In order to arrive at perfection in any art, it is indispensable that the principles of the art be understood. Everything not understood or mis- understood is mysterious. Those who do not comprehend what military discipline is, and some who only partially understand it, are impressed with the idea that it is a very mysterious affair, and many consider that it ought to be a mystery in the hands of a select few. There is confessedly a great deficiency of knowledge, or otherwise a very unaccountable disagreement in it; and if it be a very simple art, as it is alleged by some to be, then it should be made as intelligible as possible to every capacity.
MEMOIR, 1808, autHor unknown
The correlation between dance, other performance activities, and unarmed/armed military exhibition drill (UXD/AXD) is strong, as these disciplines emphasize precision, rhythm, coordination, and expression. Here are some key connections:
- Choreography & Movement – XD sequences, like dance routines, are carefully choreographed to create a visually compelling performance. All involve intricate footwork, controlled body movement, and dynamic transitions.
- Timing & Rhythm – Just as dancers move to the beat of music, drillers synchronize their movement with an internal rhythm (cadence) or audible cues (e.g., stomps, slaps, or vocal commands). Precision in timing is critical to a polished performance.
- Body Control & Posture – All require strict posture, balance, and muscle control to execute movement with clarity and purpose. Whether it’s a spin in dance (pirouette), complicated pivot, or a rifle toss in drill, maintaining control is essential.
- Expression & Performance – While dance expresses emotion through movement, XD conveys discipline, intensity, and sometimes even storytelling through formations and sequences. Some drill teams incorporate theatrical elements, further blurring the line between activities.
- Training & Discipline – All demand rigorous training, repetition, and endurance. Mastering techniques in either field requires dedication and continuous improvement.
- Influence of Dance on Drill – Many modern XD performances can integrate moments of breakdancing, hip-hop moves, and even ballet-like jumps and spins, demonstrating the crossover influence.

A Detailed Breakdown of Connections and Influences
The relationship between dance and similar activities and XD is deeply rooted in their shared emphasis on movement, synchronization, and performance.
1. Choreography & Movement
Both these activities rely on carefully structured movement sequences to create a visually engaging routine. In dance, choreography is designed to flow seamlessly between steps, while in XD, drillers execute movements with sharp precision, ensuring each transition maintains a crisp and disciplined look.
- Similarities:
- Both require mastery of formations, body angles, and spatial awareness.
- Choreographers and drill designers (masters) plan routines by mapping out formations, transitions, and pacing.
- XD routines, like dance pieces, can tell a story or convey emotions through movement.
- Differences:
- Dance often focuses on fluidity and grace, whereas XD emphasizes sharp, rigid, and sometimes explosive movements.
- XD is rooted in military tradition, while dance has cultural, artistic, and entertainment purposes.
2. Timing & Rhythm
In both disciplines, rhythm dictates movement. While dancers often follow a musical beat, XD drillers use an internal rhythm or cues from teammates, commands, or foot stomps.
- Examples:
- Breakdancers (B-boys/girls) time their moves to the beat of a song, just as drillers time rifle spins, stomps, and body slaps to create an engaging rhythm.
- In step dancing (e.g., military-style step teams), movements are both visually and audibly rhythmic, much like XD’s slaps, claps, “beasts” (slaps on a rifle) and timed movements.
3. Body Control & Posture
XD and dance require extreme control over the body to maintain balance, posture, and precision. Movements must be deliberate and exact, with proper weight distribution to avoid errors.
- Key Connections:
- Balance – Just as a ballet dancer controls their center of gravity in a pirouette, a driller must maintain stability during spins and high-speed movements.
- Strength – Dance styles like breakdancing require whole body strength for power moves, much like XD’s high-flying rifle tosses and exchanges.
- Coordination – Whether executing a grand jeté (a ballet jump, a high leap where the dancer’s legs form a split in the air) or a rifle toss, timing and coordination between different muscle groups is essential.
4. Expression & Performance
Both dance and XD are performance-based, engaging the audience with a combination of movement, energy, and intensity.
- Performance Aspects in UXD:
- Some teams incorporate dramatic poses and facial expressions to heighten the impact of their routines.
- Drillers use their entire bodies to communicate power, discipline, and sometimes creativity: body movement, equipment manipulation, and/or drill design.
- Just as dancers use different styles to convey emotion, drillers adapt their movements to create either a sharp, aggressive, or smooth, flowing routine.
5. Training & Discipline
The process of mastering either discipline is rigorous, requiring extensive repetition and refinement.
- Common Training Elements:
- Hours of drilling (no pun intended) to develop muscle memory.
- Breaking routines down into small sections for refinement.
- Strength and flexibility training to support performance quality.
- Studying other performers (dance styles or past XD champions) for inspiration and technique improvement.

6. Influence of Dance on XD
Modern exhibition drill has increasingly integrated dance elements, making performances more dynamic.
- Examples of Dance-Drill Fusion:
- Hip-hop & breakdancing – Many teams use footwork patterns, power moves (e.g., windmills, head spins), and freezes in routines.
- Ballet & contemporary dance – Some teams incorporate turns and smooth transitions inspired by dance to contrast with sharp drill movements.
- Step dancing & stomp – Using body percussion, rhythmic stomps, and synchronized claps to create an engaging audio-visual effect.
Summing Up So Far
At their core, both dance and XD are about movement, discipline, and storytelling. While they originate from different traditions, they share an undeniable synergy. As XD continues to evolve, it borrows more from dance, making routines more dynamic and visually compelling. Many drillers even study dance to improve their performance, proving just how interconnected the two art forms really are.
What About XD and Step Teams?
XD and step teams share many similarities, as both focus on rhythm, synchronization, and visually striking movements. In fact, stepping is one of the closest civilian performance styles to XD because of its structured, military-like precision and percussive elements.
Key Connections Between UXD & Step Teams
1. Rhythm & Percussive Movement
Both XD and stepping rely on body percussion—using stomps, claps, slaps, and synchronized movements to create a rhythmic performance.
- In XD, drillers generate sound through precise stomps, hand slaps, and controlled movements with an internal rhythm.
- In stepping, performers use their entire bodies to produce complex beats, often without music, much like XD teams performing without external sound cues.
2. Precision & Synchronization
In both disciplines, synchronization is critical. Movements must be executed at the exact same time to create a seamless group performance.
- In XD, teams execute synchronized spins, arm movements, and intricate footwork with exact timing.
- Step teams perform intense routines that require military-level precision, where even a slight timing error is noticeable.
3. Choreographed Patterns & Formations
Both XD and step teams perform intricate formations that evolve throughout their routines.
- XD drillers move in sharp, geometric patterns, often using straight lines and angles.
- Step teams incorporate military-style formations while integrating circular, staggered, or diagonal shapes to add variety to their performances.
4. Military & Cultural Influence
Stepping has direct military influences, especially through historically Black fraternities and sororities (Divine Nine), where many organizations have deep ties to ROTC programs and the military.
- XD originates from the military tradition of regulation drill and ceremony, where discipline and precision are key.
- Stepping incorporates military-style elements, such as call-and-response chants, boot stomping, and uniformity, reinforcing a structured, disciplined aesthetic.
5. Power, Energy & Showmanship
Both styles are highly performance-driven, requiring drillers and steppers to project confidence, intensity, and sometimes even attitude.
- XD performers use strong body language, facial expressions, and aggressive movements to engage the audience.
- Step teams use shouts, chants, and facial intensity to create an interactive and high-energy experience.
6. Training & Athleticism
Both UXD and stepping require endurance, coordination, and strength.
- UXD training involves muscle control for holding positions, executing sharp transitions, and maintaining perfect posture during fast movements.
- Step teams train for stamina, as their routines often involve constant movement, jumps, and body slaps that require explosive energy.
Crossover & Influence
Some UXD teams incorporate stepping into their routines, blending drill precision with percussive step movements. Similarly, some step teams incorporate military-style movements, further blurring the lines between the two disciplines.
Both are highly disciplined, visually impressive, and rooted in tradition, making them closely related performance arts that push the boundaries of movement and teamwork.
The Correlations Between XD and Other Performance Types
Yes! UXD shares strong correlations with various other performance types beyond dance and step teams. Many of these art forms emphasize precision, synchronization, and showmanship, much like exhibition drill. Here are some notable connections:
1. Martial Arts (Karate, Taekwondo, etc.)
Connection: Both martial arts and UXD require controlled, powerful movements, strict discipline, and rehearsed sequences.
- Kata & Forms: Martial arts katas (pre-arranged movement patterns) mirror UXD sequences in structure and execution.
- Striking & Posing: Just as martial artists perform sharp strikes and controlled stances, drillers use exaggerated movements, stances, and poses for visual impact.
- Weapon Handling: In armed exhibition drill, rifle spinning and tossing resemble martial arts weapon demonstrations (bo staff, nunchaku, or sword kata).
2. Cheerleading & Gymnastics
Connection: Both involve choreographed sequences, teamwork, and showmanship, with an emphasis on dynamic movement.
- Stunts & Tosses: Gymnasts perform flips and tosses, much like drillers execute high-speed spins and aerial tosses with rifles or body movements.
- Formations & Transitions: Cheer teams use formations and transitions similar to UXD teams’ precision drill maneuvers.
- Showmanship: Like UXD, cheer and gymnastics performances rely on confidence, facial expressions, and exaggerated movements to engage an audience.
3. Percussion & Drumline (Marching Bands, Stomp, etc.)
Connection: Rhythm, synchronization, and precision are fundamental in both UXD and percussion-based performances.
- Visual Movement: Drumline performances (e.g., those seen in HBCU and other marching bands) incorporate military-like discipline and drill formations.
- Body Percussion: Similar to stepping, performers create rhythms through drumsticks, hand claps, and synchronized movements, much like UXD’s percussive stomps and slaps.
- Strict Timing: Drummers and drillers both rely on perfect timing—one mistake can disrupt the whole performance.
4. Color Guard & Flag Spinning
Connection: Like UXD, color guard performances involve equipment manipulation (flags, rifles, sabers) with a blend of technical skill and artistry.
- Equipment Handling: The spinning and tossing of rifles or sabers in color guard directly mirrors UXD rifle drill movements.
- Formations & Choreography: Both disciplines rely on dynamic formations that evolve throughout the routine.
- Fluidity vs. Sharpness: While UXD emphasizes sharp, rigid movements, color guard incorporates more fluid, dance-like motions, creating a contrast yet similarity in presentation.
5. Breaking (Breakdancing / B-boying/B-girling)
Connection: Breaking and UXD share a focus on explosive, acrobatic movements, footwork, and controlled transitions.
- Power Moves: Breakdancers use windmills, head spins, and freezes, similar to some UXD teams incorporating floor work and dynamic spins.
- Footwork: Both emphasize intricate foot patterns, with breaking incorporating steps like the “6-step,” while UXD features coordinated foot placements.
- Freestyle Elements: While UXD is often tightly choreographed, some teams incorporate freestyle-like elements (individual tricks within a structured routine).
6. Parkour & Freerunning
Connection: The combination of agility, body control, and athleticism in parkour overlaps with UXD’s dynamic movements.
- Aerial Movements: Some UXD performers incorporate flips, vaults, or high-flying spins, much like freerunners navigating obstacles.
- Momentum & Flow: Parkour athletes maintain continuous motion, much like UXD performers smoothly transitioning between sequences.
- Strength & Endurance: Both demand extreme physical control and stamina, with drillers executing rapid sequences without loss of precision.
7. Theatrical Performance & Stage Combat
Connection: UXD and stage performance share an emphasis on storytelling through movement, discipline, and dramatic presentation.
- Military-Themed Theater: Many theatrical productions (e.g., military reenactments, Broadway shows like Hamilton) incorporate stylized marching and weapon handling similar to UXD.
- Stage Combat: Like choreographed fight scenes, UXD requires pre-planned, rehearsed sequences where performers must be in sync.
- Audience Engagement: Both rely on commanding presence, exaggerated gestures, and powerful execution to captivate viewers.
Summery So Far
UXD is a highly versatile art form that connects with multiple performance disciplines. Whether it’s through rhythm, precision, showmanship, or athleticism, these correlations show how UXD blends military tradition with elements of music, dance, martial arts, and extreme sports. Many drill teams borrow from these styles to enhance their performances, making UXD one of the most dynamic movement arts in existence.
How Armed Exhibition Drill Fits In

Armed Exhibition Drill (AXD) shares many of the same correlations as UXD but adds the unique element of weapon manipulation. The presence of rifles (or other ceremonial weapons) introduces additional challenges and connections to other performance arts that involve object control, coordination, and precision handling.
Here’s how AXD fits into the discussion and its connections to other performance styles:

1. Martial Arts (Weapons-Based Disciplines: Wushu, Eskrima, Bo Staff, Swordplay, etc.)
Connection: Both AXD and martial arts weapon forms require precision, control, and dynamic movement with an object.
- Weapon Manipulation: AXD drillers spin, toss, and catch rifles in ways similar to martial artists handling staffs (bo staff), swords (kendo, fencing), or sticks (Eskrima).
- Controlled Transitions: Martial arts weapon techniques emphasize smooth transitions between strikes, blocks, and spins—just like drillers transitioning between rifle spins, catches, and releases.
- Speed & Timing: Fast, well-timed movements are essential in both to maintain flow and avoid losing control.

2. Color Guard & Flag Spinning
Connection: Like AXD, color guard performers manipulate equipment (flags, rifles, sabers) in a choreographed, synchronized way.
- Tosses & Spins: The techniques used in flag, saber, and rifle spinning in color guard have strong similarities to AXD movements.
- Choreographed Sequences: Both incorporate group synchronization, solo performances, and high-level tricks to engage the audience.
- Flow vs. Sharpness: While color guard often emphasizes smooth, flowing movements, AXD leans toward sharp, powerful execution with military precision.

3. Baton Twirling & Juggling
Connection: AXD and baton twirling/juggling both focus on aerial tricks and precise object manipulation.
- Tosses & Catches: AXD rifle tosses require the same level of hand-eye coordination as baton twirling, where performers execute spins and catches mid-air.
- Continuous Motion: Just like in juggling or twirling, advanced drillers maintain an uninterrupted flow of movement between spins, releases, and recoveries.
- One-Handed & Two-Handed Control: Drillers and baton twirlers must be able to switch between one-handed and two-handed control smoothly while maintaining rhythm.

4. Marching Band & Drumline Performance
Connection: Both AXD and marching band performances emphasize timing, formations, and synchronized group execution.
- Structured Movement: Marching band members perform precisely timed steps, rotations, and formations, just like drillers.
- Weapon & Instrument Coordination: Drummers and horn players move and play at the same time—similar to AXD performers spinning rifles while marching or maneuvering.
- Cadence-Based Performance: Marching band performances often follow a strict cadence, much like AXD sequences that align movements with beats or silent internal rhythm.

5. Breaking (Breakdancing / B-boying/B-girling)
Connection: Both styles incorporate dynamic, high-speed movements and individual freestyle moments within a structured routine.
- Spins & Rotations: The way drillers twist, rotate, and spin their rifles in the air resembles breakdancers executing windmills, head spins, or air flares.
- Groundwork & Acrobatics: Some AXD performers incorporate floorwork (push-ups, leg sweeps) similar to breakdancing moves.
- Flash & Showmanship: Both disciplines demand performance presence, confidence, and sometimes crowd interaction to enhance the visual effect.

6. Parkour & Freerunning
Connection: The agility and aerial control seen in AXD share similarities with parkour, especially when incorporating flips and acrobatic elements.
- Weapon Acrobatic Control: Some advanced drillers perform rifle tosses combined with flips or rolls, requiring spatial awareness and a mastery of body movement.
- Momentum & Flow: Parkour athletes use controlled momentum to navigate obstacles, much like drillers maintain fluid transitions between tricks while ensuring they catch their rifles.
- Strength & Dexterity: Just as parkour requires grip strength and quick reflexes, AXD demands similar attributes to catch, balance, and spin a rifle mid-air.
7. Stage Combat & Theatrical Swordplay

Connection: AXD routines, especially team performances, often resemble choreographed fight sequences seen in theater and film.
- Choreographed Weapon Movements: Stage combat involves pre-planned movements, controlled strikes, and defensive motions, just like AXD rifle tricks.
- Precision & Safety: In both AXD and staged fights, performers must execute movements with absolute control to avoid injury while maintaining an impressive performance.
- Dramatic Presentation: AXD performers often incorporate poses, freezes, or dramatic pauses, just as actors in action sequences do to heighten suspense.
8. Circus Arts (Knife Throwing, Object Manipulation, Performance Juggling)
Connection: AXD has a strong connection to the world of circus-style object manipulation, where high-risk tosses and catches are performed with dramatic effect.
- High-Stakes Tosses: Just as knife throwers or jugglers rely on precision and hand-eye coordination, drillers must catch rifles mid-air with pinpoint accuracy.
- Multi-Object Manipulation: Some advanced drillers perform dual-rifle tricks, similar to jugglers managing multiple objects.
- Performance Under Pressure: Like circus performers, AXD drillers must execute flawlessly in front of an audience, often with no room for mistakes.

Final Thoughts: AXD as a Hybrid Performance Art
Armed Exhibition Drill is a unique hybrid of military tradition and performance-based movement arts especially for soloists. It blends:
- The discipline of military drill
- The weapon control of martial arts
- The choreography of dance and color guard
- The rhythm and synchronization of drumline and step teams
- The acrobatics of parkour and breaking
- The high-risk, high-reward spectacle of circus arts
As AXD continues to evolve, it borrows techniques from various performance disciplines, creating routines that are not just displays of military precision but full-fledged artistic showcases of skill, creativity, and physical mastery.
Summary
In this article I tried to emphasize the importance of recognizing the strong correlation between dance, other performance activities, and unarmed/armed military exhibition drill (UXD/AXD). The document highlights how these disciplines share common elements such as precision, rhythm, coordination, and expression.
Key connections include choreography and movement, timing and rhythm, body control and posture, expression and performance, training and discipline, and the influence of dance on drill. We explored the similarities between XD and step teams, martial arts, cheerleading, gymnastics, drumlines, color guard, flag spinning, breaking, parkour, freerunning, theatrical performance, and stage combat.