Taking practice makes perfect to the nth degree

BATAVIA — Practice makes perfect. 

For the Batavia High School Winterguard, it’s a matter of painstaking run-throughs — flurries of choreographed dancing and movements made to a beat count. 

It’ll be the real thing next week, but for now it’s getting the routines nailed.

“Perseverance,” says senior Barbara Richardson, 17, when asked what makes a good performer. “Courage. You don’t feel (stage fright) as much in practice, but when you get out there it’s just breathtaking … I like when you get a great toss and the crowd screams, you know? It’s just a great feeling.”

The Winterguard will host its ninth annual competition 5 p.m. Jan. 23 at Batavia High School. The event attracts teams from across the region, and as far away as Canada.

Richardson and teammates were practicing Saturday in the Jackson Elementary School gymnasium. And as they repeated yet another routine, they were just a bit better.

After that? Almost perfect.

Winterguard is basically the colorguard one sees during the marching band season — minus the band and with the emphasis on interpretive dance. Teams showcase their skills during routines featuring flags, sabers and rifle replicas.

Done correctly, it’s a whirlwind of precision, dance, color and movement.

“There’s close to 50 colorguards in our circuit,” said instructor Nora Ballard. “Everybody works really hard. Most groups practice about 20 hours per week, and there’s a lot of sacrifice. The girls sacrifice a lot of time.”

Competition days usually run 12 hours, including a five-hour practice, travel time and the performances themselves.

Commitment’s a hallmark, and the routines complex and challenging.

Numerous run-throughs ended with the booming clatter of a rifle replica or colorguard flag bouncing off the floor.

“Once you learn the technique and the basic skills you need, then it’s a lot of repetition,” Ballard said. “A lot of repetition.”

Beyond physical coordination and equipment handling, teams need to consider the overall individual and performance effects, colors, costumes, music and design.

As of Saturday afternoon, she estimated the students were about 80 percent ready — but a good winterguard always wants to be more prepared than it is. The team was working the bugs out of its routine and honing its skills for Jan. 23.

Ballard, along with assistant instructors Brianna Watts and Sarah Petty, worked with the winterguard members throughout.

And the team was becoming noticeably better as it practiced.

“My mom was in Winterguard when she was in high school,” says senior Erin Stamp, 17, during a break in the action. “She was captain of the guard for two years and would talk about it all the time. It really sounded interesting and like something I wanted to do.”

So joining was a natural choice four years ago when Stamp heard a school announcement welcoming new team members.

Perfecting a routine takes time.

“There are some parts when we’re learning them that we’re not learning up to speed,” Stamp said. “We learn them a little bit slower. And then when we actually try to do it to the music for the first time, it’s hard to do in time.”

The flags aren’t that hard, but the rifle and saber are tougher, she said.

“It’s lot of practice,” she said. “There’s a lot of technique that goes into it. We haven’t done a lot of dance yet, but that helps too. I’ve never taken dance but I’ve always been a dancer, if that makes any sense, so I do a lot of dance in the show.”

Dance skills are a big help with foot movement and equipment, Stamp said. The ultimate performance is meant to dazzle.

And now’s the season.

“It’s a lot of fun,” she said. “We get to compete and we go to shows every weekend. It’s like a big field trip every weekend — a lot of fun.”

Winterguard dedicates season to beloved late instructor

BATAVIA — Beloved instructor Bruce McCready remains an inspiration to  the Batavia High School Winterguard.

McCready, 64, died this past May. He was an icon of high school pageantry, and what it can teach students along the way .

“It was kind of a sudden thing for everybody,” said instructor Nora  Ballard during a break at Saturday’s practice. “This is my first year  with these girls, but I think it’s gone very well. The girls have  adapted really well — it was really quite tragic for them.”

A longtime educator, McCready was well-known for his devotion to marching bands, colorguards and winterguards. He led numerous groups across the state, including the Syracuse Brigadier Drum and Bugle Corps, and colorguard and winterguard instructor in Batavia.

Though technically “retired,” he remained passionate about the performances, and had asked Ballard to take over the program.

This year’s routine is set to the song “J’ai Ho” from the film “Slumdog Millionaire.” The team had considered a slower tribute, but ultimately chose something fun and upbeat — the kind of performance McCready would loved.

“We have dedicated our entire season,” Ballard said. “Every show is dedicated to him.”