Modesto Regional Review 3-1-03

[crazymoflo]

I sat behind the equipment judge, so I apologize for my lack of drill comments.

I also didn't write down scores so I posted the BACKWARD order that they placed...I'm

sure the scores will be up soon. Good job to everyone.

Scholastic A

Clayton Valley - "Smitten" from the documentary *Scratch*

Red Adidas suits, a turntable in the middle of the floor, lots of tumbling and

hiphop, very linear drill, in need of expressive levels (the feel of the show

never changed), but overall a very energetic performance.

Beyer "A" - "Heavy"

Crushed velvet blue uniforms with halter tops and slits up the legs. Extremely

clean and calm performance, the girls all looked confident and...I guess the

word is content.

Independence - "Nights Like This"

The parents and I thought this show was about Mardi Gras - correct me if I'm

wrong. It opened with a boy in a mask being lifted up (cheerleader style) where

he stretched his foot above his head and held. The boys were extremely flexible

dancers, doing the splits, aerials, etc. The majority of the girls were fierce

on sabre, kinda reminiscent of Logan since they were all asian =) I spent most

of the show watching the tricks rather than the guard work, but I did notice

the extremely clean flag feature.

Ridgeview - "Maybe" and "Mercedes Benz" by Janis Joplin

One of the ever-popular *diva* shows. They all had long hair and black uniforms

with white accents. Their expressive quality was very strong from where I was

sitting - mostly the big SMILEY thang going on. There was a BEAUTIFUL recovery

in the rifle backhand block, and they ended waving at the audience. Cuuute.

Delano - "Aphrodite"

The floor was an illusion - a big black circle with a white arrow inside - or

was it a white circle with a black arrow? Hmm... =) Their uniforms were split

black and white which made their dance work interesting, as if they were doing

costume changes in midair. Flagwork was done on the perimeter of the circle,

and they had a cool leaning visual thing like Michael Jackson in that one music

video. Definite crowd pleaser, another GREAT recovery on rifle (I think).

West - "Blackwater"

Winner of the Coolest Set award from me, hehe. Their floor was water-blue and

they had a kind of "dock" set on the back of the floor. They had "hobo"

uniforms on and pretty green silkscreen flags. A little lacking in the facial

expression department, but the show didn't really call for much. Gotta love the

Doobie Bros.

Foothill Unique Images - "Gameday"

"If their instructor is a man, he is DEFINITELY not gay!" The floor was a

slanted football field and end zone, complete with a backdrop crowd and

goalposts. The guard wore football jerseys and even busted out the helmets for

their dance feature. The remix in their opening was AWESOME and the "take a

knee" flag feature was extremely clean. My favorite soloist was #93 =)

Live Oak - "Riders On the Storm"

One of the "pretty" shows of the night, the guard worked behind and around an

orange screen where the work on the floor was basically "mirrored". It's not

the same Live Oak that I remember, but still a good guard.

Arcadia 1A - "Armondo India" (I think?)

This guard kinda had the "onstage/offstage" presence problem. When they weren't

near the center of the floor, they let up on the work - at one point, a line of

flags just gave up as they ran behind a backdrop. The show felt a

little...lost. However, I did enjoy their dance style and strong performance

level.

Modesto - "Two Steps Forward, One Step Back"

The drill design was interesting because it followed lines and arrows on the

floor. Their uniforms were classic all-black, and they were very consistent

movers. A confident and almost conceited show-face...the closer was a little

anti-climactic for my taste.

Arcadia - "Where Sheep May Safely Graze"

Choir music, tables and benches like Pride of Cincinnati, very happy/blank

expressions, EXTREMELY long sabres, tan colored *everything*, and a sweet

all-rifle feature. Those kids can spin.

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Independent A

Raiders - American Beauty

I love these girls, especially the one I call "red shoes" because she wears red

Capezios during rehearsal. Classic ballet unis, graceful dance technique, cool

theme. The show begins and opens in the same set.

Oak Grove Too - I don't know how to spell their show title...

Pink and orange uniforms, bright green flags, cool flag duets, lots of hips in

their dance work, and GREAT energy.

Pacific Alliance - Elephant Love Medley

Beautiful clean PINK flag opening, a very graceful colorguard with a show that

fits them well. I prefer this show much more than Ojos Asi from last year. Grey

and white uniforms, cool cross-through drill, and that awesome

flag-inside-a-flag trick from the "I Can See Clearly Now" show a few years ago.

In-Motion - "Beautiful" by India Arie

"Hey who's in that Integra honking at us?" "That's In-Motion" "Oh really? Which

ones?" "All of them." With a guard of only six people, these kids brought the

house down once again. Same wine-colored floor, almost the same black half-top

uniforms, same "tortured" look as last year, but better. These are some of the

best dancers in Solano County ;o) Fairfield love....

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Scholastic Open

Bullard

Blue and black uniforms with a LOT of straps winding around their arms, silver

backdrops. They looked a little uncomfortable through most of the show, but

they had some really cool looking props - pipe sculptures.

Bonita Vista

The show seemed like it was written around the yellow lines on their grey

floor. Very "similar" dancers in that their technique and movement style was

consistent between each performer. Black uniforms, yellow accents.

Diamond Bar - "Venus" from Josh Groban

Opened in an arc in the back half of the floor, behind a statue of Venus de

Milo. Pink uniforms with maroon sashes. Lots of flag roll tricks and one

extremely cool flag exchange into the ground. A little bit awkward in movement,

but they made up for it in performance. My favorite performer turned out to be

captain.

Fairfield - "Palladio"

Beautiful but distracted, they made me nervous the whole show - and not just

because I'm an alum. I didn't see enough confidence from the guard as a whole,

and the drops were kinda excessive, but much better in Finals. Awesome drill

design and nice new uniforms - they just need to realize that "it's gonna be

good."

Clovis

Another of the classical piano pieces, they started the show doing dance along

the upper left perimeter. Nice solos on sabre, good drill design (another Jay

guard), good movers, great eye contact and connection with judges, and a clean

(if not simple) flag feature.

Oak Grove

Another amazing set from the former Scholastic A champs of the CCGC. Black

pleather uniforms with white cuffs and collars, huge metal backdrops with a

white floor. The show was about a robot designer whose robots rebel and try to

take over - but she regains control in the end. Awesome fight dance work, GREAT

soundtrack, and the diva captain girl. Right on, ladies.

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Independent Open

San Jose Raiders - music from the movie Pi

Moving "chalkboard" props, intensely fierce music, angry performance quality,

and a great show despite the rather obvious hole. I really like their dance

style and equipment work, none of which is classic or normal by any means.

Blue Devils

One of the most confident guards of the night, they worked their love story

show with music from Cyndi Lauper (and I think a mix from Mummer's Dance by

Loreena McKennit). A very "tricky" guard, with a 6-person ensemble two turn

under a sabre toss, a double flag feature, big fat tosses from George (the

captain boy), and a beautiful dance solo on the front 40 by the Seeley girl. =)

Amazing, amazing recoveries on sabre.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Scholastic World

Clovis West - "Virtual CW"

I loved the concept of the show. Four huge pipe cubes were set up around the

back, and each time a person stepped into one and put the goggles on, they did

simulated equipment work *without equipment* that matched what was going on on

the floor. Their uniforms and floor were very futuristic as was their original

music. The finals performance felt a little distracted, but they pulled their

flag feature off well either way.

Beyer

Dark blue/purple mock neck halter uniforms, white backdrops on a white floor.

BEAUTIFUL dancers, they had an interesting concept in their opening. Each

dancer would take a turn wandering across the floor, hands clasped behind her

back, as she stared at the floor while the show went on around her. Peaceful

and muted colored flags, a cool shrinking block to the back corner, aggressive

music in the last half, and one of the most amazing (and FAST) flag features

I've seen in awhile. Like someone else said, Mark Metzger must CREATE planes to

spin on, because that pole was rotating in places I have *never* seen before.

Edited March 2, 2003 by crazymoflo

[eemuam]

Hey Flo, That's a great review. Look forward to seeing you guys at WGI in April.

Andy