ok...so i know that no one has posted about this thread for a few weeks...so it's pretty much dead...but i had finals...so you'll have to excuse me for reviving the thread!
LisaLisa...I agree with you. It's not really an argument of old guard versus new guard. I grew up spinning "old guard" and now I teach "new guard"...we wouldn't be able to have "new guard" if we didn't have the foundation of the old.
What matters is the level of care and time that the instructional staff puts into teaching and cleaning the work. And George - this also goes for ballet and dance troupes. In a well taught and well cleaned guard/dance group - you won't see an arm out of place or a flag misaligned. Guards that have spent the time to clean and have an instructor that can actually break down the counts (counts being a key point here!) so the kids can understand them...should have practically flawless shows.
And for the argument that dance is not effective on the field...I urge those of you making that point to rewatch devils from 97 on. I find they use dance in an effective manner that can be conveyed even to those of you sitting in row ff at madison.
One last point before i jump off the box...for those of you who desire that guards should return to the days of old...let us take a moment and look at some of the recent shows done by corps...before you jump to flame...sit back and think about how well those shows would have been conveyed if the guard was wearing the helmets, the boots, and the unis of the corps? Or for that matter...using the same old flags year after year with work that didn't flow with the concept of the show? There is something in those old shows...I'll admit that I get excited and hyped up watching 27th's guard...BUT as an overall package...shows of the more recent years are far more exciting to watch...and seem more complete to me.
Ok...that's my opinion...I'm done.
Judy Easton :)