Join

Membership in the Pope High School Color Guard provides an opportunity for students to participate in representing their school and maintain and build a performance group, showcasing their talents throughout the region. The Color Guard is an activity heavily based in dance technique and is a unit that teaches teamwork, performance and equipment skills, builds confidence and self-esteem, and develops leadership ability. No previous experience is required to be a member of the PHS Color Guard, but some previous dance experience is highly recommended!

Membership Qualifications

In order to try-out for the Color Guard/Dance Team, you must have the following requirements:

• Currently carry a 2.0 cumulative GPA in all classes, including P.E. and electives

• Maintain a “C” average in all classes, including P.E. and electives

• Maintain a positive attitude and willingness to receive instruction and constructive criticism.

• Desire to be part of team, understanding this is a competition and performance dance squad.

• Be prepared to fulfill the time obligations

Audition/Tryout

Potential members must learn a routine to be performed before a panel of judges. They will be evaluated on Showmanship, Execution, Knowledge and Technique. During the tryouts, we will be looking for students who are dependable, punctual, and hard workers. You will be exposed to several different skills and abilities, in equipment and dance, and we want to see how well you will react to the instructional situations you will be exposed to as a member of a championship performance ensemble. There is no “limit” to the number of members; however, the quality of the group is always more important than the quantity. Wear comfortable form fitting clothing and either tennis shoes or dance shoes, as the color guard activity is heavily dance based.

Tryout Dates: TBD

Physical Requirements

Color guard is an intense, physical, outdoor activity. Performing and dancing in the Color Guard requires that students be in excellent physical condition:
in performances and rehearsals the combination of movement and equipment work at the level required is a highly aerobic activity.

Rehearsal

Attendance, participation, and presence are very important. Practices are crucial to the eventual performance quality of the Color Guard. Hard work at practices will definitely show in performances! Therefore, each practice must be fully utilized. Frequently, there are additional practices. Practices are mandatory and each person depends on the presence of the other members.

Summer Rehearsals: TBD

Band Camp: Monday July 22nd - Saturday July 27th

Weekly After-School Practices:

Monday: Guard Sectional 6pm-9pm

Tuesday: Full Band Rehearsal 6pm-9pm

Thursday: Full Band Rehearsal 6pm-9pm

A complete, detailed calendar of events for the summer and fall will be distributed in May following tryouts.

Performances

Performances are the result of hours of hard work by everyone involved with Color Guard. These are the moments that should be savored and enjoyed! In order to make each performance as magical as it can be, it is important to understand that all members must attend practices. The attire and appearance of each member must be as alike as possible. Performances also require you to arrive early and prepare with the group. As skills are learned, a continued degree of fluency and growth must be demonstrated. The Color Guard will perform with the band at all home and away football games on Friday nights as well as 3-4 contests during the months of September and October.

Parent Support

It is highly recommended that parents join and actively participate in the Booster Club and or volunteer committees, designed to help students achieve great success. We constantly need people to sew, chaperon, help with equipment, travel, and other miscellaneous projects. The group also finds additional ways to fund the performance groups’ needs.

Our Recommendation

The POPE Color Guard will spend many hours to build and maintain our high standards. We ask you to consider carefully the commitment that you will be making and the responsibilities you must accept. We feel this team is a highly rewarding experience that is fun and exciting. POPE’s Color Guard takes pride in a pursuit of excellence and is one of the leading programs at Pope High School, in the county and nationally ranked, and we hope your student can be a part of it!

Feel free to contact us at PopeGuard@gmail.com for any questions!