It’s finally time for the highly anticipated spotlight #3. While this year has some of the most incredible colorguard I’ve EVER seen and I am cheering for everyone’s success, this week’s spotlight is…
AMP WORLD WINTER GUARD!
Now I admit, I have been an Amp fan for quite some time. They have always been innovators in the industry and bring the energy to the University of Dayton Arena year after year–and this year is no different.
This show…I mean if I am amazed from watching a zoomed out VIDEO, I can’t imagine what it’s like to see in person! Let’s break down some of my favorite parts of this years’ program.
- The Style. I’m gonna start off strong with one of the reasons that I’ve always LOVED Amp. There’s this idea in the colorguard community that the only shows that are “good” (and more notably, win) are pretty ballet-based piano shows or extremely conceptual and gorgeous abstract shows. Whether you think that’s true is up to you. There’s definitely appreciation and respect for those shows. However, one thing is indisputable–colorguard is an art form, and art comes in many different packages. Amp is never afraid to venture into unknown territory, bringing with them excitement, energy, and in the case of this show, a very calculated chaos that requires more organization, planning, and effort on the parts of the entire cast and crew than most “traditional” shows. That being said…
- The energy. Colorguard is fun. Let me repeat that…COLORGUARD IS FUN. We don’t have to be so serious all the time. You can achieve something at a high level and have FUN. Let me put it this way…television shows like Euphoria, a extremely dramatic show, are amazing and tell incredible stories and win lots of awards because they told the story they set out to tell extremely well. But so do television shows like Abbott Elementary, a half hour comedy (that SWEPT awards season, btw). There’s room for both. We NEED both. There’s a reason Amp is consistently one of the Fan Favorites.
- The skill. Listen, I don’t think the designers and performers get the credit they deserve. Do you know how difficult it is to create an atmosphere that feels chaotic AND controlled simultaneously? It’s a take on an Alice in Wonderland show–and we watch the insanity ensue as the show progresses, but you never feel overwhelmed or like anything is accidental. There’s always devices to help you know where they want your eye to go, there’s a consistent connection to the performers (even through video), and if you do decide to be a rebel and check out a non-highlighted part of the show, it is still connected to what ever else is going on on the floor. Bravo. (Also shout out to that one performer that did an illusion turn around under their sabre. You could tell you KNEW you had that. Incredible)
- The Storytelling. This art form always comes back to storytelling, and BOY do they take us on a journey. I wouldn’t be surprised if part of the training for the cast includes acting classes because they bring the skills AND the drama. And honestly, that’s a component that 99% of guards are missing that just takes everything to the next level.
Have you seen Amp World this year? What are your thoughts? Drop them below, and don’t forget to follow Amp (and Simply Colorguard) on social media!
