Sun Devils Announce New Colorguard Caption Head

[John M. Johnson]

The Sun Devils Drum and Bugle corps are pleased to announce Stephen Porter as the Color Guard Caption Head for the 2014 season. “Stephen brings an amazing artistic and educational resource to our family”, said Corps Director Robb Van Eck, “his background in dance, theater, and entertainment are uniquely suited the DCA experience we are striving to create with our program and the quality of his performing units is simply amazing.” Stephen will be hosting an open house/experience camp on February 2 and March 2 from 10 A.M to 2 P.M. with auditions for the guard on April 19 from 10 A.M to 8 P.M. at Lyman High School in Orlando, Florida.

Originally from the Tampa Bay area, Mr. Porter graduated from the University of Central Florida in 2000, followed by two years at Valencia Community College in the Dance Program. While attending UCF, Mr. Porter held many positions: Music Assistant (First United Methodist Church of Winter Park), Dancer (Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom), Dance and Guard After School Instructor (Local Dance and Guard Teams throughout Central Florida), Vocalist (Orlando Opera Co. Chorus), Musical Theatre Performer (Regional Projects-Orlando, Theatre Winter Haven, Mt. Dora Theatre Co., Leesburg Mellon Patch Theatre), Vocalist (Caroling Company Dulgar Ent.), Vocalist (Orlando 13 Chamber ensemble), Color Guard performer (Madison Scouts Drum & Bugle Corps, Beyond Imagination Winterguard, Knights Winterguard, Northeast Independent), Drum Major (UCF Marching Knights for a record 3 years), and UCF Vocal Society President.

After graduating with a Bachelors Degree in music education in 2000, Mr. Porter realized most of the performing opportunities he encountered required dance as well as music. After years of dancing in small studios, he decided to back up his technical dance; thus, he enrolled as a Dance Major at the Valencia Community College in 2000 for two valuable years. There, he grew to love dance and learned how much his music background reinforced the way he passes on his craft.

Since starting the Lyman Dance Program in 2002, our program has flourished to over 180 dance class students and over 100 students involved in the extra-curricular auxiliary: they perform with the Lyman Marching Greyhounds, who have received straight Superior ratings at every festival attended since his arrival. The Color Guard has been promoted five divisions, and was the 2009 Florida Federation Gold Medalist and the Winter Guard International Bronze medalist. Florida Federation of Color Guards Circuit and organization in which Mr. Porter is actively involved. A successful dance team has been established, and a curriculum has been established for dance sections leveled I-IV. In 2003, Mr. Porter was nominated for the Lyman Teacher of the Year. February 2008 Lyman Teacher of the Month April 2009 Lyman Teacher of the Month Selected by Lyman faculty to be in the May edition of Central Florida Lifestyle Magazine as an outstanding educator.

The 2014 Sun Devils are Florida’s only competitive drum and bugle corps and are made up of membership from all around the state. They are a 501c3 and are part of the Sun Devils Performing Arts Groups which includes the Impact of Orlando mini-corps among other groups. Please connect to us on our web page at sundevilsdrumcorps.org or on Facebook and Twitter for information about membership, performance bookings, and fund-raising opportunities.