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Synchonized showtunes
Published 11:12am Wednesday, May 2, 2012Fergus Falls citizens will get a taste of New York this weekend. Music and entertainment lovers should make their way to the Kennedy Secondary School Pool to see the Fergus’ senior and junior synchronized swim club members as they present the 2012 show, “No Business Like Show Business,” at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
“By the end of the show, the girls leave it all in the pool,” said Amanda Thormodson, a co-director, who is sharing the director title with her mother, Deb Holicky. It is sponsored by District 544 Community Education.
Thirty girls will showcase to their talents to songs from more than 30 Broadway shows, including scores from the following musicals: The Phantom of the Opera, Rent, Les Miserables, Chicago, Mamma Mia!, My Fair Lady, Wicked, Footloose, The Sound of the Music, Annie Get Your Gun, Anything Goes, Hairspray, Miss Saigon and much more.
The one hour, 20-minute performance — with a 10-minute intermission — will feature the 30 young ladies handling entertaining props and challenging choreography that will be worthy of dropping the $6 for adults, $4 for students.
While “New York, New York,” a song dedicated to the Big Apple, is not from any popular musical, when the audience hears the number, they will be hooked and transported to the city via the show tune. The number will feature a variety of group performances.
At times, the ladies will synchronize outside
the pool as an intro to the musical number. There will be two trios, a quad, two six-person numbers and more, including a grand finale, that features all the girls in the show.
“The audience won’t leave the pool disappointed, we have a lot of surprises that will keep them guessing throughout the whole show,” said Thormodson. “The girls have been working towards performance weekend.”
Members have been growing through hours of practices, along with memorizing their strokes and stunts during practice and as homework.
Unlike previous years, the show won’t feature a solo performance, but there is greater challenge with a larger ensemble – and the 30-woman finale for that matter – than a singular performer. Whether it’s three athletes showing off their work ethic or 15, all numbers will highlight the skill that the young ladies possess.
“It’s great to have the young ladies grow throughout the process,” said Thormodson. “They really work hard.”
Synchronized swimming is like ballet, but is performed in the pool. Athletes come from several backgrounds, including dance, gymnastics, ballet and competitive swimming, among others. Performers use sculling to maintain their balance and execute stunts in the pool.
Themes and musical pieces are brainstormed in January/February. Thormodson said she encourages as much student direction as possible. Once the “Broadway” theme was selected, the team works in groups to create the different numbers or choreographs.
Much like in any team sport, all the teammates came together for the good of the group.
Thormodson said it will be an exciting show for all fans.
