Formed in October 2003, Northern Academy is a member of the Northern Academy of Performing Arts (NAPA) which has introduced a fully independent Colourguard Unit in the North of England, having it's headquarters firmly rooted in Sheffield, UK.

Under the Guard Directorship of Nicola Garlick, the first year saw the launch of the Open Class Guard which attracted some of the Worlds finest Instructional staff. Since then, the guards have gone from strength to strength, with many performances up and down the country and across Europe.

See some of our Instructor Profiles here

Northern Academy are now one of the most successful Colourguards in the UK and have competed at the highest level taking top honors on many occasions. The driving force behind the success is a simple one. To provide our students with the very best in Education through the highest possible Instruction by people with years and years of National and International experience in the areas of Dance, Choreography, Equipment and Movement.

 

For more information about Northern Academy and how you can get involved contact info@northernapa.org

 

If you are new to Colourguard, the following article will give you an idea of just why so many young people enjoy taking part in it. It is one of the most difficult things to describe given the amount of dedication and teamwork required to generate the overall program, but also, one of the most rewarding for the individual member as well as the instructors to experience when the performance comes alive!

What is Colourguard

Then, another Sunday afternoon comes! Judges, instructors, other guards, and 500 or 600 spectators are waiting for your performance. For five or six minutes, every ounce of your strength and concentration are dedicated to making our family, friends, school, and town proud of your competitive unit. The demanding, endless hours of practice have been a prelude to this moment. There is the hope in your heart, "Please, let this one be ours!"

But colour guard is much more than work and intense competition. It is closeness between young people that cannot be described. It is doing your best and knowing that you have your very own group of "fans" who you will always encourage and support you, Whether you win or lose.

Colourguard is Science
It is exact, specific and it demands precise execution. A designer's drill is a chart; a graph which indicates x and y coordinates for constantly changing geometric shapes and forms in both time and space. Our equipment and props are always pushing the laws of physics with force and speed, action and reaction. All of this with an incredible control of time.

Colourguard is Mathematical
It is rhythmically and metrically based on the subdivision of time into fractions which must be done instantaneously. We have angles and degrees, both acute and obtuse, sequences, ranges, and hypotenuse.

Colourguard is a Language
It is a visual picture alive with message and meaning. We use interpretive phases, sentences, and words many times with music which creates a most complete and universal language, to be recorded for others to see, feel, and understand. It is a language which is recited and shared many times both near and far.

Colourguard is History
Colourguard can be influenced by the environment and times of it's creation, or it can reflect the past as well as the future. It can send us to a far away country or bring us closer to home. We are rich in our heritage and have forefathers as well.

Colourguard is a Physical
It requires fantastic coordination of fingers, hands, arms, feet and legs; in addition to extraordinary control of the back stomach and torso; all of which are called to respond instantly to the sound the ear hears and the sight of the eye see. Colourguard surrounds around endurance, ability, strength, and balance.

Colourguard is a Sport
A game which we play with others in which we share and we shine. Competing with ourselves to perform better each time.

It allows us to learn more on our inside on confidence and fear, self-esteem and self-image; as we get better on the outside with performances, people, expressing our feelings, and sharing our dreams. It is a chance to realize our attitude is what makes us or breaks us, not anyone or anything else. It is a kind of mind set with an increase awareness which challenges us to realize the potential in our selves.

Colourguard is Performing Arts
It is a show which can be entertaining and enlightening! With directing, acting, producing, managing, and touring. Colours, fashion, flair, excitement, pizazz, sophistication, and subtlety. Always realizing the trade of performance; audience, performer, designer.

Colourguard is Educational
It allows a human being to learn how to take all of these things; some dry and technically boring, some difficulty and challenging; and use them to create EMOTION! The one thing that our world needs.