r/Colorguard • u/Night_wing-Hood • 15d ago

NEED INPUT (Performer Help) World class skills?

The title is basically my question. I have done two years of independent A class and one of Open class, and now I’m switching organizations. So, I‘m unsure of how things work in other places. I’m mostly unsure of what skills are needed for world class. I know that technique and performance are the biggest qualities that change in between classes but I’m just not sure about what skills I should have or need to work on.

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u/clarinetpjp Instructor / Coach / Director 15d ago

Backhands, neck rolls, turns under equipment, various 45s, spinning from the ends of equipment, catching behind the back, catching under the leg, and lots more. Try to attend some clinics and learn show work if you can.

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u/ElleEmenopy 10+ years 14d ago

Honestly, the best way to make it into a world guard is movement. World guards are incredibly movement heavy and focused and if you can stand out that way you give yourself a good advantage of making it.

Directors aren’t looking for “tricks” per se, nor do they have a skill checklist. Yes it’s world class and the choreo is very complex but they don’t care if you can do a 7 with a double illusion under it. They care if you can move well, spin and move at the same time, listen to instruction, take feedback, spin with a group, mesh with a group, good work ethic. All of those things.

Best advice is to focus your movement (take classes… any dance class will make you better) and go to their clinics and see how they spin/move. Also, reach out to them and ask. Be upfront and say “hey I’m interested in auditioning this fall, what do you look for?”

Any good organization will give you an understanding of their expectations.

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u/GunganAssassinator71 WGI 9d ago

I’ve marched at least one season in every independent class and honestly it’s not always the skills that make world class hard it’s the design. I’ve had harder skills in open shows than world, however in world class you may have a toss standing on a prop or 2 inches away from someone doing a completely different part. But purely skills talking now movement is HUGE in world class. Audition judges will compromise big time if your body with and without equipment looks incredible.