in November of 2011, more than a third of the band auditioned and started practice for their Winterguard season. The first competition was February 11, 2012. In a short seven week period, they performed twelve times, even with the grand New York trip and their own hosted Winterguard show wedged in the middle.
During marching season, the members of the Panther Band perform in standard marching uniforms and adhere to a strict format when performing on the street. When Winterguard season arrives, it gives the students (drumline and Color Guard) a chance to enjoy the freedom and angst of indoor competition.
They create or select their own music and themed choreography. They are judged on visual and musical elements, and are timed as they set-up, perform and retreat, all within 10 minutes. The routines were adjusted after each competition, so one would never see the same show twice. There was much to admire in such a dynamic process, where the students quickly adapted when several minutes of a routine were slashed or changed. The practices often lasted past 9 p.m. several nights a week during the fall and winter.
Find out what's happening in Beniciawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The indoor show for the drumline was called “The Butterfly Effect.” A typical drumline is awash with percussion and swift movement, theatrical expressions and precision. Every element, including the floor and the costumes, spoke to the theme of how small movements can affect change elsewhere in the world. Each note and gesture had been practiced hundreds of times. No matter how small or infrequent the item, it mattered; taking its rightful place alongside the major or showier beats. Simple formations, like two lines moving through each other like the teeth of a comb and narrowly missing fellow members, took on more meaning. Even the 500 lb. vinyl floor was folded up like a ship’s sail as it made its way out of the gym like a centipede, picking up volunteers and parents who scrambled under it to ease it out the door.
The drumline started their work on this routine in August ‘11 and by the last show on March 31st, it became a trusted friend. The rain appeared often during outdoor warm-ups. Groups huddled in doorways or under stairs to practice in the cold for several hours. Some alcoves became echo chambers, amplifying the snare or bass drum beats which could wear on even the most patient listener. This just shows how much they love their craft. Each snippet was done over and over, where six different hands sound like one, no matter how numb or painful the conditions. At Championships (seen here), they finished in Fourth place, with less than half a point separating Fourth, Third and Second place from each other. The Panthers gave a standing ovation to the Champions, Rodriguez High School.
Find out what's happening in Beniciawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
These shows bring out the best in the adults too, because in the bleachers, one sits shoulder to shoulder with families from other schools. The borders drop as the adults come together to appreciate each performer.
The parking lot practice areas were a pleasure to browse. At any given moment, there were cavemen in fur stoles; Christmas trees on wheels or elaborate rolling billboards with pulley systems to help reach 12 feet in the air. The BHS drumline opted for one prop only: their floor, much to the relief of the performers and the parents.
The Color Guard is separate from drumline but also performs under the Winterguard title. Their spritely routine (seen here), was a standout being played to the Jimi Hendrix-like psychedelic instrumental Buster Voodoo. Despite being a small team of eight, tiny in comparison to other schools, they filled the floor with their electrically charged visuals because they just never stopped moving. The uplifting theme, simple costumes and breathtaking feats required ‘don’t-blink-or-you’ll-miss-it’ views from the audience, as rifles, flags and sabers had to be caught at precise moments. Often, the tosses and catches happened within seconds of each other, resembling a carefully synchronized waterfall across the floor. There was so much pressure on each performer to catch everything so as not to ruin the crucial flow and run.
Of their 5 competitions, they took Second place on their first one, and achieved First place finishes for the entire remainder of the season. At Championships, they were a full 2.5 points higher than their Second place peers, in a competition where one can win or lose by a hundredth of a point.
The added bonus for both teams was performing in front of the home crowd at Benicia High School’s Winter Review on March 23rd, where just 12 hours later, the drumline packed up and drove to Union City for another 12 hour day. Said senior Lei An Ilan, “I had one of my best drumline shows tonight. I love the Benicia home show.”
For many, this ended a full seven year run in Winterguard, which started in the middle school band program. “I've worked seven years for this very day...I don't know when it's gonna hit me...but let's just do our thing and end strong,” posted senior Jeremy Padrones on Facebook.
“Sometimes, it feels good to have the butterflies within...last night (the home show at BHS) was ….awesome. May we flap our wings tomorrow, and cause a tornado at Champs, baby!” wrote senior Matt Johnson.
It is so common for the Panthers to be involved in other pursuits. At the Stockton competition, six of the students performed all day and then were driven 65 miles back to BHS to make the 7 p.m. curtain call for the Dance Show. These kids are like Las Vegas….they are the band which never sleeps.
