A HISTORY BUILT ON LOVE, TRUST, AND COMMITMENT

BSac Performing Arts (affectionately referred to as “SAC”) is a not-for-profit organization devoted to providing its members with opportunities to develop skills in confidence building, communication, teamwork, and performance while emphasizing a sense of commitment through the pageantry arts.

An organization over 80 years strong, SAC traces its origin back to the 1930′s when a local parish all-female drill team formed a performance group in the Cambridgeport area of Cambridge, Massachusetts. This organization originally served as a summer activity outlet for youth in this urban neighborhood just outside of Boston. In the 1960′s, a winter competition unit was formed and when the drill team activity became dormant by the late 1970′s, the organizations focus shifted exclusively to winter competition.

By the 1980′s, BSac Performing Arts had become financially independent of the Blessed Sacrament parish, but remained true to its roots by fielding several competitive units with members from the local Cambridge area. As the World Guard began to achieve success and gain popularity throughout the 1980′s, SAC began to draw members from all over the United States and eventually boasted members from around the world including Japan and the United Kingdom. In 2001, SAC began to incorporate both male and female performers and still going strong into this new millennium, is one of the most internationally-renowned, acclaimed, and popular winterguard organizations in the activity today!

Our Cadet, Prep and Junior Color Guards have always been a crowd favorite! Over the years, the SAC little “brothers and sisters” have won several local competitions and championships — including six Eastern Massachusetts Color Guard circuit championship titles.

The World Guard is an 11-time Eastern Massachusetts World Class Champion. SAC has been a Winter Guard International (WGI) World Class competitor for 42 of WGI’s 43 year existence and is a 36-time WGI World Class Regional champion. The World Guard entered the elite top-15 of WGI World Championships Finalists in 1980 and has maintained that distinction for the last 42 consecutive seasons — an unprecedented, unmatched and historical accomplishment in the winter guard activity.

SAC has placed in the top-ten of WGI World Championships World Class Finalists 39 of the last 42 years (scoring a 90 or above 33 times), has been in the renowned WGI “top-five” 28 times and is a eight-time Independent World Class medalist; earning World Class Bronze Medals in 1988, 2005 and 2007, 2017 and 2018, Silver Medals in 1989, 1996, and 2023, and the Gold Medal and WGI World Championship in 1990.

SAC will be entering in their 43rd year of WGI competition and is a proud member of WGI Sport of the Arts. For more information visit www.wgi.org.

In the Boston area Sac competes in NESBA circuit, www.nesba.org for more information on schedules.

 

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In Memoriam: Anthony Zappala

In my mind’s eye I can still picture him walking in front of me with his blue Blessed Sac windbreaker and his hat with a feather in it. “You’ll Never Walk Alone” is a song that comes to mind when I think of Mr. Zappala. During his tenure as the Director of Blessed Sacrament he always walked all of his guards out on the floor with his head held high. He was so proud of his organization. His girls (Mr. Z’s time was before we let men in the guard) were all SO very proud and honored to walk along side him in all his glory. He is missed terribly to this day. At the end of every single rehearsal; Mr. Z would make us all stand in a company front he’d yell out a “Guard HUT” and we’d all snap to attention. Mr. Z would then give us any updates for the next rehearsal or tell us who owed what for dues that month. He made us a team whether we liked it or not.

He rode on the bus for all of our road trips (no matter how long they were) and kept us “in line”. What most people don’t know is that when the staff said “No”; Mr Z usually said “Yes”. He let us get away with a lot because we worked hard and played equally as hard. He recognized that and gave us some leniency. Mr. Z. was like a kid himself most of the time. He would help us in any way he could if we needed something.

I remember visiting Zippy in the hospital very close to his passing. He was clearly in pain and exhausted and probably a little scared facing his own mortality; but you would never have known by his face when he saw us come in. He put on a huge smile and we walked over and held his hand. We didn’t know that was the last time we’d ever see him again. It was such a terrible day for all of us when he passed away. It was like our second father was gone. A huge part of Blessed Sacrament died with him.

His daughters Dolores and Ann Marie are left to keep his legacy alive.

– Katherine Gallagher

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Past Scores