Trix on Tour (6): Beating the heat

Beatrix Drum & Bugle Corps is on tour in the United States to take part in the DCI competition. Episode 6: Rehearsals and contests with high temperatures, but the members seem to beat the heat.

Saturday, July 31
After breakfast, the rehearsal was started at half past eight. They told us that it would be very hot. 100 degrees fahrenheit, which is arround 38 degrees celcius. We could use a great rehearsal field just behind the contest arena. Due to the contest it was not allowed for any corps to rehearse on that field. The rehearsal went very well. Despite the heat the members worked very hard and you could see the product improving. At 15.30 hours we had a run and then some hours to relax. Because we already had a warm lunch, dinner was with bread and pancakes.

Many corps were present and Beatrix was the last corps to perform. The sun was gone but it was still hot. The show went very well. Visually a big improvement and the percussion had a very good show as well. The corps as a whole was entertaining the audience. Our show is very popular in The States. The audience is enjoying the show and the music. With 83.95 points we reached a record of all shows we had in the States, and we are still one of the corps that fight to make it into the top 9 in Division II.

After the speaker finished with the points and rankings, there was a suprise. We could do an encore. That went very well. The audience liked it a lot and the corps got a standing ovation. And after that? Another suprise: ice with wipped cream. At 24.00 hours the lights went out and it was sleeping time. Sunday we will rehearse in Garden City. We are using the contest arena and probably with spectators and marching band members.

Sunday, August 1
As I told , we could practice on the contest field of Saturday's contest. A great field with astroturf. The corps was split in three parts. The guard rehearsed a new drill in the ballad, which was the last change in the choreography. The brass and percussion were also rehearsing in seperate groups. They all worked very hard on playing dynamics and playing while marching. The temperature was above 40 degrees celsius. But it seems that Beatrix cannot be stopped. The breaks became longer, and we sat in the shade to cool off a little bit, but there was a lot of effort and energy.

The run at 16.30 hours on the freaking hot field was very good. The heat seems to be conquered. Three hours of rest, diner, cleaning and loading, and then to the last location of this tour. We are not in Denver but in Fort Morgan, about 80 miles from the town and 100 miles from the stadium.

According to the last update from the internet, Beatrix is on the 8th spot in the Division II. We are defenitely still in the race to participate in the semifinals which are held on Thursday. Three of our members will participete in the individuals of DCI. Els will participate on mallet, Niels on contra and Patrick on snare. (Text: beatrix.org)