The Eden Prairie Color Guard varsity team. Photo by Nick Campbell
After a successful winter season in which it placed second on the local circuit, Eden Prairie High School Color Guard is already planning for its fall competition season. The team will also welcome interested new members to open house rehearsals on May 19, 20, and 22.
From January through March, Eden Prairie Winter Guard competed with its show titled “Good for You,” a high-energy metaphor for a relationship gone bad, said Olivia Sims, the team’s director.
Eden Prairie “played with food metaphors while reminiscing: sending us around in circles like the O’s in our soup and adding in all the spices the relationship missed,” Sims said. The colorful stage was set with a giant blue soup pot turned on its side to spill SpaghettiOs all over the floor. The group also drew inspiration from pop art like Andy Warhol’s “Campbell’s Soup Cans” and Roy Lichtenstein’s food prints, Sims said.
Eden Prairie Color Guard members, from left: Aaryn (Minnetonka High School), Celine, Emery, and Brian (Minnetonka High School). Photo by Nicole Neri
Captained by sophomores Alexa and Ainsley, Eden Prairie’s team also welcomed three students from Minnetonka High School, which did not have enough members to field its own team. Following last year’s inaugural Cadet flag and dance camp, four young performers – some as young as third grade – joined as the cadet team, performing alongside varsity members.
Sophomore co-captain Alexa. Photo by Nick Campbell
Eden Prairie Color Guard co-captain Ainsley. Photo by C.M. Twigg
At the end of the season, EPHS hosted the North Star Circuit Championships, where its team placed second in its class. Alumni and staff from the program also competed this year with MBI, Elevate World, and Paramount World at Winter Guard International.
Students in grades 7-12 who might be interested in joining color guard are invited to try it out at open house rehearsals on May 19, 20, and 22 at the high school. While no experience is required, and students of all genders, abilities, and skill levels are welcome, this year the team is also looking especially for students with a dance background.
For younger students entering grades 3-7, Eden Prairie Color Guard will once again host its Cadet Camp from July 7 to 10. The event is open to students from all school districts.
For more information about either opportunity, email Sims at edenprairiehscolorguard@gmail.com.
Eden Prairie Color Guard member Aliyah. Photo by Nick Campbell
Big smiles: Eden Prairie Color Guard member Maria strikes a pose. Photo by Nicole Neri
Eden Prairie Color Guard member Adrien. Photo by Nick Campbell
Eden Prairie Color Guard member Amanti. Photo by C.M. Twigg
Aaryn, a student at Minnetonka High School, helped earn second place for Eden Prairie Color Guard. Photo by Bill Grossman
Brian, a Minnetonka High School student, competed with the Eden Prairie team this year. Photo by C.M. Twigg