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Beyond the Toss: A Pro Choreographer's Guide to Mastering Color Guard
They are called "artistic athletes," and for good reason. The performers of color guard merge the grace of a dancer with the precision of an athlete, creating breathtaking spectacles on the field and floor. They make spinning a rifle, tossing a flag 30 feet in the air, and catching it seamlessly while executing a leap look effortless. But behind that effortlessness lies an immense amount of time, discipline, and skill.
In a world of instant gratification, performers and instructors are constantly searching for the secret to advancing faster. How do you master the complex layers of movement and equipment to create a truly impactful performance?
We dove into this question on an episode of Beyond the Steps with one of the most sought-after choreographers in the country, Michael Rosales. With a career spanning from dancing for major recording artists to the Tony award-winning show Blast, Rosales is a master of movement and a co-founder of TAE Talent Agency. His core message is simple yet profound: if you want to advance quickly, you must slow down and master the basics.
The Foundation: The Body Before the Blade
In the rush to get to the "big flashy things," the most critical element is often overlooked: the performer's own body. Before an athlete can manipulate a piece of equipment, they must first understand and control their own instrument.
"Movement and dance to me is high up on the list because if you are not familiar with how to use your body, it's going to be kind of hard to manipulate a piece of equipment," Rosales explains.
He advocates for a strong foundation in dance, starting with the fundamentals of ballet to instill an innate understanding of posture, lines, and body awareness. From there, jazz introduces the dynamics of traveling across the floor with leaps and jumps, while contemporary and other styles can be layered in. The goal is to build a vocabulary of movement that becomes second nature.
When judging, experts aren't just looking at the hands or the equipment; they are watching the story the entire body tells. "The movement judge kind of encompasses everything going on in your body," Rosales notes. "They want you to be able to kind of incorporate your whole lower body when you're reaching over... how engaged is your whole body?"
The "How-To": Making the Equipment an Extension of You
Once that physical foundation is established, the equipment—be it a flag, rifle, or sabre—can be introduced. The objective is not just to handle the equipment, but to make it a natural extension of the performer's body.
Rosales stresses the importance of starting with simple, foundational equipment drills. For beginners on flag, this means building the specific muscles required through endless spins and angle work to strengthen the wrists and biceps. He offers a go-to drill for control:
"Just standing still with your feet in second position and seeing if you can toss straight up and if it'll come straight down… that's basic fundamentals."
This mastery of control is non-negotiable. "You always need to know where your release is when you're tossing a five rotation or a six rotation before you do the turn underneath or the slide underneath," says Rosales.
For instructors and choreographers, one of the biggest pitfalls is pushing students too far, too fast. It’s a common issue where a coach's ambition outpaces the performers' current abilities. Rosales’s advice is direct: “Take a look at where your kids are and meet them where they're at… a lot of directors or choreographers… they kind of just jump in… without really setting them up to succeed yet.”
Key Considerations: Breaking Through Performance Plateaus
Every athlete, no matter their skill level, hits a plateau. When progress stalls and frustration mounts, it can be tempting to just push harder. However, Rosales suggests that the best way forward is often to step away.
"If you ever have a block, go take a class," he advises. "And it might not be a class in your profession, you know, it could be a pottery class." The goal is to find inspiration in struggle and problem-solving outside your usual environment.
Other strategies for breaking through include:
- Changing the Music: Listening to and moving to a different genre of music can unlock new pathways in your brain and body, giving you a fresh perspective when you return to your performance piece.
- Finding the Fun: In a world of intense pressure and constant comparison on social media, it's easy to lose sight of why you started. Taking the pressure off and reconnecting with the love of the activity can be the most powerful catalyst for growth.
Actionable Takeaway: Your Homework from a Pro
Michael Rosales left our audience with three key pieces of homework for any performer or instructor looking to reach the next level.
- Explore a New Genre: Intentionally listen to a different style of music or try a new form of movement. Allow yourself to explore, mess up, and create something new without pressure.
- Find Joy in Technique: Don’t view technique as a chore. "Always come back [to technique]," Rosales urges. "I think it's as instructors and coaches... our job to introduce technique and make sure that it's still enjoyable."
- Practice Empathy: The world is a demanding place. It’s crucial to be kind to yourself and to the people around you. "We live in a crazy world where you really don't know what other people are going through," he reminds us. "Just remind yourself to have a little bit of empathy."
The Journey Beyond the Steps
The path to excellence in color guard is not a sprint; it’s a journey built on a solid, unshakeable foundation. The "big, flashy things" are not the goal, but the result of a deep and joyful commitment to the fundamentals. By mastering the body, making the equipment an extension of yourself, and meeting challenges with creativity and empathy, you build a performance that is not only technically proficient but artistically profound.
Watch the Full Episode Here!
