Landon Taliercio, Lev Rolnjck and Spencer Smith of the Counselors-in-Training Group practice for their Airband routine Tuesday at Boys’ and Girls’ Club.
JENELL TAYLOR
Staff writer
At 4:30 p.m. today in the Amphitheater, the Boys’ and Girls’ Club will showcase their fine-tuned entertainment skills for the 41st annual Airband competition.
The beloved tradition features groups of talented young Chautauquans as they face off in a series of competitions based on intricately choreographed lip-syncs, air-guitar performances and musical renditions of famed movie scenes.
Gloria Pender, Lia Artz and Ella Hively of Group Five Girls practice for their routine.
This year, the award categories are: Best Costumes, Best Choreography, Best Props, Most Original and two overall winners.
Donning elaborate costumes and displaying carefully rehearsed breakdancing routines, the Airband participants will reflect Chautauqua Institution’s Week Five theme of “Art and Artists Against the Odds.”
Airband allows Clubbers to immerse themselves in Chautauqua’s artistic community by performing on a stage shared by countless established musicians and entertainers.
Anna Ertenberg Coats, Boys’ and Girls’ Club program coordinator and former Airband participant, spoke about how important it is for children to experience personal growth through their participation in the event.
“There are a couple of kids who are like, ‘I don’t want to be a part of it,’ then by Thursday, they’re the shining star of the program,” she said. “There’s that confidence that gets built over time.”
One performing group, the Club’s CITs — or counselors-in-training —also has a slot in Airband as entertainment in between the competing groups. During their Tuesday afternoon meeting, a few of them took the time to share what Airband means to them.
CIT Charlotte said Airband “teaches you confidence and stage presence.”
The competition also kicks off the Institution’s Old First Night celebrations with a unified display of teamwork. As the longest-running summer day camp in the U.S., Club offers Chautauqua’s youth other meaningful experiences such as outdoor recreation, team sports and nature programs along with engagement in the arts.
According to Coats, it’s an opportunity for Clubbers to share the spotlight.
“All of the special events we do are a team effort, but this one is a team effort that lets everybody shine,” said Coats.
CIT Claire seconded the sentiment and explained that Airband encourages her to experiment and try new things.
“I would say that it gets me out of my comfort zone, because it’s not something that I usually do,” she said.
For Coats, Club’s programming, including traditions like Airband, instills an inner confidence in the students she works with and sets the groundwork for the development of close friendships that are carried well past their time in Club.
Coats described how former Clubbers will often return as camp counselors, and Airband gives them an opportunity to help participants with preparations such as making costumes and banners, choreographing routines and choosing music for dance numbers.
“I love that our counselors find a way to get any kid who even half wants to be involved — they give them a part,” Coats said. “The counselors are what make this happen. They find ways to make every kid comfortable, but they also push them a little bit outside of their comfort zone.”
“It brings people together,” 16-year-old CIT Izzy said. “It’s fun for everyone to get to do something together and work as a team.”
