Palmetto Invitational Band Classic

March to the beat of area high schools in massive event

Get ready to see a display of raw energy, devastating dance moves and a dose of cheekiness.

That's what the Burke High School High Steppin' Bulldog Band will bring to the table Sunday, when they play host to their annual marching band showcase, The Palmetto Invitational Band Classic, sometimes referred to as "The Battle of the Bands."

The Classic will feature highly regarded college and high-school bands from the Southeast, but the hometown Burke Bulldogs are usually the crowd favorites.

Here's a primer on the marching style of the participating bands.

Mostly practiced by bands at historically black colleges, the style has been perfected by the Florida A&M Marching 100, which marched at President Barack Obama's inauguration parade and is acclaimed by consensus as the best in the land.

The foundation of the style is in the drumline, which provides high-energy rhythms and theatrical, stick-twirling hand motions. Performances usually feature songs from a range of genres, from "old-school" R & B to hip-hop and pop to gospel.

The music comes with flag-waving troops, baton twirlers and sharp-dressed dancers, but the highlight is the dancing by the instrumentalists.

I first saw the Burke Bulldogs when I was in high school, and I was frankly awestruck that they could play music while executing demanding dance moves, and keep playing while lying on the ground or dropping down into full splits. The coordination of these dance routines among 100 or more band members is stunning.

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Burke High School Band

Burke alumnus band director, Linard McCloud has been director of the High Steppin' Bulldog Band for 31 years.

For my money, the best portion of Burke or any of these bands' performances is the dance routine. A medley of excerpts from the hottest recent rap, dance, and hip-hop hits, the dance portion is smash-mouth entertainment.

In addition to dancing, band members break into full-throated rapping, singing and generalized yelling. Many bands incorporate humor as well.

Burke alumnus Linard McCloud has been the

Burke Band director for 31 years. He runs a program with an impressive track record. In 2002, Showtime Magazine ranked Burke at No. 9 in a list of the nation's best high school bands, calling it "one of the best-kept secrets in the South."

This year's band is relatively young "and short," McCloud says, but improved with each day of its summer practices. Then there are the drum majors, who besides conducting and providing off-the-field leadership, are often the band's most compelling performers. This year, the band is lead by the trio of senior Jasmine Lilienthal, junior Ja'Vonna Alexander and sophomore Shamaine Gentile.

This year's slate of bands includes S.C. State University, Benedict College, North Carolina A&T State University and Edward Waters College, along with Cross and Lamar high schools.

But what can fans expect from the Bulldogs at the Classic?

"(We're) the little dog with a big bite," Lilienthal says. "Be prepared, everybody! ... We're gonna stick it!"