For my very first performer spotlight, I will be telling you about Kimi Shillinger. She is a 23 year old from Saint Paul, Minnesota who has more experience and talent in her little finger than I do in my whole body. This year will be her 8th year in color guard.
She started in high school and marched two seasons there. Since high school she has marched 5 full drum corps seasons, 2 half drum corps seasons (filling holes), and 5 winter guard seasons. She has also been instructing at Hastings High School in Hastings, MN for 5 years.
I asked Kimi what got her started in color guard.
Kimi: In high school, I had a couple friends who were very academically driven (as I was) but we were looking for something else to do that would be a challenge and a good time. A few more mutual friends were involved with Marching Band and encouraged us to join.
Q: When did you start color guard, and where did you go from there?
Kimi:I didn't start doing colorguard until I was a junior at Hastings High School. Most of my high school career was focused on my grades and taking the most difficult classes that I could. As I got older, I realized that this wasn't enough for me, and I needed an outlet to express my personality and meet new people. I excelled quickly my first year in color guard, so much so, that I was put on the rifle line my first year. Because of this, a lot of the veteran members didn't care for me, to the point that I pondered joining the drum line the next year. The next year, all of those "bully" girls were graduated, so that stress was gone. I went on to be weapon section leader my senior year.
My first year in winterguard was in a little independent group called "Mosaic". There were 6 of us and we were all rookies to winter guard. This first season of winter guard is what really showed me how fun this activity could be and the great friendships you could make. A friend that I had met through winter guard told me about Chops, Inc. and asked me to come to a rehearsal. Long story short, I did, had a blast and came back for the next 3 seasons to march winterguard there.
I had other friends who were involved in MN Brass, who wanted me to check out their summer program. Again, I had tons of fun, loved the people there and proceeded to march there the next 5 years.
During this time in senior corps, I really felt like this color guard thing was becoming more than a hobby to me. I wasn't able to imagine my life without it and wanted to do more to be the best I could be. This lead me to junior corps.
My first year auditioning for the Phantom Regiment was shaky to say the least. I mostly went to auditions for a learning experience and to see if this corps was the right fit for me. After accepting a position there, I soon realized what a huge commitment I was making. To march my first season there, I quit both my jobs, put school on hold and left my home. Giving up all that was normal to me was the hardest part. As a 19 year old, it's a lot of stuff to deal with on your own, but I wanted to do it, so I made it work. Looking back, my first year in junior corps was all I thought it would be - I worked harder than I ever have, my mind was blown on a daily basis, I ran a lot and hated every second I was there. They don't play around at the Phantom Regiment, you do whatever it takes to be the best, no matter how hard it is (which takes some major getting used to). The worst part is that as soon as I got home, I wished I was back there. Then I realized I had to do it again.
I went back in 2009 and didn't make a spot. This was the hardest thing for me to face - knowing that I couldn't be with my team. I thought about going to another corps, but Phantom Regiment was the only place I wanted to be. In the end, it turned out to be a good thing for me. I marched MN Brass that summer, met my boyfriend, got my finances in order, so by the time 2010 rolled around, I was ready to try again. Going into auditions in 2010 was very nerve racking for me, but after seeing some of my best friends again, I figured that this was my last chance (since it was my age out) and I was going to show them how bad I wanted to be there. Thankfully it worked, and I went on to have one of the greatest summers.
Coming home from my age out was awesome and terrible at the same time. Being on tour is a lifestyle that is completely inconsistent and I could never get used to it, now what I was excited for was to start my "real life". I had been teaching my old high school program since I graduated and it was going well, but with the quality of teaching that I received while in the Phantom Regiment, I knew that I could make those kids great. I've now been teaching there for 5 years and every year they get better as students and I get better as their instructor.
Q: What is your favorite piece of equipment and why?
Kimi: I would have to say flag. Weapons are cool and all, but nothing gets me like a huge, clean flag line.
Q: What is your biggest accomplishment in Color Guard?
Kimi: I guess just sticking with it. If I had chosen to quit early on, I would definitely not be the person I am today. I'm very thankful for everything that this activity has taught me and all the experiences I wouldn't have had without it.
Q: What are one or two things you do in your training that are keys to your success?
Kimi: Being taught by many different people is important to me. Each new instructor will teach you something, weather it's about technique, movement or even how to instruct. I also think that basics are hugely important. What you do in your basics program sets you up for what you will do in your performance.
Q: How do you set your goals?
Kimi: Having one big goal at a time, then making smaller checkpoints to achieve that goal. For example, I want to throw a 5/turnaround/catching at port. Make sure you can throw a good 5 - placement, rotation, height, catching, then practice doing the 5 with a turnaround, then add the port catch. It seems like a simple concept, but many people only see the big goal and completely look over the steps it takes to get there.
Q: What is your biggest challenge, and how do you manage this challenge?
Kimi: Since I'm not currently performing, most of my challenges right now involve teaching. I have a hard time teaching movement technique, especially more modern styles. To help me, I've been researching a lot of different styles of dance that I'm interested in, and using the concepts that I like to make a modern style that I'm comfortable teaching. Kind of like inventing something new out of something old, it's pretty cool.
Q: What is your diet like?
Kimi: ha ha ha...not as great as it could be :) I've been vegetarian for 6 years, so I eat a lot of veggies, which I hear is good. But I also have a huge weakness for dairy - the more cheese the better. I do my best to make smart choices, but feel satisfied at the same time.
Q: What things do you believe differentiate you from your contemporaries who have tailed off in their participation and abilities?
Kimi: Willingness to work. It's very easy to lose sight of why you do this when things get difficult. Being willing to work hard is essential, especially for those times when you don't even know what your working for.
Q: Do you have any recommended resources to share?
Kimi: The WGI fan network has a lot of educational tools that come in handy, especially when it comes to staging and effect. Colorguard is a big community - if there is ever a need, you're bound to know somebody who knows somebody who can help. I think we all can help each other :)
Q: Have you experienced a break through in Color Guard at any point? If so, what led to it?
Kimi: There was a point about midway through my 1st season of junior corps where I really started to catch on and it stemmed from me working on my show at every single opportunity I had. Its that time where you've rehearsed it well so many times that you can't remember how to mess it up.
Q: What was the best advice you were ever given?
Kimi: In guard, spinning away from my body. Especially outdoors, it really helps you not get tangled in a sweaty flag silk :) In life, when you feel frazzled about something, just take a second and put it into perspective. Deep breaths are good!
Q: Do you have a saying or motto that you live your life by?
Kimi: How you do anything is how you do everything. Why pick and choose when you want to be your best? Do everything 100% and you'll never have regrets.
Q: Where do you draw your inspiration from?
Kimi: I have a really great life, so everything that's around me. A little imagination never hurts either.
Q: Anything else you'd like to share?
Kimi: I have never talked this much about myself and colorguard - wow!
Well Kimi, thank you for talking so much. I truly believe that we can all learn from each other, and hearing the perspective of someone who has been there and done that is an inspiration for the rest of us to achieve our goals. Hearing someone as talented as Kimi talk about her struggles and how she overcame them reminds us that NO ONE gets there without a lot of hard work, everyone experiences failures at some point, and it's so important to learn from those and never give up. After all look where it got Kimi!
I think I need to go practice :)
Until next time!
-Mrs. T
