WGI

We Revisit Northmont's 1997 Show Dante's Inferno

We Revisit Northmont's 1997 Show Dante's Inferno

We break down one of the most infamous shows of all time from WGI on this Friday the 13th.

Jan 13, 2017 by Michael Gilley
Music City: One Final Run For Finis
On this Friday the 13th, we look back at one of the most infamous shows in Winter Guard International's storied history. Mixing cuts from "The Exorcist" and heavy metal music by Godsmack, the Northmont High School color guard from Clayton, Ohio, stunned the audience with its dark and twisted take on "Dante's Inferno" in 1997.

Let's take a closer look at this unforgettable show and break down its most haunting moments.

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A Chilling Opening


From the opening jolt of sound and snapping back of the performers' hair, the audience was immediately transported to a dark and frightening world. Then, 31 seconds into the show, two performers held the outstretched arms of another member. A fourth walked up behind her and simulated snapping her neck as the first tempo based music was introduced.

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The contortionist-like body work and dance built toward a sudden stop in the music nearly a minute into the performance. It was followed by a sequence of more interpretive dance and the unleashing of the first wave of rifles.

One of the most unsettling moments came from a roar of demonic voices during the unison rifle toss -- the sound just cuts through the performance and sears into your mind.

Then the first hint of color is presented in the form of a different uniform. When an unfortunate soul is dragged from under the large props, a voice says, "Tears at your flesh!" The colored uniform is then suddenly ripped away, revealing the same uniform as all of the other performers.

Screams From Below


The first full ensemble moment, which features a mix of black flags and rifles, began as performers were spread across the entire floor and props.

Later, the demonic voices returned, screaming "It burns! It burns!" This outcry suddenly ended as the rifles caught a big unison toss. A short flag feature immediately followed the rifle toss, and it allowed for a transition to the first introduction of sabre work.

Next, you see new flags being introduced across the floor, building to the big flag hit about three minutes into the show. Then the camera cuts to a close-up of a performer being staged for something entirely different.

Three minutes and 44 seconds into the show is probably the most infamous singular moment in WGI's history. The screams of "No" take over the audio and the girl on the back-middle prop is suddenly shoved off the platform. 

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A Sudden Stop


The boom arm she was attached too shook as her bodyweight suddenly hit the end of the rope seemingly wrapped around her neck. For the rest of the show, her "lifeless" body hung supported by the chest harness hidden under her uniform.

Then the heavy, fast-paced music of Godsmack is cranked up for the furious ending. The long hook-like props were used for equipment choreography and the last set of red flags were staged for the final rifle/flag ensemble moment of the show. 

As the show comes to a climactic ending, the performers congregate around the devil character played by a large male figure. He tosses a few of them around, and then the music suddenly cuts out as the girls' bodies go limp and fall to the ground -- some sliding down the ramps of the props.

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