Equipment, Floors & Props Embracing the Air Blade | Embracing the Air Blade |
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| Written by Jennifer Cortez | |
| Friday, 03 October 2008 | |
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One veteran instructor's personal journey towards acceptance (and her tips for instruction!)
"Miss Cortez, are we going to spin the Air Blade this year?" My initial response to this revolutionary piece of color guard equipment was negative. I enjoy spinning weapon. Double time is taught to the rifles because the busted-blood-vessel-ratio to achievement level is about equal. Mystery bruises should be part of the color guard experience. The whimsical Air Blade didn't satisfy the necessary brutality. Besides, after watching one of my favorite drum corps spin the Air Blade, and the YouTube video used to showcase the Air Blade, I was convinced that the infinite many ways to handle the equipment wasn't something I wanted to fit into my already limited rehearsal time. I prefer an equipment book with specific checkpoints; cheater tape is used for hand positions that fit the metronome counts. It is highly desirable to have an equipment book that is clean and well-executed by the first performance. Other excuses I used:
A delightful call from the band director's wife changed my path... FACING MY FEARHere is a sample of my initial fear:
My desperation during the phone conversation didn't wane her. She believed that I could be a champion of the Air Blade. Besides, she is one of my biggest fans and the Air Blades were practically delivered during the phone call. The whole team is spinning Air Blade for the opener. A mountain was in front of me, research was minimal. I had to create my own set of basics, choreograph a routine, and overcome the hurdles of teaching Air Blade technique. CREATING TECHNIQUEIf you have spent any time spinning the Air Blade, it is easy to notice it is comparable to a circle. Eliminate the need to define a front, back, top or bottom and the choreography opens up with infinite many ways to create routines that incorporate integrating the equipment with unique grips. The mountain decreased in size and intimidation was eventually overcome. Hurdle #1: What is the Anatomy of an Air Blade? With a new piece of equipment in color guard, this could potentially become the Tower of Babble. The hurdle was overcome by naming the many parts of the Air Blade with easy-to-remember, logical names. The terms of Tip, Bottom, Large Curve, and Small Curve are comparable to using "North, South, East and West" when giving directions. The actual hand placement point where the Bone meets the box is communicated "Bone 2 Small Curve." Here is what I taught:
Hurdle #2: What are the Basics of an Air Blade? Rifle Spins, Drop Spins, Carves, 27 Points in Space, "Guitar Hero" Carve, Tosses
Hurdle #3: How do I Choreograph a Routine that Demonstrates the Revolutionary Air Blade?
Tosses can be higher with fewer revolutions. The bonus feature: My personal injury level decreased greatly while choreographing the routine! A strong desire to integrate the Air Blade onto a flag pole kept me working until I designed something that is manageable by a beginner. Partner-work with the Air Blade and a flag pole is creating a pleasant surprise during our halftime show. A new texture is explored in partner work that ends in a manageable equipment exchange. I found that exchanging the Air Blade is more achievable than it is to exchange a rifle. The Air Blade's weight is incredibly consistent and the performers have more confidence in expectations of what they are about to catch. Now onto the final hurdle... Hurdle #4: How do I change the color?
Spray paint made specifically for plastic has achieved the job without adding weight. One can of paint covered 10 Blades perfectly. For less than twelve dollars the team is able to show off their new skills. AND THEN THE REST IS HISTORY...A predominantely young team is making a big impression with their revolutionary equipment book. The word "Air" has been eliminated in our rushed rehearsals. They are lovingly called "The Blades"; during a rained-out performance the whole team giggled relentlessly when told to "Air-Air Blade." The joy is endless in the world of color guard.  Jennifer Cortez is a graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi and University of Central Florida where she received a BS in Mathematics with a Minor in Computer Sciences and a BS in Educational Psychology. Formerly a mathematics teacher for Brevard County Schools, Ms. Cortez is presently an aerospace software test engineer at Kennedy Space Center . She was Color Guard Captain for the USM Pride Marching Band and is a Drum Corps International Alumnus (Southwind ). A mother of twin-teenage daughters and a third grade son, Ms. Cortez has 23 years of Color Guard Choreographer experiences and 19 years Color Guard Coaching experience. She has been the Color Guard Director for the Eau Gallie High School Color Guard for 9 years.
 No. 1 : Director Thank you for all of your help with getting my auxiliary on the right foot. You are a genius, Jennifer!!  Submitted by DavidBHS • 2008-10-06 10:36:04 No. 2 : Jennifer Cortez rocks!! This article is amazing! (And so are Air Blades=]) Being one of Jennifers' students, I can tell you that after my three years of experience on weapon, I was shocked when picking up an airblade as to how different it was than a rifle or sabre. It was also fun for the whole team, even our caoch, to explore the equipment together and figure out new and exciting ways to use it. We are still finding unique tosses and exchanges that cant be done on any other piece of equipment, and give a whole new look to the color guard. Give the Air Blade a try, you will love it
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'> Submitted by Kristina Haws • 2008-10-06 11:33:48 No. 3 : I LOVE CORTEZ! I love the air blade because it is easy to spot the rotations, not like rifle where it spins so fast. It was a lot easier for our new girls to transition from airblade to rifle. I wish I had an air blade before I killed my hands and arms with a rifle! Cortez you rock! :)
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'>Submitted by Amanda Clark • 2008-10-07 20:22:31 No. 4 : I love my Mom I love You and It was so much fun getting to be one of the first three to spin one! Submitted by Monica Cortez • 2008-10-12 21:50:07 No. 5 : Mom The Blades look really good. There would be almost an infinite way to swing them. I see geometric designs blooming on the field, like a rose spinning into full bloom. Even as the group was moving. The weight has to be mini, compared to other equipment. Good luck to all ! Hope you have a great marching season. Gloria Dupree
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'>Submitted by Gloria Dupree • 2008-10-17 21:13:22 No. 6 : would you believe...?  I actually had to force my guard line to use this product. I knew last spring when I saw it in the catalog that this would become a hot new item of equipment. Once they used it a fall season, and they saw other lines use it, AND when they started reading the internet buzz on the airblade....then they decided it was ok. What I have enjoyed the most about the airblade is that it flies strat in the face of "we ain't never dun it that way before". We are going to use it again next year. I hope WGI does adopt it as an approved piece of equipment next year.Submitted by Guest User • 2009-02-28 16:54:38 No. 7 : air blade we got the blades in our winterguardshow, and you know... i like them they are verry handy and not to heavy hehe Submitted by Djamila • 2009-03-17 14:19:56 No. 8 : Hmmm. I dont know... Hmm, ya I still don't know about this piece of equipment. I have seen really great teams just bomb with the air blade. With every team I have seen...It just looks messy and doesn't really add that much interest. Call me a traditionalist, but I think there is something really great about a traditional rifle that gives more of an impact in any show. Submitted by Guest User • 2009-05-05 13:37:31 No. 9 : Converted rifle I am the coach for Butler University and our lovely director bought blades for us last year. I thought they were interesting, but was unsure about teaching them. I was wrong! Our girls have loved them and can't wait to use them again in the fall. Another fun move is a roll... Set the tip on the ground and let the blade roll in the direction of the outer large curve. You can do a kick over it or a cute leap behind it before catching it.
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'>Submitted by Kristi • 2009-06-11 15:30:20 No. 10 : THANK YOU Awesome Jennifer! Your instruction just gave me the basics in about 15 minutes... Now I'm going to write work for this year's air blade feature duet. Funky Town here comes the air blades to Pocahontas County High School, WV. I marched UCF as a Starlet Knight 98-02! Thanks for the inspiration.
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'>Submitted by Pocahontas County Guard • 2009-07-10 22:16:38 No. 11 : Southern Miss To The Top!! So I'm choreographing for three high school guards this summer, and one of them is wanting to use the Air Blade. I came across this article for some ideas, and after reading, I saw your bio on the bottom of the page! I'm a guard co-captain at USM this year! Just thought it was cool that such great advice came from a former Golden Eagle :) Thanks for this article, and SMTTT! -Mandy D Submitted by Mandy D • 2009-07-13 12:52:22 No. 12 : Air Blade Choreographer Now writing Air Blade routines for your winterguard or marching band. Email for more information. I am currently working with the BYU Marching Band and ColorGuard. I can write full routines or just Air Blade into your existing routines. I can even fly in and clean-up the routines after your coaching staff has taught the routines. This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
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'>Submitted by Sue Harris • 2009-09-13 19:16:16 No. 13 : awsome airblades!!! air blades are amaizng!!! and im still a newby at it but im getting there...... but im am still haveing trouble taping it  but its all goooood 
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'>Submitted by Andria Baird • 2009-11-18 14:39:09 No. 14 : SUrprise I am not officially a coach with our color guard. I volunteer my time to over see the girls. The director bought blades this year. None of my girls had ever seen them and out of 11 girls I only had 4 that had been on the color guard the year before. I had a girl from another color guard that came it and taught a routine for a song in our show to my captains. The first time we put that routine on the field the response was awesome. Wish I had found this site before. Submitted by Guest User • 2009-12-20 12:56:30 |
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| Last Updated ( Monday, 06 October 2008 ) |
The boxes allow the performer to puncture spaces that have been impossible on Rifle. Using the Air Blade as an extension of the arm to perform across the floors created a huge visual that is now used to initiate the show. To achieve this look, weave the hand through box 4 and grab bone 2 (with the elbow at bone 3), small curve wrapping the body.
Our band uniforms and plumes are white; the equipment blended in with the plumes, the audience could not see the Revolutionary Air Blade equipment book that has been so tediously studied. | Next > |
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