This is not the type of behavior one expects from teen-agers hanging out in a parking lot.
in a corner of an asphalt sea flanking West Fargo high school, the North Force Drum and Bugle Corps percussion section polishes a cadence.
On the opposite side of the lot, the horn section marches to it's own beat.
All toes are on one of the lot's yellow stripes. "Mark time," calls the drill leader. And them, at the proper time, they march backwards 12 steps and then foreword, back to the line. not all arrive at the same time.
"I see some serious phasing going on," says Cameron Haaland, 19, a sophomore at North Dakota state university. "Let's try the same thing, at a slower tempo."
The line moves back and forth, over and over again, like a wave lapping the shore. One half of the group makes the repetitive track without error. Down at the other end of the line, a couple of guys aren't doing so well. Each time they make a mistake, they do a few push-ups, laughing as they pump their bodies up and down.
Performances are sobering, especially if your one of the six girls in the color guard. "People can see when we are off," says Rhiann Gartner, a ninth grader from Fargo.
"If you're in the horn line you can fake it if you make a mistake. In the guard you cant hide."
The young women prefer to make their mistakes in the more forgiving view of their captain, Suzie Haaland, a ninth grader from West Fargo. As Suzie counts the beats, they dip, raise and twirl their flags to the music and emblazoned in their memory.
Between April and the end of summer, North Force will make about 40 appearances in parades, community celebrations, and competitions primarily in North Dakota and Minnesota.
Last week they performed with Allegiance Elite Drum and Bugle Corps of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, at North Dakota State University.
In July, North Force competed in their first Drum Corps Midwest Regional Championship in Toledo, Ohio. Although they stood outside the winners circle, director Bill Hall of Moorhead, said it was a positive experience.
"We placed 26th. Our goal was to make Drum corps Midwest membership, but you have to be in the top 22 scores to do that. We fell short by three or four points. It was good anyway, for the first year, to place that high. We will try again next year."
"The crowd gave us positive feedback, and most importantly the judges were pleased about us entering into the activity."
"Activity" doesn't begin to describe North Force; a passion, maybe. An all-consuming pastime. A way of life for 35 kids ranging from ages 12 to 19.
During the school year, North Force rehearses every Saturday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Optional small group rehearsals meet from 7 to 9 Thursday nights.
And once a month, North Force hold "camps" where they live and breath their music and precision marching:7 to midnight Friday; 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, and occasionally Sundays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
North Force was founded in 1989, by Hall, Jane Heilman of Fargo, and Ken and Rochelle Finton. Ken became their first director.
It began with eight students. "No horn players," Hall says. "Just drums. By September of that year we had about six horns, and it's been building ever since."
"Our uniforms look like something from 'Star Trek,'" says one of the members, describing red coats with with "wings", white gauntlets, black and white sashes, and cavalier hats with black sequins.
Their 10-minute show routine is called "Echoes of Africa," a blend of four numbers: "Kenya", "Under the Sun", "The Elephant", and Dizzy Gillespie's "A Night in Tunisia". Zebra-striped shields used as props in one section help to communicate the theme.
Drum major Jason Siebels, 18, Harwood, ND, is the guy with crucial down beat. All eyes-as much as humanly possible-are on him when the corps performs.
Sometimes Cameron Haaland directs from the back of the group, because everyone isn't always facing the same direction.
the musicians glide across the parking lot, making sure their heels hit before toes as the march, walk and jazz run" through their routine. Occasionally soloists, duos, trios, or quartets emerge and stand still, focusing attention on the beauty of their sound.
Any resemblance their formations bear to letters or identifiable icons would be a fluke. this is not like a high school marching band that falls into the shape of the school mascot and then plays a tune. The look is more fluid and abstract.
Former director Ken Finton, once said, "A drum and bugle corps can outplay a band any day." Part of his claim is based on the instruments. Designed to be played in open spaces, the bells on the horns are bigger, and the percussion section is deeper then most marching bands, including everything from a tire iron to marimba (nobody tries to march with either of those-a small group of percussionists anchors one corner of the performance field).
When North Force took the bus to Toledo, they left just before midnight. It was a way to get the best rate, Hall was told by the board. But the kids didn't seem to mind, after all they helped raise the money to pay the bill.
They usually sleep on floors: "Boys on this side. Girls on that side." Once-in Bismarck-they had beds.
"The best part is the bus trips," said Donny Lippert, Fargo. "We laugh, sleep, play cards, and yell at "the Gremlin."
That would be Jeremy Ouren, a student at Discovery Junior High in Fargo and one of the youngest in the group. They say they've learned not to feed him after midnight.
Food is the specialty of Lowell Siebels, president of the North Force Parents Association and father to Stacie in the color guard and Jason, drum major.
On the road, he's Mr. Chef. Give him a couple of propane stoves, a couple of kettles, some folding tables, and he's in business.
"We can feed the corps on about a hundred dollars a day," Lowell says. "It takes three fifteen pound turkeys to feed them. Actually we would have had more.
"It takes 38 to 40 large pizzas. For Tacos it takes 25 pounds of ground beef, four heads of lettuce, and seven pounds of cheese. It takes 20 pounds of spaghetti for spaghetti and meatballs.
"We serve a lot of fresh fruits for snack food, and cookies for sugar. they never seem to complain, do they Jason?"
"Not to your face," replies his son.
Actually, with a projected attrition rate of zero next year, North Force must be doing something right. Even people like Jason and Cameron, who are now in collage, plan to stay until they are 21.
They are the best people I have ever had the chance to work with," says Jason who has played with the North Dakota All-State Band and with Bands at North Dakota State University.
"I've learned that if you want to get anything out of life, you have to work very hard and to your best. And that nothing is out of your reach if you work to your fullest potential.