10 Broadcaster Press n RED, From Page 9 seventh grader I was so pumped for high school show choir. I would (watch them and) pick out kids on stage and be like ‘I want to be like her.’ It’s a thing to live up to. We have idols we want to live up to and impersonate.” One thing the current roster doesn’t deal with is the scrutiny of former Rhythm in Red members that comes with a proud alumni. Instead, these kids feel the warm embrace of the history rather than overbearing expectations. “I am still friends with people who have been out of show choir for two years and still are excited to come watch us or sad when they can’t come to see our show,” Kirsch said. “They are really supportive. I feel we have held our own and lived up to the expectation that the show choir has.” The expectations for a solid performance in front of teammates and spectators can be daunting for a rookie to the process, but the rest of the squad can help lessen that burden. “Sometimes I get nervous March 3, 2015 www.broadcasteronline.com because it’s my first time in the official competition,” freshman and newcomer Grace Kjelden said. “I just know the (rest of the team) are my friends and they won’t judge me so badly if I mess up.” Swanson said that when someone first starts they may even have to take bathroom breaks even if nature doesn’t beckon simply due to nerves. It also helps to understand how to nurture the fresh faces while the veterans should be a lot more toughened up by their previous experiences. “I would probably laugh at Joe if he messed up, but with Grace I would probably give her a high-five and tell her she’s OK,” Swanson said. “You live and you learn.” Kjelden recognizes that the older kids will take that extra time to make sure the younger kids don’t take too heavy a hot when an error occurs. “It works for me,” Kjelden said. “I don’t feel so bad about it (when she makes mistakes).” The group dynamic extends past the current stage and spreads its force throughout Saturday’s invitational will have each show choir perform three, 15-minute time slots. There is a warm up before each group performs for no longer than 15 minutes. Then the show choir Rhythem in Red, Vermillion Highs’ show choir group, hosts the Vermillion invitational at the high school. receives The team is in full swing of it’s season and is ready to give the home folks a show stopping performance. a critique on their COURTESY PHOTO performance the community. Red getting to perform on from all four judges. On “It’s just built up throughout their home stage. this year’s judging table is the years,” Fisher said of the “Since we have practiced on Randi Erlandson, Natalie importance of show choir in the stage so often, it helps Barkley and Dave and Rachel Vermillion. “It takes a village us get into what we are Wallace. to run a show choir. The doing and we know where While Rhythm in Red is parents are involved. They we are,” Askew said. “When not competing in their help fund raise and help run we go away sometimes, we competition, they are going the invitational. We have a may have to enter the other to perform in an exhibition lot of people involved than side of the stage or like when before the competing show just the 30 kids singing and we were at (Sioux Falls) the choirs receive their awards. dancing. Sometimes we have distance we had to travel This year’s show features alumni come back and help.” from the costume change five songs; When You’re What to Expect on the Big was two or three times Home, Shake, Walking Her Night further than we normally Home, That Thing Uptown It doesn’t hurt Rhythm in have to do.” and Million Voices. Rhythm in Red’s show is choreographed by Heath Gemar, Mollly Cahoy, Zach Fuller and Fisher. Now, these performances get to show their gifts in front of the home crowd. “I love performing for our invitational because they are so many groups there and we aren’t competing against anybody, so everybody is more willing to cheer for you,” Kirsch said. “It’s at the end of the night, everybody is there, and everybody is pumped. They are there supporting Rhythm in Red and it’s a lot of fun. It’s one of my favorite performances.” This team is definitely one Fisher feels has found a way to make it work as one true group dynamic worth watching. “This group has gotten along so well,” Fisher said. “We haven’t had drama and they are just good kids. They support each other, they look out for each other. It’s been a really fun year. “This is pretty big. We are down on teams – seven when we’ve had 12 –but the school is packed. In the gym, finals will be packed. There won’t be any seats left.”