Performance groups on the move prepare for world competition at the Calgary Stampede



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Theater parade groups tell a story through their performances, music and energy, and some of the best in the world will compete for a world title on Monday.

The World Association of Marching Show Bands (WAMSB) competition takes place at the Calgary Stampede. The battle of ropes, the parade competition and the preliminaries of shows have been held since Thursday. The competition has seen more than 20 bands from around the world perform, but only the top 12 will be in the final.

Sheldon Wilton, Calgary Stampede spokesperson, said the competition was warming up and the final would be quite spectacular.

"The performing orchestras are very similar to an opera, in which they try to create different scenes with different musical intensities. They are trying to tell a story through their performance on the field, "said Wilton.

The WAMSB championships have already visited the Stampede in 1996, 2000 and 2012. According to Wilton, preparations for the 2019 championship have taken more than two years.

Band recruitment requires a lot of planning because the transportation of teams and instruments to international competition can cost between $ 500,000 and $ 1 million. Teams from Mexico, Germany, Poland, Taiwan and several other countries participated in the WAMSB.

Many Calgary show groups are competing for the title, including the Round Up Band and the Calgary Stetson Show Band.

Vanessa Beaudette is the co-director of the 181-member Round Up Band over the past four years. His group is excited to connect with members of the group around the world.

"There is another junior group, which you do not see very often, so having people who are about the same age and doing the same thing is great. . . they make friends with people around the world, "said Beaudette.

Jeff Waterbury leads the 130-member Calgary Stetson Band for the first time this year, having been part of the show band community for more than 13 years. He said it was heartening to hear supporters of the hometown cheer on the group this weekend.

Both groups have been preparing for this competition since last September, with monthly, weekly and daily practices leading to their important performances.

"We first choose a theme, then we choose the music, we have to organize it by our designer. After that, we have to have the exercises and choreography written by our visual designers. Then when it's all over, we can start teaching it, "Waterbury said.

In reviewing the performances, Wilton said that the many styles of show groups were fascinating to watch as each country held a slightly different show.

"A German group, for example, is more exercise-based, almost military. They stick to the lines in their movement, with a lot of precision. While North American bands have more fluidity or fluidity in their lines, they use a lot of curves, "said Wilton.

The final of the championship will take place Monday from 18h. at 11 pm at Scotiabank Saddledome.

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Twitter: @BabychStephanie

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