WELCOME to the GOLDEN GIRLS!

At the University of Pittsburgh, the Varsity Marching Band Program is an excellent way demonstrate your school spirit and support the Department of Athletics. The Golden Girls have been an esteemed portion of the University of Pittsburgh Marching Band and will be entering their 45th year in 2020, and continue to uphold the tradition as the University's “Glitz and Glamour".

The Pitt Band is the largest student organization on campus and the Golden Girls are featured as the baton twirling and dance auxiliary unit of the Pitt Band. To be a "Golden Girl", you should be versatile and proficient in both dance and twirling. The Golden Girls perform at all the Panther home football games, selected away football games, and a handful of men's and women's basketball games. Additionally, the Golden Girls perform at various university and community events.

Throughout the years, the Golden Girls have featured many nationally ranked solo twirlers. During our Pregame Show, the Pitt Band marches to “Hail to Pitt” which our Feature Twirler leads the band front . Each year, auditions are held for this position. The Golden Girl who is selected for this solo has the potential to be awarded additional scholarship money.

In the winter/spring, the Golden Girls perform exhibition routines on their recruiting tour including Women’s and Men’s Basketball Games, and in addition, a handful of TRWEA Competitions. The Golden Girls have also competed in TU (Twirling Unlimited) and NBTA (National Baton Twirling Association) competitions and have proudly captured the NBTA "Grand National/World College Halftime" title 4 times.

Information for our 2020-2021 Season Auditions:

VIDEO SUBMISSIONS

Accepted through MAY 29, 2020 Email Submissions to: [email protected]

HOW TO REGISTER?

Officially submit your registration by completing the following: Golden Girl Audition Form Please note that this is the same registration form as previously provided for the Live Audition, therefore no need to resubmit.

The audition via video submission format will be separated into three sections; the Private Interview, Individual Routine, and the Compulsory Routine. Descriptions of each are as follows:

Private Interview Please record yourself making a statement and providing an answer to: “Why do you want to be a Pitt Golden Girl?” Response/statement should be no longer one minute. The key is to display YOUR personality. This will account for 7% of your score.

Individual Routines For the “Individual Solo”, we require that all candidates perform a 1:00-3:00 minute routine, to a music selection of your choice. The routine should best demonstrate your talents in both dance and twirling. Only batons are permitted to be used (1, 2, 3, and/or 4 batons). We emphasize that we are a baton twirling group and no fire batons and/or knives may be used in the audition facilities. This will account for 40% of your score.

Compulsory Routines The Compulsory Routine, which will include 1 baton combinations, in addition to 2 and 3 baton combinations and integrated dance. The combinations included in the routine will consist of elements we require to be a Golden Girl. Please access the video to the Compulsory Routine here: 2020 GG Audition Compulsory Routine. You may also perform these combinations to a song of your choice, but we recommend using “Don’t Start Now” by Dua Lipa, as it was the song we planned to use for the live audition. You can access the song here: https://youtu.be/EFOmRZM5QS0. For this song, please hold the first 2 sets of 8 (16 counts) before you begin with the opening dance combination. The Compulsory Routine will account for 33% of your total score.

HOW TO SUBMIT? For all segments, the videos should be simple recordings from a smart device, similar to the video provided for our Compulsory Routine. Each submission should contain a video that is the full segment in continuous format (i.e. NO SPLICING!). The segments can be recorded indoors or alternatively outdoors, as with the current constraints/restrictions, access to facilities will be limited. The majority of our season will be outdoors on the football field, so we encourage you to not limit yourself to only indoor facilities for your video submission! For your submission, please send videos to [email protected] and include each segment as a separate email with the corresponding video attachment. In the subject for each email, please include the following: Pitt 2020 GG Audition – Interview – YOUR NAME Pitt 2020 GG Audition – Individual Routine – YOUR NAME Pitt 2020 GG Audition – Compulsory Routine – YOUR NAME

If you do not have access to an electronic device in order to record your video, please email [email protected] to work through an alternative solution.

Once your video submission is received, you will receive a confirmation email communication which will also include the results for your potential invitation to will move forward to join us at our first Summer Session to be held at Pitt. We are doing this to help accommodate your excitement, as with the recent changes, we know there will be lots of anticipation leading up to the video submission deadline and we don’t want to leave you hanging! Therefore, the sooner you submit, the sooner you will know whether or you will be invited to join the Pitt Golden Girls! The dates are “set” for our Summer Sessions, but also may potentially change based on updates provided by the University and the NCAA following group gathering guidelines for athletics and suggested social distancing. This will provide an opportunity for you to SAVE THE DATE, or in this case, DATES! Our June Summer Session will start the evening of Friday, June 26, 2020 and will conclude following lunch on Sunday, June 28, 2020. This will be the first in a series of two we hold in advance of our official Band Camp which is held during August. The second Summer Session will be held Friday, July 24, 2020 through Sunday, July 26, 2020.

SCORING/JUDGES A group of judges will meet in order to score and evaluate your submissions during June 2020. Judges include former Golden Girls (varying in age for diversification) that are actively involved in the Twirling Community. Our judges typically instruct and/or have NBTA/TU Judging Certifications. The received video submissions will be reviewed with and scored by our panel of judges in advance of our June session.

Additional Scores In addition to your scores from the Interview, Individual Routine, and the Compulsory Routine, an Overall Performance, Style and Presentation score worth 20% will be scored by our judges. In total, the candidates will be evaluated on skills, style, performance proficiency, and appearance throughout all three segments of your audition. A copy of the score sheet utilized for our auditions is available at the end of this information packet. Therefore, even though the audition will be completed via video, you will want to present yourself the same way that you would in person in there was a live audition!

What are “Bonus Tricks”? As you can see from our score sheet, there is an opportunity for “bonus” points throughout your audition in both the Individual and Compulsory Routines. For spins, a 3-turn is a point and each spin after, is an additional point. Therefore, if you catch a 5-turn, that would be 3 bonus points! Say you do two 5-turns… that would be 6 points! Therefore, each executed bonus trick with “catch” will earn additional points.

CAUTION: If you layer in difficulty that you are not comfortable with, it will not work to your benefit! If you drop, no bonus points will be granted, you will receive a point deduction for the drop, AND it will impact your control/smoothness/gracefulness scores. Please include tricks at your level and ones that you can execute at least 5X in a row comfortably before including in your routines.

REMEMBER with video submissions, your routine must be continuous for each of our individual segments for your audition. NO CREATIVE BEHIND THE SCENES MAGIC TO INCLUDE TRICKS FROM ANOTHER RECORDING!

The University of Pittsburgh Varsity Marching Band is always looking for fresh faces and new talent to join the elite ranks of the University of Pittsburgh Golden Girls. Included on the following page is a listing of frequently asked questions and corresponding answers. For any additional questions, please contact via e-mail: [email protected]

Thank you for your interest, we look forward to meeting you, and HAIL TO PITT!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

1. What to wear to audition? A dance leotard or dance outfit, including tights and twirling and/or jazz shoes. No bulky tennis shoes will be permitted on gym floor.

2. How many girls do you pick? There is no set number of squad members each year; Selection is based on ability and talent of each individual candidate performing at our auditions.

3. What tricks do I need to know? - 2 & 3 Turns (horizontal/vertical) - High Toss Illusions (front/back) - Multiple Batons (2 and/or 3) - Grand-Jete - Pas de bourree (and House Parties) - Tour en l’air (Turn in the Air) - Split - Kicks (left and right) & Leg Hold (right) - Dance-twirl Combinations

4. What is the cost involved if I am selected as a Golden Girl? The University of Pittsburgh, Department of Athletics will provide you with a warm-up and tennis shoes, along with a few additional items of “Pitt Band Swag” including a draw string bag and practice shorts and t-shirt. All items provided by the University are Nike, which include all of the items mentioned above. The Department of Athletics will provide “Game Day” meals and transportation to and from , and also cover associated costs for away trips. If awarded, a trip to a Bowl Game will also be covered by the Athletic Department. Each member is responsible for purchasing practice attire, game bags, and any other items specified by the Auxiliary Directors and Captains. A good estimate is $350 for your first year as a member of the squad. After staple items are purchased your first year, the consecutive years are much less.

5. Do I have to audition each year? YES, every member must audition each year. Being a former member does not automatically guarantee your spot on the next season's squad. We encourage all members to keep up their skill level and strive for continual improvement and development.

6. Are individual routines mandatory? Yes, the individual routine is judged to evaluate an individual's skill set that may not be demonstrated during the audition routine. This is to your advantage, as some people have trouble learning the "Golden Girl" style. Any props can be used, but remember we are a baton twirling team. Suggestions for the individual routine include dance, two baton, three, and/or four baton.

7. Are there scholarships available? YES! As members of the Pitt Band, all Golden Girls earn scholarships that increase each year of participation, which is based on attendance throughout the season.

1st Year = $100 2nd Year = $150 3rd Year = $250 4th Year = $300

In addition, there is additional scholarship money available for our Feature Twirler/“Down the Field” recipient ($1,000). For more information regarding the “Down the Field” Audition, please see the next page.

University of Pittsburgh Golden Girls Down the Field Audition Information

The Down the Field position is one of the highlights during our Pregame show. The person selected for this position will lead the entire band down the field during the iconic ‘Hail to Pitt’ . This routine should be designed to “WOW” the audience in every seat of the stadium. (Envision yourself performing in a packed stadium during the Pregame at the big homecoming game!) The routine needs to be entertaining, powerful and exciting! The routine should include a minimum of 3-4 BIG and showy toss tricks. Some examples are toss walkovers, cartwheels, grand jetes, illusions, various leaps, and other body and baton movements. Of course the personality and attitude of a STAR is a must! The person selected for this position, will also have the opportunity to do solo work at some halftime shows, as well as the Pregame concert, and other University events. As stated above, the routine is performed to ‘Hail to Pitt’. The down the field portion is 8 sets of 8 counts (64 counts in total). You must keep an “8 to 5” pace, meaning the routine needs to keep moving as you perform. The routine begins after the 8 count intro in Hail to Pitt. Down the Field auditions will take place during our summer sessions that will be held in June and July. You will be performing on the field, in order to see your movement and overall presentation in the exact environment. This position has the potential for additional scholarship money. If you have any further questions please feel free to contact us. Please see the corresponding “Down the Field” score sheet on the following page. This is a very prestigious position with the Pitt Band and for our Feature Twirler. Good Luck and HAIL TO PITT! JUDGE: Golden Girls

Candidate:

Total for Score Evaluation

"DOWN THE FIELD"

Variety / Twirling Content out of 10

Difficulty / "WOW" Factor out of 10

Speed / Control / Timing out of 10

Smoothness / Gracefulness out of 10

Presentation / Showmanship out of 10

CANDIDATE SCORE out of 50 SQUAD INFORMATION Following our June Summer Session, you will be informed of your results and announcement of which squad of the Pitt Golden Girls that you will be invited to join, based on your acceptance. With your acceptance, you will be required to sign a document acknowledging your agreement to follow and adhere to the Performance Guideline Contract and Pitt Band Handbook. In the case where you are unable to fulfill your requirements, you will be dismissed from either squad in which you have been extended an offer of membership. Please see the performance details and expectations surrounding each squad below. Halftime Squad Halftime Squad members will participate in Pregame performances, including the Pregame Concert, March to Victory Parade, and Pregame Show, in addition to Halftime and other select public performances. Halftime Members are required to attend all rehearsals that are set by Director or Captain(s). Halftime members must continue to maintain skill and performance level. It is the discretion of the Director for each game to determine which members will perform during Halftime. A spot on the Halftime Squad does not guarantee performances at all games. Halftime Squad members must adhere to the Performance Guideline Contract and the Pitt Band Handbook. Pregame Squad Pregame Squad members will participate in the official Pregame Show. Pregame members may have the opportunity to perform during other selected routines, but their primary function will be the Pregame Show. You will be required to audition for these additional performances. Pregame members are full members of the Golden Girls and are required to attend all rehearsals, learn Halftime routines and participate in any performances set by the Director or Captain(s). There is a possibility to advance to the Halftime Squad throughout the season, based on the discretion of the Director. Your progress as a Pregame Squad member will determine this transition. A formal audition process to move to the Halftime Squad will take place. Pregame Squad members also must adhere to the Performance Guideline Contract and the Pitt Band Handbook. 2020 Auditions

JUDGE:

Candidate:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Total for Score Evaluation

Overall (Judged during Group Twirling) out of 30 Peformance out of 10 Style out of 10 Presentation out of 10

Interview out of 10

Individual Routine out of 60 Variety / Twirling Content out of 10 Difficulty out of 10 Speed / Control out of 10 Smoothness / Gracefulness out of 10 Presentation / Showmanship out of 10 (Penalties ‐ Subtract from 10 for each drop) out of 10

Compulsory out of 50 Dance out of 10 Twirl out of 10 2 Baton out of 10 3 Baton out of 10 (Penalties ‐ Subtract from 10 for each drop) out of 10 BONUS (1 point for each execution) Vertical Turn (3 Spin +) out of 1 Illusion Combination (Turn Illusion/Illusion Turn) out of 1 Roll Sequence out of 1 2 Baton Combination (No Drops) out of 1 3 Baton Combination (No Drops) out of 1 Horizontal Turn (3 Spin +) out of 1 Throw Walkover/Cartwheel out of 1 Double Illusion out of 1

CANDIDATE SCORE out of 150

"DOWN THE FIELD" (Need at least 100 from above to Audition for DTF) out of 50 Variety / Twirling Content out of 10 Difficulty / "WOW" Factor out of 10 Speed / Control / Timing out of 10 Smoothness / Gracefulness out of 10 Presentation / Showmanship out of 10

FINAL CANDIDATE SCORE out of 200