Magna Fair part 2
I had a total of 6 performing arts entries - two duets, two solos, and two dances. All of them were entered into Magna Faire. One of the duets and one of the dances were also entered and judged in the regional faire. I don't have the judging sheets in front of me, so commentary is based on my perceptions, discussions I had with others, and what I remember from the judging sheets.
"Spero" - This is the dance that alasais, peteyfrogboy, and I did. Petey and I reconstructed the dance, and I wrote the documentation. As far as the dance goes, we did a pretty good job considering we just taught it to Alasais on Wednesday. We were in sync for most of the dance, although there is one spot where vox8 said I was stepping ahead of the other two. Now that we know the steps, we need to get more comfortable with it so we can relax and smile. Also, we need to orient the dance on the diaganol rather than straight side-to-side. We didn't want to start facing the judges, because when you turn around your back is to them. We thought facing the side would make it easier for the judges to see the steps, but they could not see all the dancers. The dance itself is rather simple once you know the steps. It is reconstructing the steps that makes it difficult. There are a number of terms that we had never seen before or that we wanted an actual definition on. The documentation I did for the dance, while adequate, was definitely sub-standard. Things I want to improve on or add to the documentation before KA&S include history (of the dance masters and of their manuals), culture (clothing, shoes, setting of the dance), music (copy of original if possible, copy of transcription, explanation of it, and how it relates to the dance and reconstructing the steps), definitions (of all the steps, not just the odd ones found in this particular dance), and a more in-depth discussion on how we arrived at the definitions we have, the steps we are using, and the reconstruction of the dance.
Most of the comments we received were on the documentation and what it was lacking. It is pretty much what I expected. I would have liked more technical feedback on the dance itself. We did receive one comment on our clothing (according to one judge, there was a 10-20 year difference between what Alasais and I were wearing). We definitely need to practice the dance with someone watching (they don't have to know the dance, they can tell if we are together or not) and while wearing the proper clothes. I also HAVE to make sure I do not do the documentation at the last minute, and get it to someone in enough time to make sure it is proof-read and all the necessary information is there.
"Ther is no rose of swych vertue" - This is the duet I did with alasais. Alasais did the documentation and research on the piece. We entered it for the first time at MidWinter A&S 2006, but we received much better and more technical feedback this time. For two sopranos, we actually blend very well together. We made the mistake of doing the dance first, and we did not get much of a chance to catch our breath or get some water before we had to sing. The judges did cut us some slack because of that, but we need to make sure ourselves that we are adequately warmed up, that we have water close by, and that we request to do any singing before we do dancing. There was one spot where Alasais flubbed, but she knows exactly where it is and it was one of those freak occurance things. I know I flubbed quite a few of the pronunciations (we were singing in middle English), and the judges caught that. One of the judges had issue with how we were pronouncing some of the words, so we will have to add justification of why we are pronouncing them the way they are to the documentation. Both of us would like to have this piece memorized by the time we do it for KA&S. There was a comment that if we are going to use music, have a justification for why in the documentation and use something period to hold the music rather than black folders. While that is a good suggestion to keep in mind for other pieces, this one should be memorized.
If we do both of these pieces at KA&S, there will need to be a quick change between pieces. I'm not entirely sure what would be appropriate for 15th century England (cotehardie?), but I'm sure it's not the gamurra and giornia I will be wearing for the dance. Also, we will need to work on entrances and exits for both of these pieces. We were a little thrown after the dance when one of the judges wanted to know if she could ask questions and she was told yes. I had always been under the impression that judges were not supposed to ask the entrants questions. They are not able to in static, why should they be able to in performing arts? If the question is not explained or answered adequately in the documentation, then there should be points deducted or a comment made. However, performing arts is judged from the moment you hit the stage till the moment you leave, so we need to make sure we practice our entrance and exit and think of it as part of the entry.
As was stated in my other journal, they got me good. Based on comments made in the past, I thought I was being watched but that I had a long way to go before I reached the point where I would be seriously considered. The only thing that bothered me about it was the implication that I what I did wasn't "good enough." I got passed it, figuring that as long as I enjoyed what I was doing that was enough. In court, the herald called the Order of the Velvet Owl forward, then called the name of the first person they wanted to be included. After hugs, some of them started to sit down. The Queen said, "Why are you sitting? We are not done." They immediately stood up, and after a pause the herald called my name. I got a serious case of blurred tunnel vision for a moment. I'm serious when I say that if logansilveraxe had not bowed at the front row of seats I would have totally forgotten. To say I was stunned would be an understatement. Her Majesty asked if I knew why I was there, and I replied that because she had commanded me to be there. She asked if I knew why else I was there. I looked around and replied that I had a pretty good idea. That's when I saw the pouch in her hands. At KA&S 2006, piro_chan gave his OVO pouch to Petey. The idea was that he had made a pouch that fit his persona and, after adding something personal to the original pouch, was passing it on. He charged Petey to add something personal to the original pouch and make one that fit his persona before passing it on. That is the pouch I now have. I was stunned before. When I saw that pouch, I was touched and trying not to cry. I already know what I want to add, and I have an idea what I want to do for something to fit my persona. Apparently, once the order had given the Crown the recommendation that I be added to the order, they asked my laurel if they should do it at Magna Fair while she was there or at my local event. She asked that they do it there, and I am very glad. She was able to be there and all my friends who had been helping and encouraging me all this time were already there. The only thing that could have made it perfect was if artemis257 had been there.
Since Alasais, Petey, and I had been the only performing arts entries, we did not bothering judging each other for Magna Fair. However, they did have a performing arts award. Since we didn't turn in paperwork, they didn't know our names. Instead, they called us up as "the two nightingales that sang so beautifully and entertained the populace with various songs." It was very amusing, and we escorted each other up there. We each received a little potter cup/bowl (that is the perfect size for small amounts of strong liquour).
"Spero" - This is the dance that alasais, peteyfrogboy, and I did. Petey and I reconstructed the dance, and I wrote the documentation. As far as the dance goes, we did a pretty good job considering we just taught it to Alasais on Wednesday. We were in sync for most of the dance, although there is one spot where vox8 said I was stepping ahead of the other two. Now that we know the steps, we need to get more comfortable with it so we can relax and smile. Also, we need to orient the dance on the diaganol rather than straight side-to-side. We didn't want to start facing the judges, because when you turn around your back is to them. We thought facing the side would make it easier for the judges to see the steps, but they could not see all the dancers. The dance itself is rather simple once you know the steps. It is reconstructing the steps that makes it difficult. There are a number of terms that we had never seen before or that we wanted an actual definition on. The documentation I did for the dance, while adequate, was definitely sub-standard. Things I want to improve on or add to the documentation before KA&S include history (of the dance masters and of their manuals), culture (clothing, shoes, setting of the dance), music (copy of original if possible, copy of transcription, explanation of it, and how it relates to the dance and reconstructing the steps), definitions (of all the steps, not just the odd ones found in this particular dance), and a more in-depth discussion on how we arrived at the definitions we have, the steps we are using, and the reconstruction of the dance.
Most of the comments we received were on the documentation and what it was lacking. It is pretty much what I expected. I would have liked more technical feedback on the dance itself. We did receive one comment on our clothing (according to one judge, there was a 10-20 year difference between what Alasais and I were wearing). We definitely need to practice the dance with someone watching (they don't have to know the dance, they can tell if we are together or not) and while wearing the proper clothes. I also HAVE to make sure I do not do the documentation at the last minute, and get it to someone in enough time to make sure it is proof-read and all the necessary information is there.
"Ther is no rose of swych vertue" - This is the duet I did with alasais. Alasais did the documentation and research on the piece. We entered it for the first time at MidWinter A&S 2006, but we received much better and more technical feedback this time. For two sopranos, we actually blend very well together. We made the mistake of doing the dance first, and we did not get much of a chance to catch our breath or get some water before we had to sing. The judges did cut us some slack because of that, but we need to make sure ourselves that we are adequately warmed up, that we have water close by, and that we request to do any singing before we do dancing. There was one spot where Alasais flubbed, but she knows exactly where it is and it was one of those freak occurance things. I know I flubbed quite a few of the pronunciations (we were singing in middle English), and the judges caught that. One of the judges had issue with how we were pronouncing some of the words, so we will have to add justification of why we are pronouncing them the way they are to the documentation. Both of us would like to have this piece memorized by the time we do it for KA&S. There was a comment that if we are going to use music, have a justification for why in the documentation and use something period to hold the music rather than black folders. While that is a good suggestion to keep in mind for other pieces, this one should be memorized.
If we do both of these pieces at KA&S, there will need to be a quick change between pieces. I'm not entirely sure what would be appropriate for 15th century England (cotehardie?), but I'm sure it's not the gamurra and giornia I will be wearing for the dance. Also, we will need to work on entrances and exits for both of these pieces. We were a little thrown after the dance when one of the judges wanted to know if she could ask questions and she was told yes. I had always been under the impression that judges were not supposed to ask the entrants questions. They are not able to in static, why should they be able to in performing arts? If the question is not explained or answered adequately in the documentation, then there should be points deducted or a comment made. However, performing arts is judged from the moment you hit the stage till the moment you leave, so we need to make sure we practice our entrance and exit and think of it as part of the entry.
As was stated in my other journal, they got me good. Based on comments made in the past, I thought I was being watched but that I had a long way to go before I reached the point where I would be seriously considered. The only thing that bothered me about it was the implication that I what I did wasn't "good enough." I got passed it, figuring that as long as I enjoyed what I was doing that was enough. In court, the herald called the Order of the Velvet Owl forward, then called the name of the first person they wanted to be included. After hugs, some of them started to sit down. The Queen said, "Why are you sitting? We are not done." They immediately stood up, and after a pause the herald called my name. I got a serious case of blurred tunnel vision for a moment. I'm serious when I say that if logansilveraxe had not bowed at the front row of seats I would have totally forgotten. To say I was stunned would be an understatement. Her Majesty asked if I knew why I was there, and I replied that because she had commanded me to be there. She asked if I knew why else I was there. I looked around and replied that I had a pretty good idea. That's when I saw the pouch in her hands. At KA&S 2006, piro_chan gave his OVO pouch to Petey. The idea was that he had made a pouch that fit his persona and, after adding something personal to the original pouch, was passing it on. He charged Petey to add something personal to the original pouch and make one that fit his persona before passing it on. That is the pouch I now have. I was stunned before. When I saw that pouch, I was touched and trying not to cry. I already know what I want to add, and I have an idea what I want to do for something to fit my persona. Apparently, once the order had given the Crown the recommendation that I be added to the order, they asked my laurel if they should do it at Magna Fair while she was there or at my local event. She asked that they do it there, and I am very glad. She was able to be there and all my friends who had been helping and encouraging me all this time were already there. The only thing that could have made it perfect was if artemis257 had been there.
Since Alasais, Petey, and I had been the only performing arts entries, we did not bothering judging each other for Magna Fair. However, they did have a performing arts award. Since we didn't turn in paperwork, they didn't know our names. Instead, they called us up as "the two nightingales that sang so beautifully and entertained the populace with various songs." It was very amusing, and we escorted each other up there. We each received a little potter cup/bowl (that is the perfect size for small amounts of strong liquour).