Winter Guard (a.k.a. Indoor Guard)

Indoor Winter Guards perform in gyms or arenas to pre-recorded music. Winter Guard shows are very personal because of the audience's close proximity to the performers. Winter Guards are either Scholastic or Independent. Scholastic groups are sponsored by high schools, middle schools, and even some elementary schools. Independent groups are community based and often include members from a wide geographical area as well as age range. All performers in the scholastic and independent classes must be 22 years of age or younger. The exception to this are Independent World Class Color Guards where there is no age limit.

Winter Guard Units begin rehearsing in the fall, competitions run from January through April or May. The hours of rehearsal can run from 4-6 hours a week for a beginning group to 20-30 hours for a World Class group.

The History of Winter Guard

Competitive color guard's national organization, Winter Guard Internation, was founded in 1977. This association standardized judging sheets and competitive classes as well as sponsored the first national championship. Since that time, the activity has shown growth in the number of competing units and subsequently created additional competitive classes.

In it's early years, winter guard had a distinct military style based on precision marching. Dance came to color guard and revolutionized the activity's concept of "movement." A rise occurred in the growth of this activity in artistic and competitive development. Shows began to take on a different look, and creativity and originality became a focus for the growing WGI. Props, flats and sets found their way onto the stage, and creative designers set out to push the envelop. From roots based in the military, the activity grew to align with theater, dance and entertainment of a different nature.

A 1978 Winter Guard Performance

Winter Guard International

Local Circuits

California Color Guard Circuit
Eastern Massachusetts Color Guard Circuit
Keystone Indoor Drill Association
South Florida Winter Guard Association
Texas Color Guard Circuit
Tournament Indoor Association

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