Some of the most popular modern dances draw from past styles like ballroom, line, salsa, and swing. But lost among the shuffle lies the unique drill dance.
So what exactly is drill dancing?
Drill dance mixes elements of military drills and marches with shades of cheerleading, demonstrated perfectly by Australian DrillDance teams like the Black Diamonds. Their Australian Drilldance championship performance beautifully encapsulates the spirit and power of drill.
Our performers sport half-kaleidoscopic, half-black unitards with giant orange feather fans in their hands. Their Senior Prop Precision performance is set to Queen’s famed “Bohemian Rhapsody.”
“Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy?
Caught in a landslide, no escape from reality”
The Australian dancers flutter their vibrant, orange feather fans along to the tune. Pivotal musical moments are captured perfectly by unique group choreography and prop use.
Drill dancing generally features exact movements in complete unison. The performances avoid acrobatic antics, opting for drill, march-like precision.
“Open your eyes, look up to the skies and see
I’m just a poor boy, I need no sympathy”
Our performers flap their giant fluttering fans above their heads.
The prop fans are reminiscent of Spanish flamenco – another incredible dance genre.
A wavering sea of orange opens across the stage.
Their multi-colored unitard halves face the camera.
The Black Diamonds use their color choices and plush prop subtleties to perfection.
And as you probably already know, Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” is one of the most acclaimed songs in the history of recorded music. Many consider the 1975 release to be the group’s magnum opus.
Freddie Mercury’s powerful vocals proceed, informing the dancers’ upcoming choreography.
“Because I’m easy come, easy go, little high, little low
Any way the wind blows doesn’t really matter to me, to me”
The Black Diamonds assemble into a single file line, stretching their fans outward.
The choreography creates a three-dimensional barrage of orange.
The famous, idiosyncratic third verse of Queen’s classic begins, prompting a new formation from the Black Diamonds.
“I see a little silhouetto of a man
Scaramouche, Scaramouche, will you do the Fandango?
Thunderbolt and lightning, very, very frightening me
(Galileo) Galileo, (Galileo) Galileo, Galileo Figaro magnifico
I’m just a poor boy, nobody loves me”
A victim of powerful dance-flapping, a single faux feather lies to the group’s side.
The performance progresses along to “Bohemian Rhapsody,” now featuring beautiful, operatic bursts of harmony.
“He’s just a poor boy from a poor family
Spare him his life from this monstrosity
Easy come, easy go, will you let me go?
Bismillah! No, we will not let you go
(Let him go) Bismillah! We will not let you go
(Let him go) Bismillah! We will not let you go”
The dancers waft their fans outward, creating a pulsing row of orange flowers.
The fluttering results are truly remarkable.
Drill dances aren’t particularly common in most areas – but they’re oh so beautiful.
The group dynamic functions completely differently in drill compared to other genres. The performers move as a consistent unit. And that’s not to say that each member performs the exact same moves, not at all. The collective choreography yields a whole great than the sum of its parts.
Congratulations on the fantastic performance, Black Diamonds. Your powerful Senior Prop Precision performance has already touched thousands of lives. Plus, you’ve introduced drill dancing to countless others who’ve never even heard of the genre.
Keep those flashy fans fluttering. We love it.
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