Marching refers to the organized, uniformed, steady and rhythmic walking forward, usually associated with military troops. Marching is often performed to march music, and often associated military parades. Marching is part of basic training in the military in most countries. In most cases, marching uses a system of drill commands. Learning to march by obeying commands is considered a form of discipline. While marching, individuals must maintain their dress, cover, interval, and distance (DCID):
- dress — alignment with the person to the side;
- cover — alignment with the person in front;
- interval — space between the person(s) to the side;
- distance — space between the person in front.
In New Zealand and Australia, a competitive sport involving teams of marching girls grew up and became established in the 1930s. In Northern Ireland marching is a major part of the culture, with hundreds of marches occurring annually. These are usually organized by groups such as the Orange Order, which provide most of the participants. Music is provided by marching bands including silver bands, flute bands and others. Marching is often seen as a symbol of control over a particular area, and marching is often seen as a sectarian activity.
See also
- Military step
- March (music)
- Marching band
- Drill team
- Exhibition drill
- Majorettes
- Goose-Step
- Lockstep marching
