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Traffic

publication date: Dec 12, 2008
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author/source: Jeff Young
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When you purchase the new DVD, “Dynamic Marching & Movement: Volume 1”, you will notice the student actors/performers doing various drills to solidify concepts in marching. One of those drills is called “traffic”. It is best to do this with groups of about 35 students. We have all seen color guards doing “across the floors”.  This is is a similar concept.

Set up a line of students at a two step interval on a yard-line (7 across). Then ask 4 more lines of seven to line up behind the first line (right up on each other’s backs). Start “Dr. Beat” and you are off.

  1. march 8 counts forward and place the right foot for a direction change to the left on count eight(we stab at a 45 degree angle to the left)
  2. march 8 steps to the left and place the foot for a direction change to the front on count eight (we stab at a 45 degree angle to the left)
  3. march 8 steps forward and place the foot for a direction change to the right on count eight (we stab at a 45 degree angle to the right)
  4. march 8 steps to the right and place the foot for a direction change to the front on count eight (we stab at a 45 degree angle to the right)
  5. march 8 counts forward and “point close”
  6. each line steps off every 16 counts
  7. when each line finishes it must get out of the way for the next line that is coming and then “reset” the block”
  8. repeat, but retrace your steps back the other way (forward, right, forward, left, forward)

This drill allows you to focus on individuals, instead of looking at an entire block and trying to find mistakes. You can use these “across the floors” for a variety of exercises too. Try starting with forward, then forward slides, then backward, then backward slides, then traffic. Good luck!


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Jeff Young is President and CEO of Dynamic Marching and frequently writes articles and teaches clinics on marching, movement, and visual instruction.  For a more complete bio please visit our consultants and clnicians page here.


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