Geordie Thompson had a pig, he hit it with a shovel and it danced a jig

[venta]

Just a quick note for those of you who like to keep up with the cut-throat world of competitive sword-dancing: this weekend sees DERT, the national rapper competition, in Newcastle.

Dance teams are marked on various technical matters, and on the elusive "buzz factor" - the rather unquantifiable quantity of being exciting. A recent reading of this year's rules suggests that any team receiving a standing ovation will automatically score full marks for buzz. So if anyone happens to be flapping around Byker with nothing to do tomorrow, feel free to come and stand-up while cheering wildly shortly after we've danced (or, if you're influenced by merit, after someone else has danced).

Careful studying of the world's most confusing timetable (Mabel Gubbins are on tour 7, cycle 2, rotating anti-clockwise[*]), our approximate plan with spuriously accurate timing is:

The Ship (11:37 - 12:13)
Egypt Cottage (13:00 - 13:36)
Eye of the Tyne[**] (14:57 - 15:33)
The Tanners (16:21 - 16:57)
Cumberland Arms (17:44 - 18:20)

There is an evening showcase of all teams in the Artworks gallery, though I believe there's a £5 charge for that.

Oh, and I'm not joking about the cut-throat. Competitive rapper is serious stuff.

[*] I have no idea.
[**] Yes thanks, I am going to be failing to make this scan to the tune of Eye of the Tiger. All day.

Comments

[bateleur.livejournal.com]

I'm not joking about the cut-throat

Good thing the swords are blunt!

[phlebas.livejournal.com]

Some kind of abominable mashup of Eye of the Tiger and Fog on the Tyne cannot be far away.

[valkyriekaren.livejournal.com]

Good luck. Give my love to anyone from Addison or High Spen Blue Diamonds who you think might know me (saying 'Dave Howdon's daughter' will probably help).

[venta.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Addison are apparently going to be there (tour 2, cycle 1, rotating clockwise...) this year, so I'll pass the message on. High Spen think that competition rapper should be done on a stage, so refuse to join in with these new-fangled pub competitions :)

[venta.livejournal.com]

Y'know the joke about the spoon...

It now looks like the bruising on the back of my hand - sustained at practice on Tuesday - is not going to have gone away or stopped hurting by tomorrow :(

[valkyriekaren.livejournal.com]

Heh. That's OK, I probably know more people at Addison anyway. Particular mention to Valdis Stals, probably the only Lithuanian rapper dancer.

[venta.livejournal.com]

Oh aye, I know Valdis. I didn't know he was Lithuanian, though. He's certainly not as unexpected as L---- (can't remember his name), the Basque student who used to dance with the Kingsmen and spoke with a thick Basque-Geordie accent.

[hmmm-tea.livejournal.com]

Good thing the swords are blunt!

They're still unable to go through heads, but do insist on trying

[valkyriekaren.livejournal.com]

*nods* His parents are from Lithuania - came over during the War I think. Lovely people, friends of the family for years. ISTR my parents bought us our first PC secondhand from his younger brother Marc.

[jiggery-pokery.livejournal.com]

At one point it was looking like we might have gone to Ikea today which I would have tried to tie in with a trip to see you, but sadly that's no longer happening. :-(

Do you side with the actor's credo of "Break a leg!" or the standard non-reverse psychology of "Good luck!"?

[ebee.livejournal.com]

Noooo! I wanna come play fan girl!

[snow-leopard.livejournal.com]

Oh no!
I was IN Newcastle this weekend.
I actually saw the advertisement for it in the Cumberland Arms on Friday night and wondered if you were involved!