A s the performers dance to the beguiling strains of the musical piece, the faint whirl of spinning flags can be heard. Their silks sail through the space in tandem with the snap and smack of the rifles they maneuver around their bodies and through the air, several feet above their heads.
Breathless and grinning, frozen in the position they ended in as the music stops, the members of the State of Art Winterguard stare upward at what would be the eyes of their audience.
Then, they wait.
State of Art Winterguard began in 2007 and after an extensive career in colorguard, current director Peter Eichler joined the staff.
Organizations like colorguard draw a crowd of people who love performing and excelling at their craft, and this ideal holds true for Eichler.
“To be able to give them this world-class caliber of an experience...Why not?” Eichler said. “It’s fun to be good.”
Eichler cares very much for the members and the sport itself.
Above all, though, he pushes the members towards success, both for themselves and the team.
If all of the winterguard members can walk away from a performance with no regrets, Eichler said he has successfully done his job.
“Our goal this year is have a great program, create an identity for State of Art that people remember and go ‘I love that colorguard,’” Eichler said.
One of the many facets of coaching Eichler enjoys is giving his experience to the members and watching them grow and excel. He watches members improve, but on another level he loves seeing friendships blossom.
“The relationships you build (in colorguard) are relationships that you will hold for the rest of your life,” Eichler said.
In the past, the shows have conveyed some meaning, ranging from finding the silver lining in situations to paying kindness forward.
But this year, they decided to go for a change of pace.
Their show this time around is meant to be memorable.
The jaw-droppers they’ve written into the design of the show include a wine bottle, which one soloist will toss and handle as if it were a regular piece of equipment.
Guard members also will simultaneously release sand from the end of their poles while other members throw it from their palms.
“We’re not trying to tell a story,” Eichler said. “We’re not trying to fit a concept.”
The enthusiasm shown by Eichler resonates in the members as well.
Colorguard can provide performers with life skills, lasting friendships and many other things to take away from their years as members.
In winterguard, they are presented with a more in-depth experience.
This is due to the fact that they perform indoors, where weather-related factors such as wind are not present, like on a football field.
Sociology and anthropology junior Robert Becker said performing is exhilarating.
He said he loves when he makes eye contact and can connect with members of the audience during a performance.
“The fact that you can make them smile is always an exciting feeling,” Becker said. “It just makes you melt inside.”
