It’s been three and a half decades since I was a member of the Bridgeport High School front line. Well, back in the day, it was just called the majorette and color guard squads. 

 

Both units fell under the band umbrella, but each was independently run – solely on student organization and choreography. Sometimes the two groups would work together on performances. It was all a big deal to us. We worked long, hard hours twirling and dancing and when it was performance time, we’d put on the leg makeup and tall white boots and for a few minutes deliver the routines we had literally worked on for weeks.

 

During some of those rehearsals, it was just us girls. But it all cultivated at the annual band camp – attended by the entire band and held during my years at Cowen's Camp Caesar, then Davis & Elkins College. By day, we marched and maneuvered for hours; by night, we ate pizza and slept in dorm rooms – but not before plenty of togetherness – often getting tickled about the dumbest things. It was a sisterhood, indeed. We were a bunch of girls working toward a common goal.

 

I’d say two of our most-loved performance numbers were “King of the Road” and “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah.” The first was a dance – complete with tuxedo outfits and top hats. The latter was a flashy twirling routine. Both complemented the marching band’s talent. I can honestly still hear it in my head.. How they delivered a sound like that while marching around and balancing tall fuzzy hats is beyond me. Most of the performance season was about field shows - entertaining the home crowd and providing a backdrop beat for our beloved Indian football team. Sometimes we’d even whip out the fire batons for them. That really fired them up. I don’t remember insurance issues or flame-retardant fabric coming into play during any of it. Luckily, we never torched anything – or ourselves.

 

There were also parades during which we’d high step it for blocks – or sometimes even miles. Through the years, our head majorettes would reinforce the importance of smiles, precision, hand position and pointed toes. Just doing all that stuff our very best was reward in itself, but occasionally we’d have a chance to put our skills to the test during seasonal competitions. When we nailed our performances, there were blue ribbons to celebrate with squeals and hugs all around.

 

I never played sports, but the same kind of unity existed on our Bridgeport High School majorette line of the 1970s. I’m sure many of you can say the same for various groups to which you belonged during time periods before and after.

 

Nearly 40 years after I first slipped into a BHS majorette uniform, I still remember the feelings of frustration and fatigue – but mostly satisfaction and elation - involved in it all. Times have changed in many ways, but the same qualities still go into producing championship squads and teams.

 

This year, Bridgeport has been tagged the “City of Champions.” Whether it be memories or recent experiences, we can all relate in some way. Come out and support Thursday night’s parade and witness the launch of a new Tribe tradition. Or suit up and join the procession. No fire batons or leg makeup required. See more here!

 

Julie Perine can be reached at 304-848-7200, julie@connect-bridgeport.com or follow @JuliePerine on Twitter. More It's Happening HERE