Blessed Sacrament
Oct 19, 2009
Blessed Sacrament Color Guard (affectionately referred to as "Sac") is an organization more than 70 years strong. SAC traces its origin back to the 1930's when a local parish all-female drill team formed in the Cambridgeport area of Cambridge, Massachusetts as a summer activity for young women in this urban neighborhood just outside of Boston. In the late 1960's, a winter competition unit was formed. By the late 1970's focus shifted exclusively to winter guard competition when the drill team activity became dormant.
Over the decades, Sac has proudly grown into a performance arts organization devoted to providing its members opportunities to develop their sense of self-confidence, communication skills, sense of team spirit, sense of responsibility and sense of commitment through the arena of marching arts known as winter guard. When WGI was formed in 1978 for the purpose of bringing the winter color guard activity on a national (and now international) basis, it was only natural Sac would join in -- for the organization was already by that time one of the longest continuously competing color guards in the country.
By the 1980's, Blessed Sacrament had become financially independent of its namesake parish, but it was important to management, most notably the Zappala family, that Sac remain true to its roots by fielding several competitive units with members from the local Cambridge area. For years, and even today, Sac has several age-ranged groups out on the competition floor. As the World Guard began to achieve success and popularity through WGI, Sac began to draw members from all over the United States and eventually boasted members from around the world including Japan and the United Kingdom. In 2001, Sac finally broke with one of its mainstay traditions – of having only female performers – and welcomed male performers for the first time in its history.
Over the years, the Sac color guards have proudly acquired multiple Eastern Mass. Circuit championships and the World Guard, of course, has had great success in WGI, having been a World Class Championships competitor for 31 of WGI’s 32-year existence, an unprecedented and historical accomplishment in the winter guard activity. The World Guard proudly holds 33 WGI World Class Regional titles, and is the recipient of six WGI World Class medals.
Sac has re-invented itself many times through the years, but producing 30 years of shows has certainly presented its challenges. If you questioned any of the staff (and most of the staff at Sac have been there for years) they would have it no other way. This creative ambition is what motivates them to continually improve and learn -- while keeping in mind that winter guard, of course, is also a highly competitive arena.
Blessed Sacrament certainly doesn’t measure its success by how many medals it has, but more by the creative risks taken over the years. Most of the 80’s are known for the “Rock with Sac” shows, but many might think that the 1989, “If You Could Read My Mind” program defined Blessed Sacrament’s place in the winter guard world. It certainly was a program and performance that evoked change in color guard. Sac paid homage to that fans’ favorite performance when they decided to use the Johnny Cash version of “If You Could Read My Mind” in their show “Reflections” in 2007.
Other memorable programs to the staff are programs like 1990’s “Mr. Tanner” where Sac got its first and only gold medal; 1994’s “Elvis Costello” when Sac showed it’s renowned equipment finesse by spinning double sabres; 1996 “The Piano” where the use of 10 foot poles introduced another element to program design; 1998’s “Carrie” when the guard of 13 members set new ensemble analysis standards and introduced triple flags; 2003 set the crowd on fire with their tribute to “Earth, Wind, and Fire”, and 2006’s “Subversive Art of Walking” when for the first minute of the show, the guard did an incredible rifle feature without using their hands and each member keeping the rifle connected to the body.
At the 2009 WGI World Championships World Class Finals, Sac was recognized by WGI for its 30 years of consecutive appearances in Finals. The entire 2009 season actually was a celebration of this accomplished performing group. The program design, sound, floor, costumes, and styling for the guard were all based with the history of the organization in mind. Each member of the color guard proudly wore a specially made individualized medallion that represented the 30 years of Sac programs, members and staff who were a part of those 30 years. The 30th Anniversary season culminated in a party and celebration held just a stone’s throw from the old parish and Cambridgeport neighborhood.
Looking to the future, Blessed Sacrament began the 2010 journey in June with staff meetings and trading emails on thoughts for this season. The staff is preparing feverishly to produce an outstanding program. They concur that the discovery period for creating a new program is the most exciting time.
Visit Blessed Sacrament's webpage for more information.
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