by Bethany Ellis
Color Guard is known as the sport of the arts. It involves dancing and performing with flags, faux rifles, sabres, and swing flags in a marching band presentation. Most high schools, colleges, and even some middle schools, have color guard groups.
Color Guard is a visual aspect of a marching band ensemble. The color guard is one way the band tells the story of their show. Many factors come into play when it comes to telling a story from the color guard’s point of view.
Choreography is used to contribute to the narrative; for example, every move, toss, and catch of any piece of equipment is a part of the contribution to the story, and how it should be told.
Uniforms and props show the theme of the show. This year, the OBU Bison Brigade Marching Band is performing a show called Road to Bison Hill, and the color guard costumes are black and white jumpsuits that represent an actual and symbolic road. Additionally, there are numerous flag silks that represent each movement of the show. Another important factor is the emotional representation throughout the show, as guard members show emotions to illustrate the narrative and musical progression; it is all a part of the story.
Not only does a color guard play a huge role in a marching band’s visual performance, but they also enhance school and community spirit. Most schools have their marching band perform pregame at football games, and that is just the case here at OBU.
The Bison Brigade performs “Oklahoma,” the National Anthem, the OBU Alma Mater, and the OBU Fight Song. The band members play each song and represent the university; therefore, this is the same for every color guard member.
All members of the Bison Brigade Marching Band, including color guard, wear OBU colors and gear with the bison logo on it to represent the sense of community and fellowship.
When the marching band “season” comes to an end, the color guard does not stop there. Some guards also participate in something called winter guard. Winter guard is indoors, and the guard performs on a tarp in a gymnasium, just without the marching band.
Winter guard offers the performers more opportunities to tell the story of the guard; this year marks the first winter performance in 2023, and they performed a show called Growing Pains.
At the beginning of the show, groups of performers re-enacted childhood games, and one performer danced around with a teddy bear. This portion of the show represented the joys of childhood. As the show progressed, the performers portrayed the aspect of growing up too fast, and the effects on each of them.
Color guard is a year-long sport for most schools. Much training comes into play from basic dance technique to tricks under tosses. Each season performers grow in their skills, and they can audition for Drum Corps International or Winter Guard International. Both circuits have numerous groups that perform across the United States. A lot of color guard members also end up becoming instructors and choreographers for other schools or independent groups.
Color guard plays a huge role in personal growth and in telling the story in a marching band setting.
