Group Eight Girls perform “Group Eight is Running Late,” which was awarded Best Overall in the Groups Six–SAC division during the Boys’ and Girls’ Club’s 41st annual Airband performance Thursday in the Amphitheater.
JENELL TAYLOR
Staff Writer
A friendly rivalry took place in the Amphitheater Thursday when the Boys’ and Girls’ Club unveiled their best costumes, dance numbers and lip-syncing skills for the 41st annual Airband competition.
Clubbers left the audience dazzled with performances that included Group Eight Boys’ reenactment of “Forest Gump,” a life-size board game rendition in “3G Gets Stuck in Candyland,” a light saber battle in “Six Boys Goes to the Movies” and Group Six Girls’ cryptid encounter in “6G Believe It or Not.”
Group Four Boys perform “4B Builds Rome in a Day,” which was awarded Best Overall in the Groups Two–Five division.
Masters of Ceremonies Hollis Tannery and Drew Bennett opened the event with a brief rundown of the program — a lengthy list of the 15 competing groups followed by an intermission performance by Club’s counselors-in-training during judge deliberation.
Airband concluded in just over an hour due to the fast-paced nature of the Groupers’ sets. With less than three minutes allocated to each team to deliver their routines and prove their air-guitar superiority to judges, the pressure was on.
In quick, well-rehearsed bursts, participants launched into action before an enthralled audience as they cartwheeled and spun across the Amp stage, paraded handmade props and donned their original theme-specific costumes.
The award for Best Costumes and Props went to Group Five Boys for “Five Boys Goes to Space,” which featured a cardboard spaceship made with keen attention to detail. However, the multi-sport-themed routine performed in “The Big Leagues are Calling,” by Group Three Boys secured them the award for Best Choreography.
Serving as a guide through performance storylines, each group’s designated counselor stood at the side of the stage, quickly switching between posters displaying the titles of each performance and themes of the groups’ routines.
For their portrayal of an investigation from the scene of the crime to the perpetrator’s eventual capture, SAC Girls took home the trophy for Most Original.
The Clubber’s performances revolved around lip-synced songs from beloved musicians – many of which raised boisterous cheers from parents impressed by their child’s knowledge of retro jams. Featured tunes included Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” and “Smooth Criminal,” the Eagles’ “Hotel California,” Lana Del Rey’s “Let The Light In,” Prince’s “Purple Rain” and Rascal Flatts’ “Life Is a Highway.”
In the battle for Best Music Choice, Group Five Girls emerged victorious for their “5G Goes Undercover” performance, while SAC Boys secured the Best Lip Sync award for their college football routine in “SAC Boys Wins the Heisman.”
Airband’s Best Overall award is split into two sections: Groups Two–Five and Groups Six–SAC, awarded to groups who display outstanding showmanship across all categories, solidifying their status as the overall champions of Club’s 2026 Airband competition.
Dressed in togas, Group Four Boys went against popular belief with their performance, “4B Builds Rome in a Day.” The routine was made complete with a Colosseum backdrop, feats of gladiator combat, the death of Julius Caesar and the fall of Rome — earning them the award for Best Overall in the Two–Five division.
The final award went to a performance featuring a prop of the Miller Bell Tower, giant Fruit Loops tossed back and forth above Groupers’ heads and impressive breakdancing skills. In the Six–SAC division, Best Overall was awarded to Group Eight Girls for their elaborate portrayal of a hectic morning routine in “Group Eight is Running Late.”
