Definition
Show Choir: originally called swing choir; a
sport in which a group of people combine choral
singing with dance, sometimes within the
context of a specific idea or story.
History
Historians haven’t actually found the first “true
show choir, but they have traced its origins back
to the mid-1960s in the US.
Two groups of touring performers, the Young
Americans (1962) and Up with People (1968)
traveled extensively throughout the US during
the 1960s and 1970s, performing as the first
“show choir”.
History cont.
When students saw this, they would soon start
their own groups at their own high schools.
There were two collegiate groups that influenced
the show choir idiom as well – Indiana
University’s Singing Hoosiers and the University
Singers of Ball State University.
These groups are credited with being catalysts of
show choir groups in the Midwest in the 1970s.
History Cont.
During the time of the 1970s, both groups took
part in performance tours o the US as well as
some international locations.
The Firsts of Show Choir
The very first high school swing choir invitational
was held in 1974 at Bishop Luers High School in
Fort Wayne, Indiana.
The school’s swing choir was called The Minstrels.
The Minstrels thought that they and other groups
might learn and profit by having a competition
between the area’s most distinguished show choirs.
Firsts cont.
During the first competition, Indiana’s Marion High School’s 26th
Street Singers introduced a new brand of song and dance.
Usually, swing choirs would have a stand-still during songs,
but then would have drum breaks between songs. Whereas
the 26th Street Singers performed a full set of songs, fully
choreographed with modern, tap, and other dance styles,
each song setting up in the next sequence.
The director, F. Richie Walton, then set them up for the
trophy in 1974 at Bishop Luers, and has been attributed
with the role of “the father” of the high school show choir
movement. This then encouraged groups to transition from
“swing choir” to “show choir”.
Firsts cont.
The 1974 Bishop Leurs idea worked so well that the
following year, there were double the number of high
school groups at the contest, and several showing up
with adaptions of the choir style known as “show
choir”.
By 1979, twenty show choirs from the Midwest
accepted the challenge of coming to Fort Wayne to
compete for trophies and medals. That year, more
than 600 student and 1,500 parents attended the
competition.
Location
Show choir is primarily only a high school based
activity in the US. Although it is a continually
evolving art form and regularly expanding to new
areas. While most high schools have show
choirs, many middle schools and junior high
schools now have their own show choir.
Costumes
There isn’t any requirement for the member of
performers, but choirs usually have 30 to 60
singers/dancers.
Show choirs traditionally are in costume, although
that definition is quite broad.
Examples of Normal Costumes
Examples of Not-So-Normal
Costumes
Costumes cont.
Larger show choirs tend to have multiple
costumes in their show. Show choirs also wear
stage makeup and jazz or character shoes.
Behind the Scenes
Choirs also have a band in the back providing
complementary music to their voices.
A common band consists of guitar, bass, drums,
trumpets, trombone, alto sax, tenor sax, piano, and
synthesizer.
The band is usually hidden during the show,
although the band can be featured during the
show.
Props
Along with the band, there are usually props.
Some groups have a large number of props to
accentuate the theme of their show.
These can easily be handled by a technical crew
that usually consists of the peers of the choir
students. These students are dressed in black, so
they are “hidden” from the audience.
Etc.
As well as these, the use of facials is
encouraged STRONGLY.
These “facials” are facial expression that convey
the mood of the song. These help the judges
understand more of what your show is about, and
it looks like you are actually living your life through
the song.
Competitions
Many show choirs participate in competitions,
sometimes called invitationals, although no one
send out invitations anymore.
They are usually consisted of regional show choirs
and then they are based on classes – B, 3A, 4A, 5A,
and so on.
Characteristics
Shows are consisted of a variety of songs,
several choreographed, then on ballad
performed with limited choreography.
The ballad showcases the group’s singing
ability.
*Fun Fact!* - In California, it is required to have at
least one minute of the ballad to be a cappella.
Video putting it all
together:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8T10w-pLM&list=PL6491579D89E43BE9