Shawn777

This is a good point. I don't wish to dismiss that today's corps are simply trying to detract from the past, but the works they put out have certainly become more cerebral. And it's because the objective over the years has changed from "please the audience" to "please the judge." It's like taking DCI from a boot-stomping barn dance to a quaint and stuffy wine-tasting (probably not the best analogy but that's the first comparison to come to mind.) The average joe getting introduced to DCI isn't really going to get it off the bat unless (like the original poster mentioned) they get out the old tapes and play something that appeals to the gut emotion. The one segment that got me here was (paraphrasing) "the corps fed off the crowd, the crowd fed off the corps, and the corps fed more off the crowd...." One heck of a performance can be inspired when the fan element is mixed in. You can have the most kalidoscopic, whiplash visuals matched with the most complex musical execution -- but you'll only get golf claps without the crowd element. That's why Phantom '08 has been referenced so much. They told a story with the right mix to stir the crowd to chant the "I Am Spartacus" battle cry just from the pure emotion the corps generated. The corps and crowd fed off each other to make it one of the more memorable performances of recent time. The rest is history. I haven't been involved as much with the activity for the past 5 years, but check back around every August to see the state of affairs around the community. To use my analogy, I bring my boots just in case to see if a barn dance is about to break out. To my dismay, it's just another wine tasting.

For truth! And finally, an official end to the term bridesmaid corps! *shutters*....always hated that one....

Probably the most violent ending I've ever seen..... Slaughtering a green team one night.... Then a blue legion the next....

The secret ending? Come in like a dark horse and deny the green and blue legions some gold!

Ditto! Without a doubt -- it's Phantom's win making the 2008 headline

Looks like they'll need more members by the end of the season....

Phantom Regiment = Adagio from Spartacus

Yes....and the solo for the Vesti la Giubba number...where he lost his plume, I believe.

Well said.

If it does -- we know you jinxed us to :P

Yeah -- dci.org just refreshed it

96.825

89 Regiment

La Marche Futile? Those that watch Python will think that a bit funny.

What would the dates be in real-time??

Very nice! I like it. :)

I hear ya. I encountered the same in high school. Each year I tried out and each year they decided upon an all-girl guard unit. If they were to include any guys it would be just one for a "Romeo & Juliet" part which I wasn't too enthusiastic of. Unfair -- absolutely! I never throughly understood the rhyme or reason behind it all personally. Someone gave me a probable reason when I questioned about it a while back. It can be that the instructors believe that a lack of uniformity would become a glaring problem in the judges eyes. If you do think of it -- if the guy is dressed a tad differently from the rest of the guard (i.e. guy in pants, girls in dresses, or something similar) he does tend to become a focal point -- it's not intentional -- but the difference itself causes others to become attracted to that one member. So possibly a balance issue could be the case. I, on the other hand, believe that if it's all about balance and uniformity -- then it should be in the execution of the guard work -- not in the fact that you just have a minority of guys. You can easily get around "camouflaging" those few guys with variations in uniform, style, etc. You'd never think that I was bitter or anything would ya. :P As for now, I'm in a senior corps that has a winterguard and the guard is about 90% guys. B) Hopefully they'll have a change of heart sometime -- it's a pity they don't see your enthusiasm for guard.

Well, I could care less about how well they clean a clock......can they win the game? :P

The North Texas Drum and Bugle Corps Alliance (NTDBCA) is pleased to announce for this season eight corps whose mission is to stretch the entertainment boundaries. "If a single word can be said about what our corps are doing this season, it would be 'unique,'" comments Shawn Pack, Executive Director for the NTDBCA. "Most of these corps are experimenting with repertoires never really approached before on the turf and on the other hand taking new spins on music that has been quite familiar to the drum corps field." Heading up the bunch is the world champion and last year runner-up, Golden Legion. After last season's crowd favorite "Beyond The Barricades" featuring music from Les Miserables, the Legion is looking to the classical realm in a show called "Slavia"-- exploring Dvorak's Slavonic Dances ops. #46 and 72. Various visual elements are bring incorporated into the program to accentuate the ethnic dance component of the theme. Ironically, the Legion is detracting from their hallmark "drama" element, instead using the raw emotion of the music to be the driving force for this show. Last season's dark horse, which captured 5th, was the Phantom Crusaders. Phantom is "staying the course" in terms of the operatic genre. After their dark themed "Don Giovanni" from last season, they move forward to the romantic era with Tchaikovsky's "The Queen of Hearts." An underlying theme of a love lost sets the tone behind what is expected to be a visual feast as the various suits from a card deck acts as "theme curtains" to reflect the individual musical pieces. In the Division II ranks, the North Central Vanguard will present music of Malcolm Arnold with "Scottish Dances," using wind ensemble pieces of the same name. The perennial class clowns of drum corps, the Abilene Brassmen, are continuing with their fan-approved performance from last year with a show entitled "Take Me to TV Land -- The Second Channel." Early reports have said that they are going to play "a mish-mash of retro favorites from 70 and 80's TV -- even including commercial themes." An small hint was leaked out of the corps director that "The Dr. Pepper Theme" will be a drum feature. In Division III, the Midland Mystique will present "Stargate" from the movie of the same name. The Lubbock Lancers will be presenting "Jesus Christ Superstar." The Senior corps, Imperial Ambassadors and Westlake Regiment will be exhibitional corps this season, playing various hit pieces from their hey-day with a new selection lineup at every show.

The same can be said about Golden Legion and Phantom Crusaders for that matter. Golden Legion usually will start off strong then taper a bit in mid-season while we make changes to the show. This season should be none different from our speculation as we tackle Dvorak and start to explore Slavonic Dances on the field. Phantom Crusaders are proverbial dark horses -- tending to make more of a surge in the late season. Last season we tackled "Don Giovanni" quite well, though it was a very dense musical program. This season Phantom is fielding yet another opera for the field -- Tchaikovsky's "Queen of Spades" B)

Oh I'm alive -- been busy getting things gunned up for the senior corps that I'm in (real not fantasy). I'm on their BoD and they've given me quite a bit of responsibility. Like I said -- I'm always one to yield a dramatic entrance. :P And you and Shannon.....pulling teeth?!?!? -- hope you know how to make dentures.

I have all six of mine in...I just like adding that dramatic suspense to the mix.

Don't worry we're there..... ^0^ B)

Yeah, I'd consider a naked drum corps to be rather shocking too.