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Band on Boat: The Padelford Dance by Claire Busse Alpha Iota - TBΣ University of Minnesota
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fter two long weeks of sweat, hard work, and their first football performance of the season, the University of Minnesota Marching Band is ready for a bit of a break. On the eve of their Minnesota State Fair parade, the band kicks off their marching shoes and piles onto a river boat for a night of dancing, laughs and Mississippi views. Teeming with marching band members, the Tau Beta Sigma Alpha Iota chapter strives to give back to the band that gives them so much. In a period called "Spat Camp", the marching band devotes nine hours a day in their final two weeks of summer towards preparing for the season. This time is full of rejoicing and bonding as the band family reunites for the first time since winter. Every year, the Alpha Iota chapter puts on the Padelford Dance to celebrate the band’s hard work and give the community quality time. The dance is well attended by the band, with over three-fourths of the 320 members attending in the last few years. The boat gets packed, sweaty, and loud as the marchers boogie their way down the river and back. Greta Fischer, a secondyear band members says that Padelford signifies the “unofficial end of spat camp.” While the event itself is grandiose, the planning of it is quite simple. The Alpha Iota treasurer is responsible for managing the details and logistics of the event, such as coordinating the date with the marching band directors and booking the boat. The Ways and Means committee sells tickets to the marching band members during rehearsal meal breaks for $20. The boat comes set with a DJ and free water, which is all the band needs to have one heck of a time. Padelford has become
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Members of the Alpha Iota Chapter at the 2019 Padelford Dance. Pictured: David Wu, Conner McCarthy, Julia White, Jeffery Drillings, Alec Johnson, John Crowley, Bridget Carpenter, Davis Little, Noah Adolphson, Katy Mattison, Emily Durkot, Tommy Luangrath, Rachel Bezdicek, Gianna Turturillo, Julia Moseman, Kaylee Mina, Jenny Ulven, Malynn Weiman, Pazey Yang, Brooke Linzmeier, Claire Busse, Kelly Jessen. such a prominent part of Alpha Iota’s work that its existence is now mandated by their constitution. The event began around 2003, when the chapter had low membership and was searching for ways to improve community involvement and fundraisers. These efforts spurred a number of startup initiatives, and out of this Padelford was born. Although the boat ride is only three hours, the band has turned Padelford into an entire afternoon and evening affair. The directors allow time off from rehearsal for the dance, and the band members take full advantage of this desperately
missed free time. Friends enjoy getting together, exchanging their sweaty maroon t-shirts for formal attire, and relaxing on a well-deserved afternoon off. Each instrument section makes plans to go out to eat together before the dance as well. Brooklyn Linzmeier, a fourth year TBS member and graduating senior, says her favorite Padelford memory is going to Pizza Luce with the clarinet section this year. The sections know to make dinner reservations at an early hour, because the entire band shows up at Harriet Island Park to take pictures with the river in the background before heading onto the
