Thanks to all members who came to the Grill and Chill last night. The mood was festive and we all felt the pride of another NAA Swim team title.
Thanks to all who participated in the 2010 Lip Synch. One of our members, Paul McAdams, wrote a review to cover the event. I'd like to share it with youl
Another lip sync concert this evening at Elm Park Pool. The mood: graciously ebullient after our eleventh consecutive victory at the swim meet championships. The crowd was sparse at first, well-fed and our thirst assuaged in various ways from our weekly Grill and Chill, but as the stage was set a larger mass of Elm Parkers filled the green and white chairs and we prepared ourselves for a yearly tradition that energizes the dancers and lip synchers as much as the audience.
The evening’s first number, a trio of seasoned synchro veterans, immediately reminded me that gangsta music was far removed from my reality. As they twisted and turned, the dizzying range of songs heard was matched by the performers’ unstoppable ability to switch flawlessly between genres, even for a brief moment taking us to Bollywood for a few moves.
The second song of the evening was a remake of the classic Journey hit Don’t Stop Believin’, where the infectious dance moves and upbeat lyrics created an uncontrollable urge for many spectators (including the fantastically able dancer Drew) to spontaneously get up and dance. The ultimate effect was one of the most impromptu and genuine displays of the Elm Park spirit that makes one proud and genuinely happy to be part of the community. It was, in essence, a fantastic final act and we had only begun. As one parent ably remarked, “We’ve just had our Glee moment.”
The rest of the evening was no less enjoyable. A marvellously choreographed quartet danced to a song about California girls, and after listening to the lyrics too attentively, I chose to focus on the precision and creativity of the young performers. Other acts followed displaying tremendous agility at switching from gothic-inspired dramas to scenes reminiscent of Timon and Pumba in the Lion King.
Our lifeguards, as usual, did not disappoint. The young men performed first, and while only three in number, the range of their musical abilities, including Sam’s propensity to show heartfelt emotion singing Gloria Gayner’s I Will Survive were laudable. To think they even pulled off their own adaptation of YMCA, although I am unsure whether or not there was an original member of the band who wore a Robin Hood/Lucky Charms Guy hat. But the best was yet to come: as their number drew to a close, Jeordi’s pyrotechnics and smooth moves were a perfect preamble to Sam and Sean’s minotaur-inspired rooftop interpretive piece, with mini swimsuits harkening back the 1970s a stylistic masterpiece.
The young women were not to be outdone, however: larger in numbers, the incessant multiplicity and complexity of their dance moves a choreographically marvel. From dancing basketball players to square dancing to more Bollywoodish moves to an encore of Shakira’s I-gotta-move-when-I-hear-this Waka Waka song, the evening was a resounding success. A fitting way to celebrate a hard-earned and well-deserved victory. Bravo, Elm Park Pool.
Paul McAdams
Posted by: President On: Aug 15, 2010