With their competition season only four months away, Oswego Commotion has kicked off their rehearsal season.
The show choir team of aspiring dancers and singers rehearse and collaborate every Tuesday and Thursday, starting with warm-ups consisting of basic exercises and then run laps around the school.
“We increase [the number of] laps almost every week,” said OH sophomore Natalia Oliveros. “After that, we spend 30 minutes doing vocals, and then for the rest we dance.”
During the weekend of October 9-11, the team held their first lock-ins. These overnight events are for the members to rehearse and get comfortable with each other. They also get to team-up with their dance choreographer, Jordan Webster-Moore.
While Commotion Director and Oswego Vocal Music Department (OVMD) teacher Mark Baglione and Webster-Moore are big parts of the team, the biggest supporters during rehearsals are Commotion’s captains. Captains get the opportunity to lead practice, bring the team together, and even choreograph performances.
“Three of our captains choreographed the opener of our fall show,” said OH senior Commotion Captain Hayden Esbjorn. “Me and two other captains choreographed [the] song [that we’ll be performing] for Crystals, the winter concert.”
While it may not be your typical athletic activity, with the heavy cardio and competition, there’s no denying that show choir is a sport. For Commotion members, it is important to have sharp dance moves and be able to balance dance and singing skills. For the physical extertion, members receive a PE waiver the second semester of the school year.
“I believe that there is definitely a difference between competitive and noncompetitive show choir, but it truly takes all the muscles in your body to perform at the high level the choir requires you to be at,” Esbjorn said.
When in a show choir, it is important to be comfortable with your team. Becoming close to your peers makes you feel more confident to work together and bring on your best performance. This is why Commotion does a number of team bonding activities during their rehearsal days and lock-ins.
“We have a summer camp in July…and we do a lot of fun team bonding games,” said OH senior and Commotion member Ashlynn Pulfer. “We also have occasional get-togethers outside of rehearsal at people’s houses.”
Each spring, auditions are held for students who want to join the team. These auditions are available to 8th graders becoming freshmen, and are also open to students from both OH and OEHS. Once you are accepted onto the team, you attend Commotion’s summer camp in July.
“I [remember] watching the March concert and being mesmerized. I felt like my life had been changed and I was just like, wow, I really need to join this,” said Oliveros, who is a new member this year.
The stress of Commotion rehearsal may not feel the best, but it always pays off. Exercising frequently helps members with breath control and stronger core muscles for singing.
Commotion also brings people from all different walks of life and backgrounds together, all connecting through something that they love: music, dance, and team work.
“It’s a really great environment, and performing is always so much fun…it’s definitely built up my confidence, and I will always have a special place in my heart for it,” said Pulfer.
