Dear Reader, The season is about to kick off an abbreviated set of exhibition shows in Southern California, Texas, the six “Midwest Combine” 50th anniversary events and a number of performances across the eastern U.S., all leading to the three-day series set for Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis August 12, 13, 14. We’ll be seeing 17 World Class corps and four Open Class units. Obviously the last 15 months has been filled with trials and challenges that interrupted the 2020 summer of competitions, but DCI, DCA and other worldwide circuits have worked with all corps to help them traverse the COVID-19 pandemic while keeping members and fans informed about what and how they kept students engaged. We all owe a debt of gratitude to managers, designers, techs, volunteers and fans for moving through the coronavirus situation and coming out with hopefully stronger organizations. DCI particularly has done a great job educating everyone with the corps on how to cope with the start-up of in-person rehearsals and the challenges of traveling, being housed, rehearsing on the road, all for the touring corps to arrive safely in Indianapolis for what will be an “unusual” DCI summer-ending program for the junior corps. DCA took a different approach with judged videos. For those who are able to get to Indianapolis, DCI has promised 21 performances (every corps) daily, plus video presentations from SoundSport, I&E and absent corps preparing shows to be videotaped and submitted to the DCI office for inclusion between each of the corps. And DCI also has arranged a movie theater opportunity, in mid-July plus at least some of each day’s shows in Indy using the platform FloMarching. While this won’t be a typical summer, it will definitely be different! |
Steve Vickers Publisher Drum Corps World |
