In the final weeks of July, many Indianapolis show choirs held bootcamps to begin work on vocals and choreography ahead of the school year. While each group had a unique structure to their bootcamps, the core fundamentals remained the same: a week to focus on learning new material quickly and forging new bonds before the high schoolers returned to the classroom in the weeks that followed.
Center Grove
Center Grove Debtones performed at their summer bootcamp show in the Center Grove choir room on July 26. (All photos: Nathan Ensley / @nensley.photography)
Center Grove, the reigning Show Choir Nationals champions, hosted an intensive week-long camp that worked on establishing vocal and dance technique early on. With such a physically demanding camp, it took some time for new members to adjust. Debtones Freshman Belle Iseminger described that maintaining the proper stamina was the most difficult part of bootcamp.
“As someone who hadn’t done conditioning or any sport-related training, it was quite the adjustment,” Iseminger said. “Luckily, the positive atmosphere made all of that a whole lot easier.”
Andy Haines, choreographer for Debtones, focuses heavily on technique. This is especially true during bootcamp week, where the group does Across the Floors daily. Across the Floors are an exercise in dance where a line of a few dancers perform the same movement repetitively across the floor. The dancers must focus on performing the move properly while staying in sync with the other dancers in their line. This is a very physically and mentally draining exercise, and one that sophomore and first-year Debtone Kiera Kobiela admitted was one of the most difficult parts of bootcamp week.
“[The most challenging aspect of bootcamp was] either Across the Floors or Andy’s ‘Warmup,’” Kobiela said. “I’m new to Across the Floors, so it took practicing and focusing to accomplish those! Andy’s ‘Warmup’ was really a workout and I was so sore after!”
Throughout the week, Debtones singers used the evenings to recover and connect with other members after demanding rehearsals.
“After almost every day, we had parties with all group members,” Iseminger said. “One day we had a pool party, we [had] bedazzled shirts, had a bonfire, and other team building activities!"
Center Grove wrapped up their week with a show for friends, family, and alumni which included everything they worked on during the week and their mini bootcamp in May. Both varsity groups finished these performances with a preview of their competition shows, with Sound System completing two full numbers, an unprecedented place for them by the end of July. Debtones performed a small part of their opener while they spent most of their time focused on learning a challenging Christmas tap number.
Franklin Central
Franklin Central F.C. Singers performed at their summer bootcamp show in the Franklin Central Auditorium on July 20.
On July 20, Franklin Central hosted a bootcamp show with each varsity group performing four-song sets. In contrast to Center Grove, FC’s groups learned a show over the course of a week to build camaraderie and practice ahead of learning competition show material. With just a week to learn everything, FC Singers did not begin combining the vocals with the choreography until a day before the performance, which first year member Landon Craig admitted was a challenge.
“The most challenging part would have to be putting the vocals and choreo together,” Craig said. “We didn’t do that until the day before the performance and it couldn’t have went better for the little preparation we had.”
In addition to the physical aspect of rehearsing many hours each day, there is also a significant mental component. Each of Franklin Central’s groups has over sixty performers, which can be intimidating even for the most experienced performers, as senior High Voltage member Chloe Payne described.
“The most challenging aspect of boot camp week for me was the personal mental block,” Payne said. “Being surrounded by so many amazing singers and dancers can be intimidating, even as a senior, but it also pushed me to be my very best and put in 110% of my energy.”
Both Payne and Craig are optimistic for this year after their groups’ first performances.
“This year’s boot camp went very well for High Voltage and a lot of progress was made," Payne said. “The positive energy everybody had all week made even the boring parts of camp exciting. I can already tell this group of wonderful young women is going to do amazing things during competition season, and I’m so grateful to be a part of this experience for my third and final year in this group.”
North Central
North Central Counterpoints hit their final pose at their camp show on July 26.
North Central opted for a similar format to Franklin Central, where the groups learned a three-song show. Doublers had to learn two different shows within the week, adding to the challenge. Not only did Senior doubler Reagan Green have to learn six songs, but she also dealt with a delayed start.
“I came into bootcamp two days late from being sick, but everyone in my choirs were so sweet and welcoming,” Green said. “Spending nine hours with some of my closest friends preparing for our Friday night show was a perfect way to end my summer!”
North Central’s bootcamp performance marked the first performance following a huge leadership change in the North Central choral department. In March, North Central Choirs announced that Jared McElroy would replace longtime Counterpoints director Michael Raunick as Director of Choirs to begin the 2024-2025 school year. McElroy will be joined in the vocal music department by Daria Weingartner, who will be sharing director duties. McElroy will lead the show choirs for now while Weingartner, formerly the Warren Central director, may take over Descants after some time has passed.
Bootcamp week was just a preview of what is to come for these Indianapolis show choirs. While their performances may have been unpolished, this head start to practicing, bonding, and overcoming challenges will pay dividends across the board for every group in the upcoming school year and season.
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