During my internship at the San Bernardino County Sun, I was asked as part of my work to shoot a photo story for possible publication.
I decided to take pictures of Riverside Community CCollege's world-class winterguard, Fantasia. Having been a member of RCC's marching band (colorguard) for three years, I was familiar with the way the program worked and the people in it.
Even though it was never published, I was shown interest from other photographers because the subject material was unfamiliar.
I mostly followed around a pair of girls from the local area; one was from Japan, living with the other and her family.
Click here for the pictures.

Fantasia winter guard article by Megan Dangermond/ For the Sun Fantasia is a original as the way it got it's name.
Fantasia got its moniker one fateful night, when Riverside Community College marching band program director Gary Locke offered a new idea to winter guard- combining the separate fall dance teams and color guard to create an 'indoor pageantry group'.
Some said it was 'just a fantasy'. "A mix of things," Locke remembers someone saying. "Like ambrosia [salad]."
So, instead of the classic Disney film, Fantasia is named for a mix of the two words. They both still very much apply to the guard of today, known for pushing the envelope and being the hometown hero for the Inland Empire and beyond.
Winter guard, which is comparable to the fall marching band guard, uses equipment such as rifles, sabres, flags and often performing on large sheets on vinyl, called a 'floor'. They perform choreographed routines that can be between four to six-and-a-half minutes, depending on the guard's level. Winter guards are also split in two groups, scholastic (for high school guards) and independent.
According to Locke, who runs the program along with his wife Sheila, winter guard started after World War 2, with military drill teams. It has evolved into an international organization called Winter Guard International, with the national championships encompassing some 300 guards annually.
Fantasia began in 1985 as an extension of the successful Riverside Community College Marching Tigers. Along with numerous other awards, the guard has won the gold medal in their Independent World class three times in the last five years, along with an eight year gold medal run in the national collegiate division and a 12 year gold medal run in local competition.
"We're very well known due to our success," said instructor Jenny Manio. 27-year-old Manio, a resident of Mission Viejo, is a former Fantasia member and one of the 10 staff that contribute to the program. She came from Missouri at the recommendation of an instructor, Karl Lowe, who has worked with Fantasia since 1990.
"We have the top show designer in the nation (Karl Lowe)."
"You attract people from all over when you have years of competitive success," she said. "And it's fun to be in."
Aki Yamada, 22, and Leanne Hlavka, 19 live together at Hlavka's family home in Rancho Cucamonga. The two friends car pool to practice and spend their free time resting and watching videos of winter guard performances.
Hlavka, who graduated from Etiwanda High School and participated in it's marching band and winter guard, wasn't rally into winter guard until she saw an instructor perform in Fantasia.
Yamada traveled from her native Tokyo after graduating high school after an instructor showed a tape of winter guard performances, including Fantasia. "I was like, 'that's great'," she said. "I wanted to try."
"I like the people," said Hlavka," because they have the same passion as you do, but also the high level you perform at."
"Yamada said, "I like [the] Fantasia staff. If I don't like the instructor, I wouldn't want to do the guard."
Hlavka added, "They're always doing something cool and different."
A good example of Fantasia's desire to be unique is this year's show titled “Funk!” and incorporates music from James Brown, Snoop Dogg, and others, which stood out at the regional competition, where the IW division was full of lyrical and moving performances.
Fantasia, being a college-based guard, has a unique situation compared to other guards. The members are more experienced than the average high school-based guard. Also, most of the members also are involved with the college's Marching Tigers, whereas most independent guards have no fall program and are able to start training earlier than Fantasia.
However, even an unfinished show wasn't a setback for long, The guard's scores raising 10 points in a month, and it recently made a record at the WGI Las Vegas Regional competition with a 4.9 point jump between competitions, the largest jump in recent history.
Locke considers the program a learning experience. "We're not talking color guard, we're talking commitment, discipline, and follow through." The members juggle school, work, and social lives with the 30-odd hours a week from December to early April, when the national championships take place.
"You make a big sacrifice for four months, it's hard," he said. "And you're paying for this."
Another sacrifice is a physical one. Bruises, scrapes, bumps, and pulled muscles come with the territory.
"There's always something hurt, but I keep going," said Yamada, who was nursing a broken toe.
"You don't even notice it," said Hlavka, "till you go home or someone says, 'hey, you're bleeding'." However, for the members of Fantasia, the sacrifices are well worth it. "I love to perform, but I don't know why, I just like it." said Yamada.
"You get to be a character," said Hlavka. "You don't just plaster on a cheesy smile. It's more than that."
"For that certain amount of time, you can be what you wanna be," she said thoughfully.
"Even when you lose, or whatever happens after, you still have that certain amount of time that no one wil know what it's like, or take it away from you."