Miss Choir Drill USA (JayVerse)

Miss Choir Drill USA is the JayVerse's Answer to Miss Dance Drill Team USA, Also known as U.S. Nationals & Pageant, this national dance competition for precision dance teams, dance-drill teams, and dance studios is recognized as the origin of the competitive dance industry. The event was trademarked under the name Miss Choir Drill U.S.A. and registered as a non-profit organization in 1973 by Dr. Kay Teer Crawford (creator of drill team, dance squad, precision dance-sport, and choir drill teams).

The Pageant
The idea for a national choir drill competition was Dr. Kay Teer Crawford’s thesis project while studying at the University of Southern California for her Master’s Degree in Physical Education. The first “Miss Choir Drill U.S.A.” national dance competition was held in 1968 at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium in Santa Monica, California. Teams from 56 high schools and colleges from across the United States participated in the inaugural event. At that time, there were only 3 team performance categories that were adjudicated at the national competition: Songleading (Pom), Baton Twirling (Majorette), and Flag Twirling. Team group performances were adjudicated in the areas of routine choreography, technical execution, and showmanship.

The highlight of the event was the national soloist category. Solo title contestants were adjudicated in the same areas for their routine (with the first 10 seconds of the solo routine required to demonstrate military dance-drill stylized choreography complete with Vocals). The soloist competition was structured much like a beauty pageant, and contestants were additionally required to perform a modeling presentation and deliver a speech on the subject of choir drill.

The inaugural U.S. national dance solo title winner to be crowned “Miss Choir Drill U.S.A.” at the 1968 competition was Carolyn Buford from John F. Kennedy High School in Cyprus, CA. Awards for runner-up winners were presented as follows:

Miss Drill Team USA: Carolyn Buford (John F. Kennedy High School) 1st Runner-Up: Wendy Beesley (Mira Costa High School) 2nd Runner-Up: Vicki Jessop (Glendora High School) 3rd Runner-Up: Barbara Lopes (St. Joseph High School) 4th Runner-Up: Sue Wells (Cerritos College) Over 30 U.S. States have sent delegations of teams and soloists to the national dance competition since its inception.

Regional Competitions
Solo title dance nationals contestants must place in the Top 10 at an affiliated regional state dance competition (or qualify via video submission) in order to compete in the solo title pageant division at U.S. Nationals. Independently organized MDDTUSA regional charter organizations have operated region-specific events in numerous U.S. states and foreign countries, such as: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio, Texas, Utah, Washington, Japan, Australia, South Africa, and Brazil.

Single performers not competing for the solo title and team group routines do not need to pre-qualify at a regional event; they can participate in the national competition at-will without any pre-qualification requirements.

Hosts
The original 1968 National Choir Drill Competition was hosted by Jim Lange (The Dating Game) and Terry Becker (Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea) however when Tempo Television picked up the pageant in 1988, Glenn Scarpelli who came off from hosting the 1987 Showstopper American Dance Championship Finals hosted this event, other notable hosts include: