Riverside Community College Marching Tigers » Fantasia Winter Guard

RCC’s Fantasia Announces Audition Schedule for 2011 – their 21st Season!

admin — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 11:26:28 +0000

Mark Your Calendar! Based on the fall football schedule, preparing for a trip to BOA in Indy and the “London Adventure,” the one available weekend this fall is: October 1-3, 2010 and the tryouts will be in the ‘new’ temporary gym, affectionately dubbed “the bubble” for now. More details will be forthcoming, but this is what is known now:

Friday, October 1st – plan to arrive by 5:30pm, sign in and pay $20 audition fee. Class goes 7pm-11pm
Saturday, October 2nd – tryouts continue 9am-9pm
Sunday, October 3rd – tryouts continue 10am-5pm

Spread the word! The weekend of pageantry is open to all who have graduated from high school.

Bring water and snacks and dress for a dance class workout type of atmosphere. If you have your own equipment, feel free to bring it. If not, it will be provided. Don’t let this chance pass you by! Fantasia will again be competing in WGI Regionals in CA and traveling to Dayton for the WGI Championships in April.

RCC “Marching Tigers” & Fantasia Present: Color Guard Workshop/Clinic!

admin — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 22:52:11 +0000

Mark Your Calendar! Spread the Word! Tell A Friend!

COLOR GUARD WORKSHOP/CLINIC – just $5!!!
Thursday night, May 20, 6:00pm-10:00pm
Wheelock Gym (behind football stadium) @ RCC
Plan to arrive by 5:30pm!

Join us for some pageantry fun, meet the new staff, learn/develop guard skills, make new friends, see how RCC does it, and have fun! This is NOT an audition. We want to welcome all, don’t be nervous, instead get excited about color guard. And you can’t beat $5 for 4 hours of work with world class performers and staff! You’ll hear all about the fall audition dates as well as Fantasia auditions.

Plan to arrive by 5:30pm, park in the multi-level parking structure by entering off of Magnolia Avenue & Terracina Ave – and walk to the RCC Wheelock Gym, located behind the home side of the RCC stadium bleachers. It’s easy – just sign in, pay your dinky fee and you are good to go!

Directions are available at our RCC Band website at www.rccband.org Just click on ‘Find Us.’ The stadium & Wheelock Gym are easy to locate!

+ Wear clothing appropriate to do a work out!
+ If you have your own equipment, bring it along! If not, don’t sweat it.
+ Yes, this workshop is geared towards those who are graduating – or have already graduated – and are interested in preparing for the upcoming RCC auditions. But… anyone is welcome to attend. That means YOU!

For more info, contact Sheila.Locke@rcc.edu or (951) 222-8295

Fantasia begins 20th anniversary season with a victory!

admin — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 20:53:16 +0000

It was scary, exciting, exhausting, slippery, depressing, motivating – and fun! What was “it?” IT was the WGI San Diego Power Regional AND the 20th season debut performance of Fantasia! Besides the natural jitters that come with every color guard contest performance, mother nature added her own challenges – namely soaking the 26 performers AND their equipment and floor, just as they were about to enter the performance gym at Rancho Bernardo HS. And this came after a scary, rain-filled drive to the site! Wet hands, wet clothes, wet equipment and a wet floor. Yikes!

Even though RB boosters tried to help dry the wet spots on the tarp, it really only spread the moisture around, creating a virtual ‘slip n slide’ for the performers to deal with, causing as many as 12 to slip and/or fall down during prelims! End result: a performance marred by pratfalls that weren’t funny. Then, on Sunday, everyone was able to redeem themselves, as the day glistened with bright sun and bright attitudes. After a good night’s sleep, a great warm-up and a spirited rehearsal at a local high school, these young performers arrived at the scene of the previous near-disaster with a new focus and came on like gang busters. Like night and day – literally – it was a completely different presentation, with a different outcome: a victory to start the season – and at a WGI Power Regional at that! Rain, rain, go away… Congratulations to all performers, staff, assistants and drivers!

RCC set to appear in episode of “Big Love” on HBO-TV in the new year!

admin — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 23:45:08 +0000

Yes, it’s already ‘in the can,’ to use a Hollywood expression – because it’s already been shot AND it’s on the schedule for the new season of “Big Love,” starring Bill Paxton. Check your local listings! The RCC episode will be aired in late January or early February.

AND… the Winter/Spring band schedule of basketball game appearances is now posted. Don’t miss the excitement! This is your chance to stay current on all of the band news and gossip, keep your chops up in the ‘off season’ AND earn college credit at the same time. You get to yell, disturb the visiting team, play loud and have fun! What more could you want from a band class? First rehearsal – Tues, January 12 at 6pm, with the first home game of the new year set for 5:30pm on Wed, January 13 in the big gym! Don’t let this chance pass you by! And trumpet player extraordinaire Larry Hart will be there!

Fantasia opens 20th anniversary season with young, talented cast of performers!

admin — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 23:42:52 +0000

Coming off of a rare ‘year off,’ it’s expected that there will be some rebuilding to do and some bumps along the way. But it goes without saying, the 6-time WGI Champions know what it takes and are already moving forward in a very positive way, with camps, clinicians and commitments from a young & talented (and international!) cast! Welcoming back some Japanese performers, it’s exciting to add new ones too, including 2 from Taiwan, in an exciting mix of youth and experience. In addition, the new staff has only one request: that all potential visitors, the curious and the ‘looky-loos” respect the general RCC operating policy that all classes (rehearsals) are only open to students that are registered. What that means in plain English is that all Fantasia rehearsals are closed.

RCC Proudly Announces Fantasia’s return for 20th Anniversary Season!

admin — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 22:38:18 +0000

Where are YOU marching this winter color guard season? That’s the question that starts to circulate about this time every fall and the answer – for those who passed the audition – is proudly: FANTASIA! That’s right! Fantasia is well under way in their quest to return to the upper echelon of WGI World Class competition! After a long weekend of tryouts, followed by another session for ‘call backs,’ a very talented pool of candidates will take the court this winter season – in what is the 20th anniversary of RCC’s winter guard that has won the WGI Championship 6 previous times!

Starting out in Class A way back in 1990 and placing 12th their inaugural season, FANTASIA has always been innovative, setting the pace for the activity. Along the way, this group of busy college entertainers has traveled thousands of miles and earned dozens of WGI and WGASC medals! There is a palpable ‘buzz’ in the SoCal area about the return of this amazing organization, with a new look, a new staff and a new attitude.

Staff members include Tim Mikan, a former member of Fantasia who became an instructor in recent years, also works with Mission Viejo HS and Los Amiantus HS. Assisting Tim are 3 other former members of Fantasia and former instructors, including Robby Jacobson (Blue Devils,) Chris Velez and John Escalante (SCV, Cadets.) As Gary Locke said recently, “It’s great to welcome John back, since he was one of our ‘original’ members and has had so much success, graduating from Cornish and dancing professionally in Vegas!” And a brand new face is Erica Sowell, Disney dancer and Long Beach State grad, who brings a unique approach to indoor pageantry. All Fantasia staff bios appear on the RCC Band website.

Cast Member for 2010
Gabriel Becerra
Vanessa Chavira
San Chou
Noel Gabrintina
Cassandra Hawkins
Chelsea Hay
Carlos Herrera
Ashley Hugeback
Brittany Kaplanek
Jim Lien
Ashley Llamas
Yvette Lopez
Yoshino Maekita
Alton Mason
Samantha McMane
Carlos Medina
Alana Moeller
Lorraine Nelson
Tracy Gueverra
Anthony Rodriguez
Kenneth Santos
Kendrick Stallard
Kevin Valeros
Cordelia Vargas
Shanice Wilson
Rina Yamawaki
Maki Yoneya

Fantasia Returns in 2010 – Auditions Quickly Approaching! Mark Your Calendar!

admin — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 22:32:08 +0000

This is it! The return of 6-time WGI Champion FANTASIA for the 2010 season starts with auditions on September 18, 19, 20 and YOU are invited to attend! Spread the Word! Tell A Friend! This is your chance to travel, entertain thousands, make new friends AND earn college credit – all at the same time! This is your chance to work with some of the top instructors in the nation! Don’t let this chance pass you by!

Sept 18-20 at Riverside City College – Huntley Gym
+ Friday, September 18, 7pm-11pm
Plan to arrive by 6:30pm to sign-in and pay your $20 evaluation fee
Dress for rehearsal / movement class; bring equipment if you have it
+ Saturday, September 19, 9am-9pm
+ Sunday, September 20, 10am-5pm

This three-day weekend ‘camp’ will allow the staff to fully evaluate each potential member, work on fundamentals, examine all possibilities and clinic performers in movement, flag, rifle and saber.

If you are interested in trying out, go to the RCC Band website at www.rccband.org and click on the mailbox icon – and fill in the blanks! It’s that simple! This will put you on the computerized mailing list. If you have any questions, please contact Sheila Locke at sheila.locke@rcc.edu or (951) 222-8295.
There openings in all sections – male and female – flags, dancers, rifles and sabers!

Where Are YOU Marching This Winter?

RCC “Marching Tigers” and Fantasia Join Forces to Present a Color Guard Workshop!

admin — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 21:59:06 +0000

Be prepared to dance and spin! If you have equipment, bring it! IF not, it will be provided. Don’t let this chance pass you by! Make new friends, learn from the Fantasia staff, find out about upcoming auditions for the RCC Fall ’09 Field Guard and the return of Fantasia 2010!

RCC Wheelock Gym
Tuesday, May 19, 6pm – 10pm
Registration Fee – $5.00

RCC Announces New Color Guard Class!

admin — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 18:08:42 +0000

Question: Are you planning on marching in the fall? Or next winter season? Anywhere?
Wouldn’t it be great to be able to IMPROVE your color guard skills – to “get ready” for that audition?

If you haven’t heard, RCC is now offering a great COLOR GUARD TRAINING CLASS, every Tuesday
and Thursday night at 7pm – in the Wheelock Gym, located behind the football stadium.

This is your chance to learn from the best! The faculty for this new class are all former members of Fantasia!

This class is open to juniors and seniors in high school, as well as high school graduates and adult performers! No experience necessary! Get prepared for an upcoming audition! Build your pageantry vocabulary! You can learn more about movement, flag technique, weapons and how to build a routine! It’s a great chance to make new friends, improve your color guard skills, meet the RCC staff – and prepare for our upcoming auditions for the fall cg – AND earn college credit at the same time!

All you have to do is SHOW UP!
This Thursday – February 12 – 7pm in the ‘big gym’ at RCC!
When you arrive, be sure to talk to Sheila!

OR
you can go ahead and get yourself registered for the class by going to the RCC website at rcc.edu
New students have to apply for admission – very simple and painless – but all done on line.

You want to register for Music 61, class code #45416
It’s NOT expensive, no additional costume or travel fees – just a fun class to learn more about color guard!

SPREAD THE WORD! BRING A FRIEND! You don’t even have to bring any equipment!

Sad News: RCC Announces Fantasia to Go Inactive for 2009 Season

admin — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 10:14:21 +0000

After months of discussions, rumors, hiring a new staff, attempts to replace a legend with a legend, various recruiting efforts, hosting two camps – and more rumors, it is time to face the facts: Fantasia will not be coming out in the 2009 season. Replacing Karl Lowe was never going to be easy, but Jay Murphy had a great show concept and attempts were made to carry on. Nevertheless, it became increasingly evident that the winter guard at RCC would not be able to function at the level expected of a 6-time WGI Champion, so a year away from the stress & strain will allow for the recharging of batteries, a reorganization of the staff & management and also provide time to get squared away financially.

It’s time for a break… and time to say thank you - to Karl Lowe for his creativity, his caring, his loyalty and his standard-setting approach to “flags in a gym.” A true genius, an innovator & master motivator, he brought life to the indoor pageantry activity – a gift, really – in the form of love for his students and respect for his colleagues. He will be missed. And it’s time to say thank you to each and every performer who ever sweated in the old gym at RCC. It’s great to see that so many are now teaching other groups, passing on the traditions and standards of excellence. Thank you as well to all who ever served on the staff, for your dedication to your craft and your
‘kids.’ The list of Fantasia instructors reads like a ‘who’s who’ of the sport: Stanley Knaub, Michael Raiford, Scott Chandler, TJ Doucette, Mykail Costner, – too many to mention here. Thank you, one and all!

What’s next? Spread the word: RCC will be offering a training class this semester, preparing another group of young performers for the 2010 season! You can earn college credit, work with outstanding teachers, make new friends and gain valuable vocabulary skills for your future. There will be openings in every section for the upcoming fall marching band season, as well as next year’s winter season. For more information, contact Gary Locke via the RCC Band website at www.rccband.org – or get on the mailing list by sending your contact info to Gary.Locke@rcc.edu

The Best Is Yet to Come!