Teams from across Victoria will converge on Echuca College Stadium this Sunday, where local DrillDance competitors will showcase their precision, teamwork and discipline.
Julie Redzepi and her fellow Echuca DrillDance Masters competitors are set to take to the floor this Saturday, July 18, at Echuca College Stadium, marking the club's final domestic competition for the year.
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Mrs Redzepi first laced up her marching shoes at just six, continuing through her teenage years before stepping away from the sport.
She returned to the fold nearly five years ago when Echuca established its own team.
“We had the first ever all-inclusive team as well the second year, so people of all ages and disabilities joined together,” she said.
When describing the new and improved version of marching, now known as DrillDance, Mrs Redzepi noted it was largely about precision, coordination, rhythm, discipline, and building your confidence.
“It’s about working as a team together, but it's also just about having fun,” she said.
Mrs Redzepi explained training was normally once a week on a Wednesday night, but leading up to competition, this would increase to more sessions.
The Echuca-based group raises money through fundraising to help its members cover the costs of travel and competition entry fees.
“We try to do as much fundraising as we can to reduce those costs so we don't limit people's ability to do drill dance,” Mrs Redzepi said.
Echuca DrillDance competitors perform ahead of this Sunday's final domestic competition at Echuca College Stadium.
Mrs Redzepi hopes this weekend's competition will introduce more people to the sport and inspire new participants to get involved.
“I think awareness is the biggest challenge, getting people through the doors to see what it's all about,” she said.
“Getting them to come along and think, 'I wonder what that is? That might be something good to watch.'”
The event is the final domestic competition of the year before competitors head to the state and national championships.
Teams from across Victoria, including the Melbourne area, will compete, with the day beginning at 10am. The competition will open with an introduction of all participating teams, from the under-eights through to juniors, intermediates, seniors and masters.
Despite the competitive spirit on the day, Mrs Redzepi said DrillDance is a sport built on genuine encouragement and mutual support.
“We have our DrillDance family. It's all the teams we compete against in Victoria, so we've become this big family,” she said.
“What you'd expect to see is everybody cheering everybody on. It doesn't matter who you march for. Yes, there is competition, we all want to do our best and win, but we also want to see our DrillDance family do their best.”
For Mrs Redzepi, it is the lasting friendships, sense of discipline, and the warmth of a supportive environment that keep participants coming back season after season.
“I love the camaraderie. I love the support, the encouragement and the discipline,” she said.
Mrs Redzepi extended a warm invitation to the broader Echuca community to come along and experience the event firsthand.
“Come along to see what it's all about, to see the friendships that can be had, and especially to watch the younger kids challenge themselves, try something new and grow in confidence.”
