Resources to Improve your Tricks and Technique at Home

Jul 23, 2020 | For Performers, Technique Resources

I received an email this week from a reader who was interested in finding some free online tools to improve technique and learn new tricks while the status of our world is up in the air. Well, you asked and I’m answering!

African American woman is practicing yoga in a brick studio

Unfortunately, there’s not a ton of free resources out there since we’re such a niche community. But after scouring the internet, here’s what I’ve come up with to help you get better and to push yourself (SAFELY AND WITH PROPER TECHNIQUE) for free at home.

Spintronixguard’s Youtube Channel

Although a lot of these videos are on the older side, many still hold true. There are technique and trick tutorials up for flag, rifle, sabre, and dance. I’ll save you a step and give you a direct link to each playlist below.

  1. Flag Level 1
  2. Flag Level 2
  3. Flag Level 3
  4. Rifle Level 1
  5. Rifle Level 2
  6. Rifle Level 3
  7. Sabre Level 1
  8. Sabre Level 2
  9. Dance Level 1

SamCam’s Dance Technique Class

I actually just found this video while searching for resources for this article, and I can’t believe I’ve never seen it before! This is more for strengthening and building from the bottom up in order to become a better dancer, but as we all know… the basics are the most important things to train! The better your basics, the better your tricks.

Kathryn Morgan

I’ve been following Kathryn for a while, and her videos have helped me to become a much stronger dancer! Her ballet class videos (FOUND HERE) have classes for all levels of dancers while her technique videos (FOUND HERE) tend to be more for dancers who already have a basic knowledge of ballet and movement. Either way, her channel is a fantastic resource to improve your movement.

Auti Kamal

Auti has honestly helped me so much. She has a focus on ballet, but also has some contemporary and hip hop.

SIDEBAR: Don’t sleep on Hip Hop you guys! It makes you a better performer, is SO FUN, and makes you look less awkward when moving. Not saying that you’re awkward, but I certainly was (sometimes still am lol) and it’s helped me a lot.

I would focus on the followin playlists:

  1. How-To’s and Tutorials
  2. Flexibility (KNOW YOUR LIMITS WHEN STRETCHING)
  3. Quick Tips
  4. Hip Hop Vlogs

FLOC JMU

Can you tell that dance is my favorite thing to do in colorguard? Well, for all of you who want some more equipment-based resources, here ya go! I went to JMU (Go Dukes!) and this channel, although more inconsistent than the rest with uploads, has a lot of great resources. Here you can find a few trick videos, but a lot of choreography videos!

They hold a clinic every year in Virginia, but since the 2020 one was cancelled, they uploaded all of their classes online for free. I’m talking half-hour long classes in which you can follow along with the instructor, for all levels. So if you’re looking for a way to strengthen your memorization skills and build your equipment knowledge, look no further.

  1. FLOC 2020 Spin Clinic Tutorials
  2. How to do a quad turn-around on rifle
  3. How to do a 45 toss on flag (Yes that is me from 3 years ago omg)
  4. How to do cones/figure 8s/stirs on flag
  5. Rifle Basics
  6. How to do double time on rifle

That Guy Who Spins

Have you ever just wanted to learn how to spin like Robert Jordan. Now you can! Robert Jordan’s youtube channel has his choreography tutorials, amazing flag, rifle, sabre, and dance technique videos, and recordings of his live classes. e uploads regularly, so subscribe to get updates on new posts!

Well, that’s it for now! As I find more resources, I’ll make sure to post more articles to help you out. Remember to be safe while trying these videos out and to know your limits!

Have you used any of these to help you get better before? Do you have any more resources that I missed in my search? Let me know in the comments!

Sharing is caring!