Dance/Drill Team

But it's so easy to get sick on a drill team... and it's not a good thing to be sick. I've done some searching to find a few sites that can help you and your team keep yourselves in good health as spring show approaches.

Apr 22, 2000 - Kathryn Morton

You know you're a drill team member if you own shades of lipstick that can be seen from 50 meters away. Or if you have ever willingly applied blue eye shadow and hot pink a blush. Makeup is an important part of the dance/drill team performance because without it, one important parts of the routine, your expression, isn't fully visible.

Nov 16, 1999 - Kathryn Morton

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays to celebrate on drill team. It provides wonderful opportunities for fun practices: the costumes, the funny noises you can make, the decorations, the parties. I've looked around the web and found some resources to help you plan your team's Halloween celebrations.

Oct 26, 1999 - Kathryn Morton

It's Homecoming season again! Time for mums and football games and big to-dos. I know of a number of schools that have already had their Homecoming football games (I know mine has) but I thought I would still write a column about the event ... to prolong the celebration.

Oct 19, 1999 - Kathryn Morton

Almost anyone who has spent even a year on a drill team has similar collections of leotards, lyrical dresses and sequin bands. Costumes and clothing come with the territory, as does care and maintenance of them.

Sep 28, 1999 - Kathryn Morton

Every month or so, I'll do a search for "drill team" and scroll page after page of links looking for new ones that are about drill teams, not drill masons or rifle teams. However, I seldom turn up much. There don't seem to be many team websites, or if there are, there is not much information on them. And where there's no website, there's no article or hyperlink on this site. If you can send links to sites or make your own team sites, be sure to send me an e-mail.

Sep 21, 1999 - Kathryn Morton

What are some ways to keep your body safe from harm? And what happens if something DOES happen, since almost every dance I know has experienced some problems with her body? This article includes links to various site to provide tips on injury prevention and care.

Sep 14, 1999 - Kathryn Morton

At the beginning of every year, there are going to be new members, and one of the biggest challenges is bringing the team together. So this weekend I searched the Internet for a few a sites that included team-building activities for your team to try out.

Sep 7, 1999 - Kathryn Morton

By the time Labor Day rolls around next week, the majority of drill teams around the nation will share more than just high kicks and jump splits in common: they'll be back in school. Here are some resources to help the busy drill team member with the year ahead.

Aug 31, 1999 - Kathryn Morton

You're never fully dressed without a smile. :)

Aug 10, 1999 - Kathryn Morton

I've been on my toes recently with various camps and auditions and such. I thought I would share some of the things I've learned through the years about going away to camps and staying in dormitories. There are certain things I recommend you bring so your camp experience is a pleasant one... items that don't always make it onto the packing list. Trust me on these. I've been there, done that. :)

Aug 3, 1999 - Kathryn Morton

My mom asked me as I was reminding her about this camp, why it means so much to me... why going to this camp, but more specifically, why being a part of a drill team means/meant so much to me. I wrote her an e-mail in reply, and since I am being lazy this week >:) I thought I would post some excerpts from it for this week's column.

Jul 6, 1999 - Kathryn Morton

Stretching is an important part of dance and drill team.

Jun 29, 1999 - Kathryn Morton

Even though most of us may think high school and college-aged girls when we hear the words "dance/drill team," there are many elementary and middle school teams. Some of them have pages on the World Wide Web as well.

Jun 15, 1999 - Kathryn Morton

Here's part four, the last "squirt" of the drill team version of "Everybody's Free," the "Sunscreen Song."

Jun 8, 1999 - Kathryn Morton

Part three of my rendition of the "Sunscreen Song" for drill teams.

Jun 1, 1999 - Kathryn Morton

Here's more of my version of "The Sunscreen Song" for drill teams. (Continued from last week.)

May 25, 1999 - Kathryn Morton

As senior drill team members prepare to graduate, I thought it would be neat to parody the popular "Sunscreen Song" to fit drill teams. This is part one of "my" version of the "speech song." Congratulations to the Class of '99!

May 18, 1999 - Kathryn Morton

Yahoo! has a couple of online clubs for dance/drill team members.

May 11, 1999 - Kathryn Morton

Many drill team members, including myself, find incorporating God into their organization brings inspiration. Check out links to a Bible verse and Christian dance team sites.

May 4, 1999 - Kathryn Morton

Check out a link to an article about the history of dance/drill teams.

Apr 27, 1999 - Kathryn Morton

It's time to celebrate dance!

Apr 20, 1999 - Kathryn Morton

It's unfair to stereotype groups, including drill teams. People who do so are probably just jealous.

Apr 13, 1999 - Kathryn Morton

I've received a few letters from readers and have read message board posts asking for tips to make their tryouts successful, so I've dug around in my links and have found a few sights that should give you some inspiration.

Apr 6, 1999 - Kathryn Morton

Spring is here!!! Just as we organize our homes (or attempt to,) I have a bit of spring cleaning to do to remind you of some important upcoming drill team events.

Mar 30, 1999 - Kathryn Morton

I found a couple of pages about senior citizens who are still dancing... and one of the pages about seniors on a pom dance drill team!

Mar 23, 1999 - Kathryn Morton

As I read dance message boards or talk to people who are on drill teams, one question that pops up often is, "I want to keep dancing in college. What schools have good dance programs?" I wrote this article to help answer this question.

Mar 16, 1999 - Kathryn Morton

One thing I've found that has helped me to grow as a dancer is watching other people dance. It's something I'd suggest to anyone who is serious about dance. Of course, you can't watch people so much that you don't think about your own movements, but critically observing other dancers and groups of dancers can teach you a lot.

Mar 9, 1999 - Kathryn Morton

I've brainstormed a few of the key elements in creating and maintaining a good repoire. Like it or not, the spotlight is on you even when you're not on the field or on stage. It's important to keep good grades, have good manners, be responsible, have high moral standards... in short... always be a lady.

Mar 2, 1999 - Kathryn Morton

This week is Eating Disorders Awareness Week. Unfortunately, eating disorders are common in dancers. Here are some links to helpful sites for dance/drill team members.

Feb 23, 1999 - Kathryn Morton

I never realized that dance/drill team competitions were so much work for not only the performers, but the companies who sponsor them as well.

Feb 16, 1999 - Kathryn Morton

There's a lesson to be learned from the Boy Scouts: we should always be prepared. And a huge part of being prepared is being organized. This is especially important when in performance situations such as contests and shows.

Feb 9, 1999 - Kathryn Morton

With contest season already here for some and fast approaching for others, I thought I would compile some links to excellent competition advice.

Feb 2, 1999 - Kathryn Morton

Part three of a series on preparing a solo or ensemble for contest or show. This article focuses on choosing a costume appropriate for the music, movement, and dancer.

Jan 26, 1999 - Kathryn Morton

Part two in a series on preparing a solo or ensemble for contest or show. This week focuses on choreography.

Jan 19, 1999 - Kathryn Morton

This is part one of three articles in a series on preparing a solo or ensemble for contest. This article focuses on chosing and preparing music for competition routines.

Jan 12, 1999 - Kathryn Morton

Dance/drill team practice can be a lot of hard work and sweat, but when you put your heart in them, they'll be a rewarding experience... not to mention that they'll yield sparkling performances.

Dec 29, 1998 - Kathryn Morton

Thank you to my readers, one of whom brought up the important point that the Rangerettes, while the first drill team ever, are not the only one today.

Dec 22, 1998 - Kathryn Morton

Last week, I started a list of characteristics I found I and other people on drill teams have developed. These are the remainder of my observations.

Aug 25, 1998 - Kathryn Morton

I have compiled a fun list of characteristics that I have noticed in myself and other drill team members. You might be a drill team member if... you have experienced a majority of the items on my list.

Aug 19, 1998 - Kathryn Morton

On a dance/drill team, the number of girls on the team is not what counts... it's how hard each girl works and how well they work together.

Aug 11, 1998 - Kathryn Morton

Summer practices are hot and strenuous, but with the proper precautions, they can help a drill team prepare for a spectacular performance.

Aug 4, 1998 - Kathryn Morton

Allow me to introduce myself, my experience in dance, and the magic of dance/drill team!

Jul 28, 1998 - Kathryn Morton

A dance/drill team's summer line camp is demanding, but the rewards last all year long.

Jul 21, 1998 - Kathryn Morton

The world's first drill team, the Kilgore College Rangerettes of Kilgore, Texas, is still the standard of dance/drill teams everywhere. Miss Gussie Nell Davis created the team more than 50 years ago.

Jun 28, 1998 - Kathryn Morton