What is winterguard?

Winter color guard is a competitive indoor pageantry activity. Color guards perform intricately choreographed productions on a gym floor transformed into a theatrical setting via floor coverings, scenery and props. Performers use flags, rifles, and sabres, combined with dance and movement, to demonstrate skills and interpret the music. They often wear costumes to compliment the musical selections. This program demands total body activity, involving muscle tone, timing and simultaneous coordination of the head, arms, legs and torso. In addition to these physical demands, winter color guard also helps build discipline, control and poise. These are skills that can be used throughout one’s life, including in the classroom today and in the workforce of the future. Levels of competition separate the novice performers from the more experienced ones. Trained judges evaluate each group on the quality of their individual and ensemble performance skills, as well as the effect created by the combination of design and performance.