All during the first half of a game, these prisms are seen at the field’s edge just waiting to go out to the center of the playing field.Their handlers are even staying close by. Don’t let any of the 10 get away. Photos by Neil Abeles
Rabbit Band Drum Major Jorniyah Matthews
Note the highly unusual gowns worn by the flag crew. Not at all what a band front of majorette and flag bearers usually wear. At left is Cartavias Barfield, center background is Boston Graf and Addison Sloan is at right.
The light show by the Rabbit band for halftime is almost indescribable. It’s as if revelers are part of a light show either to dance,throw a flag or play an instrument.
Big Bad Band from Rabbitland
The colors of a prism are displayed for an entire football stadium by the Atlanta High School Rabbit Band and its halftime show called “inPRISMent.” The display involves some 17 large lighted panels that project shimmering colors.
The halftime show is strikingly colorful. The lighted, rolling panels that change colors are by themselves almost as entertaining and attractive as the band itself.
But then, on the other hand, the band members are wearing sparkling hats and tunics which seem worthy of a New Orleans parade. The shirts and hats are pulsing with reflective flashing. Band members seem to be saying, “We’d like to wear these all the time. Just take a look at us.”
And then they perform music with the band’s full sounds of air through horns, mallets on drums and electronic devices on the sideline.
Those electronic prisms with their lights have one outstanding feature that would be unknown to the public. One of the prisms is a master controller and can respond to the sound of the music on the field and tell other prisms how and when to display their lights.
The Rabbit Band has just received all firsts in judging at its UIL Regional competition at Mt. Pleasant. This is a 20th consecutive time for the Rabbit Band to earn first division at UIL Regionals. A week earlier, the band was grand champion of the Winnsboro Invitational marching show. It is now preparing for area competition at Stephen F. Austin University this Saturday. The top five bands at area will then go on to the state finals. The band and its prismatic presentation are worth a visit by the public. Director Keith Sanders explains it this way.
“Along with the current and classical music which we play. this is way more visual than we have ever had before.Very appealing with some 135 band members on the field. The students have really bought into this show.”