Color Guard

Modern color guard has evolved over the years into a sport that is a form of dance theater that uses props, along with movement, to express dynamic passages in the music accompanying the show. Modern color guards use flags, sabers, rifles, batons, swing flags, air blades, and a few other pieces of equipment, as well as a mix of ballet, jazz, modern, and contemporary modern dance. Traditional color guard first began during the English reign around the time of the American Revolution. A band would accompany the soldiers to play music to keep their spirits up and to keep them in beat. Along with the band, they also had a soldier holding a flag with their colors on it.

Color guards can be found in most American colleges, universities, high schools, middle schools, and independent drum corps. Members of most color guard teams march along with their fellow marching band members. Today the guard uses choreography and equipment for added visual appeal during a marching band show. Usually marching bands and color guards perform during football games at halftime, out of tradition. When in competition, the color guard is judged in the caption auxiliary. During a competition the guard adds to the overall score of the band, but is also judged in its own category. Many color guards also compete independently in such circuits as Winter Guard International (WGI) and TIA Tournament Indoor Association.