Proud KS Scout: DCA Bridgeport 2015
Up early, checked out of our hotel and on the coaches (all four of them) by 9:15am. The trucks had gone ahead of us at 3am. This was it! My first DCA show ever!
DCA BRIDGEPORT 2015
01-09-2015
The journey to Bridgeport was approximately 90 minutes. We had been warned about the surrounding area not being very safe to walk around and as we got closer we received a police escort to the stadium. The first sight was a huge spectators stand and floodlights. To the right a corps was rehearsing and it felt great to see one guy wearing a Kidsgrove Scouts t-shirt to rehearse in. We received a warm welcome from people as we unloaded from the coaches and entered the stadium and a real buzz started to fill the air like an under current of electricity. We started to make our way to sectional rehearsals which didn’t last too long as we coordinated as a corps for most of the rehearsal. The temperature seemed to be the hottest so far with sweat dripping without moving at muscle. Unfortunately some sort of lurgy seemed to be spreading through the corps as a number of people rushed to the toilet to be sick. However, we soldiered on. Our rehearsal field was adjacent to the stadium and it was exciting to see our booster stall being set up especially when the Union Jack and England flags were raised and people began to crowd around. We were joined at rehearsal by with the largest dragon flies I have every seen and a few ditches in the field too. The new stones looked amazing and the final moving stone was rehearsed with for the first time.
As the temperature dropped slightly, the sky began to darken, the floodlights were turned on and a serene sense of satisfaction seemed to wash over me. We changed into our uniforms and warmed up.
Lining up at the side of the field waiting to go on felt like a dream but also a reality I had waited a long time to achieve. From first watching a DCI video back in 1989 and dreaming of being a member of Santa Clara Vanguard to now being able to march on American soil felt really good. Thanks to a dedicated and committed group of individuals who have made this tour possible and let this hobby become something more for so many people. Incredible!
The show felt good. For me personally there were lots of great parts but also some mistakes that I was annoyed about. The crowd reacted very well to our performance and many members received lots of positive comments from spectators after the show. I was unable to watch many of the other corps as we needed to pack the trucks and get changed. Retreat was for drum majors only and that was nice as I got to spend some time with my daughter albiet she was asleep, We achieved second place (89.50) with the Caballeros coming first with 93.55. Unfortunately I didn’t get to watch the Caballeros but our supporters really enjoyed their performance and raved about how fantastic it was. (For pictures and vidoes please visit our Facebook page Kidsgrove Scout Official).
Once the results had been given and the trucks were loaded we all boarded the coaches for a long six hour journey through the night to our next destination, Seneca Falls. Once we arrived at our new hotel we ate breakfast in the function room and waited to be allocated to our rooms. Most of the youngsters went off into the swimming pool (7am) and played football tennis on the court. Receiving a room key was like being the winner on the Price is Right! Come on down and claim your key! At one point I started clapping (I was so tired) and then it was my name – hurray!
The rest of the day was spent by the swimming pool, chatting, playing and sleeping. There was lots of fun in the swimming pool with games galore! The funniest point was the belly flop competition and my friend, who was still waiting for a room key, who entered the pool fully clothed. Next stop another free day!!
SENECA FALLS
04-09-2015
Monday – Another free day! Many went to Niagra Falls and thoroughly enjoyed the experience whilst others who had visited the falls before went to Darien Lakes (a park with roller coasters and water rides). This is where I went as my children wanted to do this and what a fabulous day it was. There was a such a range of rides that there was something for everyone. A great day off for all!
Tuesday – and our first day at a new rehearsal venue however…… When we pulled up to the site it became apparent that it was not going to be suitable. We stretched out and worked on dance work whilst the rest of the corps worked visuals. Meanwhile the staff were busy trying to find an alternative venue and as if by magic a site that we had previously been told was unavailable was now available and so by 10am we were back on the buses and off to a local high school (Waterloo) just a few miles away. The site was fantastic and the local area reminded me of Smallville. The weather was very humid and once the sun came out the heat was intense. This made rehearsals harder work. I was dripping in sweat throughout and the final run through felt incredibly tough. Today was my son’s 14th birthday and I was just about exhausted as I’d been 14 years earlier! Back to the hotel for 7pm and an early bedtime ready for another hard day of rehearsing.
Wednesday – A very early start (7:40am stretch out). The humidity and heat were already present and by half past nine it was 32 degrees. We worked hard running larger chunks of the show collectively. A staggered lunch break and back on the field within 30 minutes. A few telephone calls home as my eleven year old son started high school back in the UK today – it felt great to hear his voice. Today has been the hardest rehearsal for me so far. The heat and exhaustion just kept washing over me continually. Sweat dripping in my eyes and feeling faint, sick and dizzy all from the pure intensity of rehearsing so hard in the heat and pushing through the pain barrier. My knee (only damaged through wear and tear) ached throughout the day and was throbbing by 2pm. Like a miracle the staff, who must have been visited by the ghosts of Christmas, decided to finish rehearsal an hour early – woo hoo!!! The trucks were loaded and back at the hotel an hour early everyone headed to the pool for diving, jumping and canon balls! A group of us went out for dinner at the beautiful Seneca Falls for Toni’s birthday and enjoyed relaxing and each other’s company.
Tomorrow we move to Rochester so suitcases must be packed up as the finals competition gets closer.
0 comments