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Blogs By: Flame
| | A Blue Team Summer
Posted on 08/27/2008 by Flame
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Hello Aerial Angels' fans! Flame here. You may remember me from such events as King Richard's Faire 2007, the Alaska 2008 extravanganza and the Spring 2008 Southeastern Tour de Force. Up until now, you have known me as the number 3 - the shadow, the cheerleader and the support (secret weapon, perhaps) behind the Isabella/Spike powerhouse.
Well, this summer I threw away the pom poms and joined forces with the graceful and talented Mimi and the live action hero, Duke, to form a new team ready for the Summer 2008 tour. We traveled in the US and Canada learning the ropes and earning our wings (yes, the puns are intended). And now, thousands of miles, several pairs of ripped tights, and three cans of fuel later, our tour has come to a close and I find myself reflecting back on the summer... And, what the heck, I'm dragging you along for the ride.
Our story begins in Kalamazoo where Duke, Mimi and I began blue team rehearsals, or what we like to call "a crash course in Aerial Angels." In the span of a week, we not only perfected our routines and tricks, we introduced Duke to eating fire. We took down and put up and took down and put up the rig. And, tied it to the roof rack. All while being timed by Isabella (no pressure). We learned the art of the sound system and a few spells to cast on it just in case. We learned what goes in and what does not go in the team gear suitcase. Note: this is very important - A place for everything and everything in its place, a place for every.... *ahem* We learned our lines. We learned our lines in the park while passersby interrupted with political petitions. We learned our lines in Spike's living room while she quizzed us with questions. We learned our lines in Spike's backyard while playing tag as guerrillas underwater (don't ask). Let's just say we did, eventually, learn our lines. At which point we were ready to be on our way. So, we packed up the car and, with a kiss goodbye, Spike and Isabella waved and teared up a bit as we pulled out of the driveway. Okay, it didn't ACTually happen that way, but that's how I'd like to remember it...
Over the summer, the blue team traveled to Cobourg, Brockville and Milton, Ontario as well as Sterling, NY, Centerville, Ohio and Holland, MI. Sometimes our crowds were small. In Sterling, NY when the rain wouldn't let up, there were only a few people remaining at the faire. A handful of people stood out in the woods in the rain to see the fire-eaters close up. They were grateful for the entertainment and we were happy to give such an intimate show to such a great audience. Other times our crowds were huge. In Centerville, Ohio we were the preshow for the regionally famous fireworks display. 6,000 people were in the bleachers of the stadium and several hundred more were outside the gates peering in. We learned what it is like to perform with the adrenaline from the deafening music over the loud speakers and what it is like to have 6,000 people laugh on cue. Needless to say, we were instantly addicted. Through all the gigs we met some amazing performers and fans that we can't wait to see again down the road.
Now, summer is coming to a close and the blue team is going their separate ways. Duke has gone to Texas to start grad school in Theater. Mimi and I have one last hurrah at the Pennsylvania Ren Faire this weekend, then she's off to Maryland and I'm on my way to King Richard's. The blue team tour may be over, but it gave us all experiences we'll never forget. Mimi did her first pull up. Duke wore his first codpiece. And, Flame had her first wardrobe malfunction, Janet Jackson style, on the streets of Holland. Ah, memories. |
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| | On the Road, On the Road, and On the Road Some More...
Posted on 05/07/2008 by Flame
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~Also from Isabella and Spike
Six states, two countries, several flights and 24 hours of driving in four days - a snapshot of the Aerial Angels Southeastern Tour 2008.
Friday and Saturday found Spike, Isabella, Star, Flame and guest hamster Rikki teaching partner acrobatics, hoop, trapeze and silk to hundreds of high school theatre students at the Florida State Thespian Festival in Tampa. They lined up hours in advance for the limited-participation part of the workshop, and cried, complained, and fought with each other to get into the room. Finally, the smartest ones realized that bribery was the only answer and carried heavy rig pieces back and forth for us.
By the end of the Saturday workshops, muscles were sore and voices nearly gone, but spirits were high. Students who originally whined about ending up in the much larger partner acrobatics group instead of the smaller climbing groups came back to learn more and show off their new routines, and the climbers proudly displayed rope burns to their friends. Ahhh, circus.
Sunday morning, deployment began. Star went home to Lakeland, Flame, Isabella and Spike headed out to historic St. Augustine, the oldest city in North America, and home to the delicious Casa Monica Hotel Brunch. Because nothing says Sunday Morning like grits and creme brulee. The weather was gorgeous, the crowds much larger than we expected on short notice, and we had a great time messing with the angry "Ban the Adult Entertainment District" sign-holding lady. Clearly excited to take advantage of our crowd for a political statement, she shyly hid behind her sign when we directed focus her way. Funny, we thought the whole point was to be looked at. After we hugged each other as a bit, one of our teddy-bear-shaped male audience members requested his own hug, and Isabella quipped, "We're starting our own Adult Entertainment District right here." Other highlights included the sun burning into our retinas for partner acrobatics, wind blowing the silk out of our hands, and the angriest blogger in the world (don't ask.) However, we got so much positive feedback from the audience, kids showing us their acrobatic tricks, and excitement about the revival of street performing in St. Augustine, we definitely want to come back.
Deployment continued. Flame attended The Longest Most Boring Graduation In The World (diploma recipients were nodding off on the platform), and Spike and Isabella headed for Daytona to teach a silks workshop to a group of liturgical dancers. It was such a pleasure to work with performers who had a movement vocabulary and the fitness level to express it in the air.
And then...oh God, and then...
Flame takes an evening's respite in Daytona!
Spike and Isabella drive off to Atlanta, arrive at 4:30AM, check in and pay the Nastiest Airline Ever (I won't say who, but it rhymes with Smelta) SIX HUNDRED AND TEN DOLLARS in oversize, overweight baggage fees, dash to our favorite Lost Boy's house for three hours' sleep and a load of laundry, get on a plane to Canada, and arrive so tired that Spike attempts to brush her teeth with the tube of toothpaste, and Isabella can't figure out why the faucet is dispensing soap onto her hand instead of water!
Spike and Isabella continue to the National Gallery of Canada. At this point, they are so exhausted that they can't tell you much about the evening, other than:
1) We spent longer getting into and out of statue makeup than we actually spent as statues
2) If you're so tired you can't pull up, just put your feet to your head and the audience will never notice
3) There were lamb wraps. Yum...lamb wraps...
Spike and Isabella spent a token ten minutes before bedtime with the relatives we stayed with. Meanwhile, back in Atlanta...
Flame discovers that traveling with an infant means the Daytona-Atlanta run takes four hours longer than you might expect. She picked up the car in Atlanta and headed for Little Rock, arriving at 7AM.
Spike, Flame and Isabella converge at the lavish Airport Travelodge, dine sumptuously on OJ and donuts in plastic wrap, and head out to Eureka Springs, Arkansas.
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