Show choir
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A show choir is a group of people who combine choral singing with dance movements, sometimes within the context of a specific idea or story. Its predecessor is the collegiate glee club.
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[edit] Location
Show choir is primarily a high school activity based in the United States, though it is a continually evolving art form that is regularly expanding to new areas. Many middle schools and junior high schools each have a own show choir as well, particularly throughout the American Midwest. Show choirs also exist at the collegiate level, albeit in far smaller numbers than their high-school counterparts, and in most cases adopting a slightly different format. A few scattered show choirs exist internationally, most notably in Canada. Show choirs seldom have more than 50 singer/dancers.
Show choir began as an activity in the United States during the mid-1960s, though cultural historians have been unable to determine the true "first" show choir. Growth started heavily in the Midwest following the founding of Indiana University's Singing Hoosiers and the University Singers of Ball State University, and later in Southern California after the 1962 founding of the Young Americans in Los Angeles.
[edit] Technical Aspect
Show choirs always wear a costume. The definition of what is considered a costume is very broad, ranging from jeans and a t-shirt to extravagant period clothing or flashy dancewear. It can be very conservative (such as tuxedos and ballgowns) or very edgy (such as modern or revealing clothing). Many larger show choirs include two or more costumes in their show. Participants typically wear stage makeup and shoes conducive to dancing (often called 'character shoes' or 'dance shoes'). Most costuming is brightly colored, often with sequins. The choir almost always has at least a small band (or "combo" if it includes horns) providing instrumental music to complement the voices. The band may be as small as a single pianist or be comprised of an entire rhythm section complete with bass, drums, guitar, keyboards, and several brass instruments. The amount of props varies between choirs: some may have a large number of props, and some may have none. Similarly, some show choirs use basic theatrical lighting changes while others do not. During competitions, it is very important to have what are formally known as "facials". Facials are when the performers exaggerate facial expressions and smile a great deal. The person in each show choir with the best facials will receive the Showmanship award during the award ceremony. This award is often a quite popular award because it serves as an incentive for performers to smile and feel the spirit of performing live on stage.
In other cases, the choir who executes the "sharpest" dance moves and the most stage presence will win a Showmanship award. There are also awards for outstanding Musicianship.
[edit] Competitions
Many show choirs participate in competitions, also called "invitationals" (though most are not invitation-only events). The largest competitions typically draw groups from the hosting school's own state as well as many surrounding states. Show choir competitions are usually held at a high school, called the host school. Unlike other sporting events, host schools do not compete in their own competitions; it is considered inappropriate to do so. However, they will often perform a non-competitive exhibition show at some point during the day.
Competitions can be as small as 6 competing groups from the immediate geographic area of the host school, lasting a single afternoon or evening. They can also be as large as 80 competing groups from multiple states all across the country, spanning Friday afternoon and night, and a full day on Saturday. Competitions begin on Saturday morning and end very late on Saturday night (occasionally going past midnight). If more time is needed due to the number of competing groups, a division of younger choirs is put on Friday afternoon and night. Very few competitions are held at times other than Friday or Saturday.
Many states' high school music associations require that a competition be sanctioned by that association. To obtain a sanction, schools hosting competitions must sometimes adhere to a specific list of rules set down by the state's music association. In some states, if competitions are held without a sanction, that school or district can lose privileges from the music association for a number of years to come. Due to the differences in rules between state music associations, there are a few major controversies each year at competitions stemming from rule differences and violations that may not have been made clear.
Ideally the host school should be large enough for many people to move comfortably through hallways, have an auditorium or theater of a size able to hold the majority of the participating choirs, and have plenty of bathrooms. Competitions are first and foremost a fundraising event for the hosting school. They can bring in very large amounts of profit if well-publicized and well-attended by both performing groups and spectators. The competition usually has some way of providing food, such as the school's cafeteria and other concession tables set up in the building. Most competitions have an entry fee for participating choirs, and charge admission at the performance venues for spectators wishing to watch. Competitions can last several days (although participants do not usually spend the night at the host school) and are run by volunteers from the host school. The largest competitions can draw between 3,000 and 7,000 spectators over the course of the event.
A lesser-used type of performance grouping is called a "festival". (Festival may also be uncommonly used in reference to a competition.) More common in California than in the rest of the country, festivals bring together multiple choirs from many different schools. They are typically all from the same state or geographical area, but that is not always the case. At festivals, choirs simply perform for their own experience and to provide entertainment for spectators and the other choirs. There is no scoring or judging of any kind, and no awards or rankings are given out differentiating one choir's performance from another. Some festivals will have one or more clinicians on hand to provide written and/or verbal critique to the show choir, suggesting things they did well and ways to improve their performance.
[edit] Requirements
Many show choirs are selected by audition, and only students with reasonable singing and dancing ability can join. A fee is usually involved (see technical aspect). Show choirs may practice during school hours, outside of school hours, or a combination of the two. Show choirs, like any activity, require dedication and practice to improve performance.
[edit] Characteristics of a performance
Most performances have a variety of songs, including several choreographed, fast-paced pieces and one slower piece performed with limited or no choreography to specifically showcase the ensemble's singing. A basic show consists of an up-tempo "opener," a ballad, and a powerful "closer." Within a song, chordal (harmony) singing typically alternates with unison singing or two-part harmony, with occasional use of polyphonic vocal writing. Songs are chosen, adapted and arranged from a variety of sources including popular music, jazz standards, and Broadway musicals, but rarely making use of Classical music. There is often at least one solo in each performance.
A competition performance "show" or "set" is usually timed to total just under twenty minutes, consisting of approximately five songs. "Set" themes and costume changes designed to reflect these themes are not uncommon. In many choirs, an a cappella piece is required and must last at least one minute. (Alternately, a choir can perform a cumulative total of one minute or more of a cappella singing throughout a show.)
[edit] In the Media
MTV is currently planning a new documentary series, Show Choir, scheduled to premiere in Spring 2007. The series, featuring the Morgantown High School "Images" in Morgantown, WV, is currently in production. The series will be produced by World of Wonder productions.
Executive Producers for MTV SHOW CHOIR are Dave Sirulnick, Amy Bailey and Lauren Lazin; for World of Wonder, Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato, Executive Producers; Todd Radnitz, Co-Executive Producer.
