For Maharlika, Delano’s current independent winter guard program, it is more than just performing; it is a program that keeps you grounded mentally, physically, and emotionally. It means creating a family and building a community through these programs.
Bryan Dandin, director of Maharlika, first established the program in 2023 with only 14 members, but it has since grown. Today, 26 performers have joined the program, all between 18 and 22 years old, representing different parts of the Central Valley.
Many from Bakersfield, Madera, Fresno, Hanford, Visalia, and the surrounding areas travel to Delano every Sunday to practice from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. For these performers, it’s a hobby that decompresses them from outdoor stressors. It gives them room to be vulnerable as they release and embody their emotions through each performance…