Just because the Santa Clara Vanguard Winter Guard isn’t fielding a competitive ensemble this season, doesn’t mean exciting things aren’t happening for them. In fact, they have found a new and rewarding way to give back to the local color guard community in 2017: the SCVWG Workshop Series!
It all started back in November with a movement and dance class at the Vanguard Corps Hall taught by SCVWG’s Edmer Lazaro. Since then, popularity has grown and the most recent workshop was attended by nearly 60 young performers!
Denise Bonfiglio, Director of the SCV Winter Guard, started these workshops as a recruiting opportunity – a way to reach out to local talent in Bay Area high school programs. By holding these specialized classes, the SCVWG staff is able to introduce a new generation of color guard performers to the Vanguard methods and techniques, training them as potential members for when 2018 auditions roll around.
“The workshops have been a great success and it’s been a win-win experience for everyone involved,” said Bonfiglio. “We are meeting and training future SCV Winter Guard members, we are sharing what we do here at the Vanguard to a new audience, and we are providing a fundraising opportunity to the local programs who are interested in hosting a workshop.”
That’s the next step. Taking these workshops out on the road in our community! Although they will still be lead by SCVWG staff and coordinated in conjunction with the SCV program, our upcoming workshops will be “rented out” and hosted at local high schools around the Bay Area. The hosting school will select a focus (Movement, Equipment, Performance), help promote the event, and invite other local programs to attend for a minimal fee.
Our next event in the SCVWG Workshop series is scheduled for January 20, 2017 at the Monta Vista High School Fieldhouse in Cupertino. The workshop, lead by SCVWG Performance Coach Wayne Harris, will focus on using improv games and other techniques to develop performance skills and explore character! Cost for the workshop will be $10, with a special $5 rate for staff participants.