Rock Guard and

Dragon Fire Dance Company

Telling the visual story through choreography, dance, movement and equipment

The Round Rock Dragon Band is the umbrella organization for two auxiliary units

  • Rock Guard - color guard program with flags, rifles and sabers

  • Dragon Fire Dance Company - NEW dance only program

The goals for both groups

  • Student growth and development

  • High level performance outcomes

  • Quality leadership and team building

Students participating in the program should not only develop as a performer, they should grow as people while working with others, learning self expression and communication, creating positive character qualities and developing a great deal of individual responsibility.

Fall Semester

During the fall semester the students in both groups will work with the Varsity Marching Band as a visual component of the program.

All students will sign up for the dance/color guard course offered 4th and 8th block and rehearse each day during class. Additionally students will rehearse between 5-10 hours per week outside of the school day per week.

All students will travel as a group to most varsity football games and 4-6 marching competitions between September and November, almost all of which are held on Saturdays. To get an idea of the schedule - check out the Calendar for the fall of 2023. Dates and times for fall 2024 will be added soon.

Spring Semester

In the spring, all students will continue taking the 4th and 8th period course.

Rock Guard students will transition into the competitive winter guard season. This includes preparation in December and performances and competitions from January-April. The full group will be split into two based on ability. Each group will learn their own 4-5 minute show, performed in a gymnasium and set to recorded music.

Dragon Fire students will continue in dance class building skills and learning choreography for the dance department’s spring show.

Performance

Both groups will operate in the same or extremely similar way during the fall semester. In the spring the groups will further develop their skills in differing ways - each suited to their unique aspect of visual performance.

Dragon Fire students will focus almost entirely on movement and dance. Students may occasionally use a hand held prop or a swing flag but most performance will focus on dance!

Rock Guard students will learn all the basics of flag with continued learning for advanced students on rifle and saber! Guard students will also develop dance and movement skills as part of their training for performance.

In the fall both groups will function as a singular unit, rehearsing together much of the time but also separately when needed.

All students will be taught from the ground up and no students need prior experience.

Directors will build a curriculum using the most basic dance and equipment elements that all students will learn. Choreography will be written using these elements so students can apply their knowledge and skills to the performance!

More basic skills and advanced skills will be added over time as students become more and more proficient at the basics.

If I wanted to participate, what would be expected of me?

Attendance

  • Arrive 5-10 minutes earlier than the posted start time

  • Be present at all required events

  • Be mentally and physically engaged at all required events

  • Follow all event procedures

  • Clean up and store items properly

Behavior

  • Abide by the RRISD Student Code of Conduct

  • Maintain passing grades

  • Listen carefully to instructions and explanations

  • Hold yourself to a high standard of excellence inside and outside of performance settings

  • Follow group procedures

  • Treat others the way you would like to be treated

Performance

  • Listen carefully to instructions

  • Listen carefully to feedback

  • Give your best effort at all events

  • Have patience with yourself as you learn new skills

Program

Directors

Dragon Fire ~ Alissa Jones

My name is Alissa Jones. I was raised in Austin, Texas where I attended the Round Rock ISD school district. I graduated from Westwood High School in the class of '99. I then attended Southwest Texas State University where I studied dance, psychology and teaching. When I graduated I became the drill team director of the Round Rock Dragonettes for 9 years where I made many wonderful memories. I am now blessed to teach the PAL program here at Round Rock High School. This will be my 19th year teaching here at Round Rock High School.

Next year will be my first year as Director of the new Dragon Fire dance program.

Rock Guard ~ Whitney Stone

Whitney Stone grew up in Sylva, North Carolina. She danced for 8 years with a studio in her younger years and attended Smoky Mountain High School, graduating in 2003. She was a member of the band as a flutist and joined color guard during her Sophomore year. After graduating, She marched with the Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps for 5 years, 2003-2007, and was a captain for 2006 & 2007. In 2007, the Guard placed 2nd at DCI. She also marched at WCU in the Pride of the Mountains Marching Band from 2003-2005 and was a co-captain of the guard in 2005. She performed with The Study IW winter guard in 2004-2005 and First Flight IO in 2006. After that, she moved to Indianapolis, Indiana to immerse herself in the guard community and march the Pride of Cincinnati in 2007 (World Champions) and 2008 (Silver Medalists). In 2009 she marched Zydeco World. This is Mrs. Stone’s 4th year as Director of Rock Guard.

Things You Need to Know!

  • All students in the Varsity Marching Band, of which Rock Guard and Dragon Fire are a part, will pay approximately $600* for the fall semester in addition to purchasing required personal items.

    *the exact amount is still being determined based on program needs for fall 2024.

    Color Guard students will pay an additional fee ($250-$450*) for the spring winter guard season.

    *the exact amount is still being determined based on program needs for spring 2025

    It is not anticipated that Dragon Fire students will have a large additional amount due for the spring semester 2025.

    If financial assistance is needed, please see Mr. Mobley.

  • Our goal is to have 36 students in each group, creating a visual ensemble of 72 students total. For color guard students this would lead to two competitive winter guards of 18.

  • Interested students will complete a brief application form and a grade check. Students will perform a short 30-45 second audition routine. Dragon Fire students will focus on dance and Rock Guard students will focus on flag.

  • Students will register for the dance/color guard course each school day during 4th and 8th period. Students will also rehearse 5-10 hours per week outside of the school day during the fall. Reviewing the Calendar for fall of 2023 will give a very good idea of rehearsal time.

  • Yes. Rock Guard will have captains and other positions as in the past. Dragon Fire will have student helpers the first year and official leadership positions will begin the second year.

  • Both programs are a full year commitment to the class schedule and outside of school rehearsals, including all competitions. Students are expected to commit to being a full participant in all the group’s activities.

  • Every other year, the Varsity Marching Band has traveled to Indianapolis, Indiana in November to participate in a major marching competition. Last year (2023) the group finished 8th out of 93 bands. If the band performs well this fall (2024) we will again travel to Indianapolis in November of 2025.

  • Both groups will still function with a lower number of students but 36 is the goal and we will continue to strive for it.

  • Yes, both groups will share a handbook and it will include information from A-Z about what to expect, how to behave, what to wear, what to do on the bus and at games and contest and everything in between.

  • No prior experience is necessary to participate in either group. A good attitude, clear willingness to follow expectations and a high level of effort will help students to succeed.

    Both groups will have basic skills that every student will be taught and need to master. These basic building blocks will be used to write the group’s choreography so that students will understand what is being asked.

  • For efficient learning, students must understand:

    That there is a system in place where skills are tiered by difficulty

    That they must work to achieve those skills in a structured way

    That their development as a performer relies on their ability to demonstrate and eventually master the skills in the system

    That those skills will be combined over time within a performance

    That their development as a performer relies upon their ability to layer skill upon skill along with movement within the context of a performance

  • Yes, the group will have at least one parent meeting which everyone must attend. Additionally, all Dragon Band members (including Rock Guard and Dragon Fire) will attend an event called Everything Day where everyone is needed.

    Financial support in payment of fees is critical for the organization to function.

    Parents and families are always encouraged to attend all performances, are welcome to attend rehearsals and highly encouraged to participate as a volunteer with the Dragon Band Boosters, of which all parents are automatically a part.

    Finally, parent support is needed at home! Transporting your student to and from all rehearsals and helping them keep track of required items and simply asking how things are going would be a big help!