Timber Creek’s Color Guard Program
By Soha Shaik
Timber Creek has an extensive list of programs activities that students can choose from, such as sports, student government, and performing arts. Within the performing arts program, there is a class called Band/Color Guard. The color guard is part of band and they perform at our football games as well have their own competition season. Color Guard is a team of performers who perform choreographed dances and routines with various equipment such as flags, rifles, and sabers. Here at Timber Creek, we have a JV and varsity team that compete at the varying levels.
The color guard, during competition season, has practice throughout the week based on the level of the team. They rehearse their choreography and routines in preparation for competitions at different high schools in Florida. The rehearsals are rigorous and cover everything from the technical aspect of dance to the impressive spins and flips of the flags, rifles, and sabres used in the performances. When asked about their favorite part about color guard, freshman Natalia Jimenez, who is on the JV team replied, “Learning new tosses and choreo and getting to meet new people. Guard helps you gain more confidence through the choreo and tosses and that’s why I am the way I am today and have the self-confidence I have.” Likewise, fellow freshman who is on the varsity team, Sofia Lopez answered, “It’s like a family and we’ve all grown together and they’ve accepted everyone’s weaknesses and each person in guard is very sweet and nice and help you through things and to keep your head up and not let things get the best of you.”
The JV team was recently promoted from B Class to AAA Class by the FFCC. The FFCC is the Florida Federation of Colorguards Circuit and they offer a competitive outlet for color guard, indoor marching percussion and concert percussion teams and Winds. Just last week, on the 18th, the JV team won 2nd place at their premier at Cypress Creek High School. They competed against teams from many high schools in Florida. The varsity team also had their premier this past weekend on the 25th, where they came 1st place. Not only is color guard a competitive team sport, it is also a stable support group for the members of the team. When asked how color guard has affected their lives coming into high school, Jimenez said, “Color guard has been an amazing outlet for me whoever I’m stressed out or anxious and it takes your mind off of things and that makes it better.” And Lopez, “I would be a mess and it helped me through hard times when I’m angry or sad because the way people in guard distract me from what’s going on outside of guard.”
Color guard is a sport that combines both the beauty and technicality of dance, making itself all the more impressive with the tricks done with the flags, rifles, and sabres. The team puts in hundreds of hours of practice and rehearsal to perfect their performances and they stun the crowd every, single, time. Sofia Lopez, when asked why people should join color guard says, “It’s a whole new experience and do so many things you wouldn’t normally do and has so many different characteristics and it’s a whole show that’s made up of performing but also the technical parts.” So, go see our color guard at one of their competitions and maybe, even audition to join them here at Timber Creek!
Vibrant Smiles! Various members of the Timber Creek color guard pose with their program director, Luke Babb. Taken before a varsity home football game earlier this year, the color guard proceeded to perform at half-time, stunning the crowd with a performance in their beautiful costumes. Photo donated.