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Post by Jake W. on Apr 13, 2024 17:00:59 GMT -6
What to even say about El Dorado?!?! It has been pure joy to watch this group rise at a meteoric rate. Every once in awhile - Arvin just before Covid and James Bowie before that - a group comes along where every single member is bought into the vibe hook, line, & sinker and understands how their individual movement plays into that at an *exceptionally* deep level. El Dorado is there. What a wild, breathless ride from this group! Impossible not to be enraptured by every moment, start to finish.
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Post by hewhowaits on Apr 13, 2024 17:02:08 GMT -6
And, of note - this is our only SW Finalist (actually now that I think about it, only SW group top to bottom!) without a high school feeder guard - 9-12 is all on the floor. I've been told that the Miamisburg "A" Guard (Scholastic Regional A in MEPA) is all middle schoolers. I can't speak to whether that's a fact or not, but Miamisburg does not have an entry in the Junior Color Guard category in MEPA with all the other middle schools. I do know that there is at least one 8th grader in Miamisburg's World Guard this year.
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Post by hewhowaits on Apr 13, 2024 17:05:14 GMT -6
Miamisburg is so talented and wonderful as usual, but with their absence, I'm beginning to realize how much of a crutch the lights in the tarp were this season (at least outside of the performance captions). With a music choice like that, they were able to provide some progression throughout the show that was very much missing in finals. They were so effective that their absence was very noticeable. I saw Miamisburg early in the season without the lighted tarp and again mid-season with the lights. From my still learning to understand what makes guard shows "good" viewpoint, their execution (of a less developed show) was stronger without the lights.
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Post by Jake W. on Apr 13, 2024 17:11:43 GMT -6
And, of note - this is our only SW Finalist (actually now that I think about it, only SW group top to bottom!) without a high school feeder guard - 9-12 is all on the floor. I've been told that the Miamisburg "A" Guard (Scholastic Regional A in MEPA) is all middle schoolers. I can't speak to whether that's a fact or not, but Miamisburg does not have an entry in the Junior Color Guard category in MEPA with all the other middle schools. I do know that there is at least one 8th grader in Miamisburg's World Guard this year. Interesting to note!! For as long as I can remember, they've had a traditional setup of two winter guards at the high school level that combine into the usual 20-30 member fall guard. A quick glance back at their fall show reveals they did only march about 15 guard or so, although their winds were as large as ever. I wonder how I missed that!
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Post by srv1084 on Apr 13, 2024 17:13:05 GMT -6
Miamisburg is so talented and wonderful as usual, but with their absence, I'm beginning to realize how much of a crutch the lights in the tarp were this season (at least outside of the performance captions). With a music choice like that, they were able to provide some progression throughout the show that was very much missing in finals. They were so effective that their absence was very noticeable. I saw Miamisburg early in the season without the lighted tarp and again mid-season with the lights. From my still learning to understand what makes guard shows "good" viewpoint, their execution (of a less developed show) was stronger without the lights. Oh, the execution was definitely strong. I think they'll do well in the performance captions, for sure. Similar to their show with the boat, where you had props to guide some of the staging and story, I just felt like the absence of the lights for this production presented a noticeable lack of definition in parts of the show.
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Post by Jake W. on Apr 13, 2024 17:21:37 GMT -6
I actually really, REALLY love that Carmel show, and the performers do a terrific job of handling the heavy theme. I could watch & rewatch it; the equipment vignettes are smart and well-written, the rivers are brilliant. My issue - and I had to go back after Semis to watch their champion show from last year to be sure I wasn't losing my mind - is there isn't much breadth of equipment demand throughout the show, especially compared to their peers [edit: I should add that I mean outside of the main 6-8 performers]. So many of the members spend a good portion of the show on movement - of which the demand is sky high! - and the equipment book culminates into a beautifully-written weapon & flag statement, but that sort of zooms by. The writing itself is clever, but the breadth of it struck me as seriously lacking compared to both their peers & previous seasons.
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Post by indyguy8362 on Apr 13, 2024 17:27:59 GMT -6
if Tarpon doesn’t win fan favorite the voting must be rigged
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Post by Jake W. on Apr 13, 2024 17:28:53 GMT -6
Sheer excellence as always, Tarpon! For next year's trip, let's leave the kitchen sink at home.
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Post by srv1084 on Apr 13, 2024 17:31:21 GMT -6
I've been waiting for this performance all day. Let's go TW!
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Post by Jake W. on Apr 13, 2024 17:32:04 GMT -6
I've been waiting for this performance all day. Let's go TW! Same!!!! They are such a breath of fresh air to the top echelons of the activity.
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Post by srv1084 on Apr 13, 2024 17:41:33 GMT -6
No words.
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Post by LeanderMomma on Apr 13, 2024 17:44:35 GMT -6
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Post by srv1084 on Apr 13, 2024 17:51:54 GMT -6
I've calmed down a bit after TW. I needed a moment. Arcadia's out here with the most Bjork show that ever did Bjork. Quirky and mysterious throughout with some rock solid equipment work. If they weren't going up against that absolute beast of an Avon show, they would be such a worthy winner.
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Post by Jake W. on Apr 13, 2024 17:53:27 GMT -6
I have to say, Arcadia's show really won me over! They went full-in on the bizarre and I'm here for it. Sure, it didn't leave me absolutely speechless like TW did, but it was fairly relentless in its attention-grabbing odd vibes. The performers know exactly what they're doing and they do it perfectly. I wonder if Avon & Arcadia are more of a complete package, whereas TW **clearly** goes so far beyond in what they're asking their performers to execute.
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Post by cybrunette on Apr 13, 2024 17:59:33 GMT -6
You literally couldn't ask for a more perfect run to finish out SW.
Avon.
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Post by Jake W. on Apr 13, 2024 18:00:11 GMT -6
What to even say about Avon?? I just sat back and enjoyed it. The best of the best. Everything we all want from a top notch color guard performance.
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Post by srv1084 on Apr 13, 2024 18:00:24 GMT -6
Avon, this was standard-setting. I would pay to see that on Broadway. It's been a while since I've seen a show and immediately thought it was absolute perfection in every single caption, and this one was it. I'm so glad I got to witness that.
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Post by cybrunette on Apr 13, 2024 18:08:54 GMT -6
Whoever on Avon's staff that decided on that musical selection, I bow to you! Thank you!
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Post by thewho on Apr 13, 2024 18:10:07 GMT -6
You know there's people in crowd watching for the first time and knowing this was clearly Avon's best run all season (me included).
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Post by Allohak on Apr 13, 2024 18:11:03 GMT -6
And, of note - this is our only SW Finalist (actually now that I think about it, only SW group top to bottom!) without a high school feeder guard - 9-12 is all on the floor. I've been told that the Miamisburg "A" Guard (Scholastic Regional A in MEPA) is all middle schoolers. I can't speak to whether that's a fact or not, but Miamisburg does not have an entry in the Junior Color Guard category in MEPA with all the other middle schools. I do know that there is at least one 8th grader in Miamisburg's World Guard this year. 3 8th graders in the world guard is my understanding. I believe there was at least 1 freshman in the A guard but not 100% certain on that
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Post by das88 on Apr 13, 2024 18:19:46 GMT -6
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Post by ohioguy2 on Apr 13, 2024 18:43:43 GMT -6
I've been told that the Miamisburg "A" Guard (Scholastic Regional A in MEPA) is all middle schoolers. I can't speak to whether that's a fact or not, but Miamisburg does not have an entry in the Junior Color Guard category in MEPA with all the other middle schools. I do know that there is at least one 8th grader in Miamisburg's World Guard this year. Interesting to note!! For as long as I can remember, they've had a traditional setup of two winter guards at the high school level that combine into the usual 20-30 member fall guard. A quick glance back at their fall show reveals they did only march about 15 guard or so, although their winds were as large as ever. I wonder how I missed that! Miamisburg has not had a high school “feeder guard” at almost any time in its existence. They most definitely have not had 2 full high school winter guards. The last time that happened might have been 2005ish. For almost the entire time they have had an “A” guard, it has been almost entirely middle school students. In talking with a few of their staff members, this year the “A” Guard was all 6-7th graders with 2-3 8th graders and I believe 1 9th grader that was brand new to guard. It has been that way for awhile now. I believe the last two years before this year they even had 1-2 5th graders in the “A” guard. I’ve heard through the Grapevine that this years World Guard had no seniors, 3 8th graders (including 1 who was brand new to guard this year) and an average age of 14. I don’t have any official confirmation on that.
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Post by Jake W. on Apr 13, 2024 18:54:55 GMT -6
Miamisburg has not had a high school “feeder guard” at almost any time in its existence. They most definitely have not had 2 full high school winter guards. The last time that happened might have been 2005ish. For almost the entire time they have had an “A” guard, it has been almost entirely middle school students. In talking with a few of their staff members, this year the “A” Guard was all 6-7th graders with 2-3 8th graders and I believe 1 9th grader that was brand new to guard. It has been that way for awhile now. I believe the last two years before this year they even had 1-2 5th graders in the “A” guard. I’ve heard through the Grapevine that this years World Guard had no seniors, 3 8th graders (including 1 who was brand new to guard this year) and an average age of 14. I don’t have any official confirmation on that. Wow!!!! So a young, young, YOUNG group this year. Has their middle school guard always competed in A as opposed to a middle school or junior classification? Good for them! I've just seen "Miamisburg A" listed for years now on MEPA recaps and assumed it was their lower high school guard, as that's how most SO/SW groups tend to label their jv group in competition.
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Post by ohioguy2 on Apr 13, 2024 18:58:20 GMT -6
Miamisburg has not had a high school “feeder guard” at almost any time in its existence. They most definitely have not had 2 full high school winter guards. The last time that happened might have been 2005ish. For almost the entire time they have had an “A” guard, it has been almost entirely middle school students. In talking with a few of their staff members, this year the “A” Guard was all 6-7th graders with 2-3 8th graders and I believe 1 9th grader that was brand new to guard. It has been that way for awhile now. I believe the last two years before this year they even had 1-2 5th graders in the “A” guard. I’ve heard through the Grapevine that this years World Guard had no seniors, 3 8th graders (including 1 who was brand new to guard this year) and an average age of 14. I don’t have any official confirmation on that. Wow!!!! So a young, young, YOUNG group this year. Has their middle school guard always competed in A as opposed to a middle school or junior classification? Good for them! I've just seen "Miamisburg A" listed for years now on MEPA recaps and assumed it was their lower high school guard, as that's how most SO/SW groups tend to label their jv group in competition. For at least a decade, probably longer, the Miamisburg A guard has been predominantly middle school students. Just like this year, they will occasionally have 1-2 high school students that are brand new to guard. With the fact that they often have 8th graders in their World Guard, the A Guard is usually mostly 6th and 7th graders.
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Post by rickyrosay on Apr 13, 2024 18:59:57 GMT -6
There is no better feeling space than Guard Finals. The energy just leaves you smiling from ear to ear!
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Post by srv1084 on Apr 13, 2024 19:06:29 GMT -6
There is no better feeling space than Guard Finals. The energy just leaves you smiling from ear to ear! So true. I've never been to the guard championships, but the more I find myself preferring this side of the activity, the more I feel like I need to experience this live.
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Post by srv1084 on Apr 13, 2024 19:12:05 GMT -6
When did Onyx make the decision to switch from their white tarp to that ... yellow tarp? I know it's supposed to make the viewer feel a bit uncomfortable, but it's not so much uncomfortable as just ... an interesting choice.
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Post by Allohak on Apr 13, 2024 19:32:33 GMT -6
When did Onyx make the decision to switch from their white tarp to that ... yellow tarp? I know it's supposed to make the viewer feel a bit uncomfortable, but it's not so much uncomfortable as just ... an interesting choice. everything about that...show...can be classified as an interesting choice.
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Post by srv1084 on Apr 13, 2024 19:42:20 GMT -6
I don’t think I’ve seen a guard make that much of a splash in their first year of IW before. When you can hear the crowd cheering so deafeningly loud that it’s practically drowning out the soundtrack, you know you’re doing something right. Well done, Vox Artium!
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Post by Jake W. on Apr 13, 2024 19:44:31 GMT -6
Vox Artium is just out of this world good. Reminds me of AMP's Joker show - you see it and you think, who on earth wouldn't want to be a part of this?? Even with Fantasia, I bet Vox Artium gets their pick of the SoCal litter next season. Absolutely terrific year for them!!!! I was on the edge of my seat the entire time.
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