I'm now a sophomore in college. In high school, I was in show choir. For four years. And looking back on it now, I do miss it. I truly was happy performing (even though I was in the back dancing and wasn't the best singer). Being onstage gave me confidence, gave me the confidence to do things I wouldn't normally do. Looking back on it now, and in college where I am not performing whatsoever, I miss it. I'm feeling nostalgic so here ya go.
1. You learned how to do your makeup during show choir season.
You got your heavy foundation, dark eyeliner, glittery eye shadows...need I go on? I think I learned more about makeup in show choir than anywhere else. Now do I wear blue glittery eye shadow to class? .....
2. Your show choir family was your second family.
You were with them all year, sat next to them in your chorus classes, practiced with them after school, and traveled out-of-state to competitions and stayed in cheap hotels. Sometimes, you saw them more than your own family.
3. Glitter and sequins were your best friend.
You found sequins all over after a competition. Whether it be on a dress, face, or shoes, glitter and sequins were EVERYWHERE. I stress this; sequins are not a fun time. They hurt and scratch you when your entire dress is covered in them.
4. "Show choir isn't a sport."
Shut up, shut up, shut up. If you say show choir isn't some type of athletic, you're completely wrong. If anything, we are actually a sports team. We practice at least twice a week after school all year, go on trips to other schools, and cardio. The cardio. I think the most shape I was in was when I was in show choir.
5. You learned how to change in 30 seconds.
Those quick backstage changes were the death of you but you know how to shimmy out of a ball gown dress and into a club sequin dress.
6. You also learned how to walk in three, four-inch heels.
Why did my choreographer make us walk in heels? You're probably not reading this, but on the off chance that you are, you're tacky and I hate you thanks for teaching my feet not to die in heels.
7. Your chorus teacher drilling notes into your head every. Single. Day.
As we come into chorus class, the first thing to do after warm-ups is work on that high note in the ballad that some of the sopranos go a little too sharp on. It's that tedious.
8. Choreography.
"Wait, so show choir is actually dancing and not just swaying back and forth and snapping?" Let's put it this way, we hire a choreographer from New York. And dance for five songs. Like I mentioned above, CARDIO. Show choir is just chorus and the dance team combined. Chin pops, chin pops, chin pops...I think those two words were reiterated in my brain that sometimes I still get nightmares of my choreographer yelling it in my face. And ripples were the death of us; God forbid we had to hold that position for TEN MINUTES ONCE just because someone ~had moved~ one inch. Smh.
9. Risers could be the death of you if you fall off.
@ me who was on the risers four years in a row. Every time you were on that top riser, you were afraid that you could fall off and die. And then mess up the show. But not really because "the show must go on" no matter what happens. Even if you fall off and die.
10. That hair bump that needed to be the right height.
Right next to glitter and sequins, hairspray is your best friend. You needed to get your hair bump to the right height and if it wasn't up to the right standards, then you had to redo it. And then after the competition and when you got home, it took forever to get the bump out. I don't think my hair was ever the same again. It never returned to its normalcy. And those curls...
11. Singing Broadway tunes on the bus rides to competitions.
On the way to show choir competitions, my team always sang Broadway tunes, songs off the radio, and any songs that were popular that year. Oh, how I miss those days singing with my friends while we were excited.
12. When it's all over, you realize you miss performing and how happy it made you.
Now, in my sophomore year of college, I realize I miss performing with my show choir family. As stressful as it was, I truly appreciate my four years in that beloved show choir. It made my high school years memorable.
