Moern color guard has evolved over the years into a form of dance theater that uses props along with movement to express dynamic passages in the music accompanying the show. Modern color guards use flags, sabres, rifles, and occasionally other equipment, as well as a mix of ballet, jazz, modern, and contemperary modern dance. Traditional color guard first began during the English reign around the same time of the American Revolution. A band would accompany the soldiers to play music to keep their spirits up and to keep them in beat. Along with the band, they also had a soldier holding a flag with their colors on it.