What is Color Guard?

 

Color guard is a true American art form. It originated from ROTC and grew into what we see today. Color Guard has grown very fast in the past twenty years and is one of the fastest growing activities in today's high schools, with thousands of participants from around the world. It is a high energy, adrenaline rushing sport that advances students into a new area of performing and visual arts. The color guard is a make-up of all the musical and visual arts including music, dance, gymnastics, theater, acrobatics, equipment manipulation, and visual color all rolled into one.  The activity demands physical involvement in rehearsal and performance involving muscle tone, conditioned response to music and other stimuli, simultaneous coordination of head, arms, legs, body stature as well as poise and control while experiencing physical and mental pressure. The color guard is the one group that involves every aspect of artistic expression. This is why we call color guard the "Sport of the Arts!"

 

Color Guard In The Fall

 

Color Guard first originated in marching bands in the 1960's. It has evolved since that time into very sophisticated dance teams. Color Guard members do not play instruments in the marching band. They are the dancers on the field. The guard program at Rowlett High School is a group of talented students that are members of the Rowlett High School Band. Although some members of the guard are musicians, many of its members are not musicians and come from outside the band program. Members do not have to play an instrument to be a part of the Rowlett Color Guard. The purpose of color guard is to provide visual and musical color along with overall general effect to marching shows in the marching band.  The guard at Rowlett has grown in popularity, with many students trying out for the guardevery year. During the fall, the color guard performs with the Rowlett Mighty Eagle High School Marching Band during halftime in football games and various competitions around the State of Texas. The color guard are the dancers on the field, the gorgeous color in the show, and the essence of visual beauty. The guard uses many types of equipment, including flags, sabers, andprops. The ladies also wear elaborate costumes for the shows the band performs. The guard is heavily dance oriented and uses several varieties of dance, including ballet, jazz, and modern styles. With the combination of different styles of dance and the added use of varieties of equipment, the color guard is truly unique in its added effect to the marching band activity.

 

Color Guard In The Spring

 

During the spring the color guard participates in their competition season called Winter guard. The guard will perform dazzling and elaborate visual shows set to music. The guard does this without the band, and brings the unique activity of color guard indoors. These shows are performed in front of live audiences and judges and set with elaborate costume designs and performed with giant colorful props and backdrops. Unlike sports teams, the entertainment factor makes winter guard unique. It can be likened to theatre with elements of drama or a musical. This added dimension provides the students with an exposure beyond that offered through the marching band program. Thus, the indoor guard opportunity is a blend of that produces The Sport of the Arts. Rowlett belongs to the local circuit, the North Texas Color Guard (NTCA) and the national circuit Winterguard International (WGI) A valuable experience for winter guard performers is an interaction with students from other communities throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia. The success of this activity is rich in those areas and growing in Europe and Asia.  The members of the Rowlett Winter Guard compete against other color guards in the Dallas / Fort Worth area and in the state of Texas. At the end of the winter guard season the Rowlett guard competes in the NTCA State Championships.

 

More About The Color Guard

 

The Color Guard Program at Rowlett HS has quickly growing within the walls of Rowlett HS.  The popularity of the guard program is rising in Garland ISD. Many students audition to be a part of the Color Guard, and with such an enormous interest and many talented students joining our program, the Rowlett Color Guard will only continue to grow and develop into one of the top programs in the state. Made up of some of the finest and the most talented students at Rowlett High School, the guard staff works to provide the finest and best quality education in the aspects of dance, flag, rifle and saber. The ladies of the guard are equipped with the finest material and equipment the guard world has to offer. With enormous support from the parents, band, teachers, and administration, the Rowlett Guard program is quickly making a name for themselves across their school, community, and the world of color guard!