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Monday October 7,
2002 This had to be one of Martial Artistry's most unusual kung fu and wushu exhibitions ever: a convention of folks from the world famous tractor companies, at a movie ranch not far from Santa Fe. Because it was a school night, not to mention an evening when we regularly hold classes, we sent a skeleton crew of our key lion dance and kung fu performers, while Sifu was forced to remain behind to mind the fort. |
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| Our intrepid crew had to do some serious -- ahem -- "shooting from the hip", when a combination of circumstances -- everything from the late arrival of the busses to the condition of the performance areas -- forced them to abandon all the original plans for the show. (above right and below: the team palavers and pow-wows, indoors and out on the movie set) | |
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(right) The lion dance team walks through the Double Lion Welcome set. |
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It was plenty dark by the time we got started, so
apologies for the photos, which we've enhanced as much as we could
from the originals. (At left, Jason Padilla performs a traditional kung fu form) |
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We met some of the nicest professional people at
this event, the theme of which was "East Meets West". An awesome
gun-fighting group was West to our East, and the students had a blast
planning with the amiable pros, even working out a fighting set with one of
the gunfighters. (Right: Li greets convention goers) |
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Alas, the kung fu- gun fighting set was just one
of the routines that had to be abandoned when the bus delay caused a massive
revamp of the entertainment. (Left: Li takes a bow) |
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As you can see from the photo below, where Ann Marie Palmieri and Chris Baca play the three tip lance, most of the performances were done in the dark. |
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| Our lions, Piao Liang and Li, definitely stole the show. |
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They were called upon again and again to dance in various parts of the "Old West" movie set. |
| (right) Li, our brave -- yet foolish -- younger lion, confronts a Western gunfighter. Let's hope we don't end up with a repeat of the Boxer Rebellion . . . |
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Alas! Our Li did NOT get wiser as the night
went on. Here, he encounters a "monk" who has just been thrown out of
the saloon. Kip Barkhurst played the monk for this show, and the whole crew really got into the act. Poor Kip wound up being thrown bodily through the saloon's batswing doors and into the street. It was apparently pretty convincing! |
| A saloon girl watches as Li prods the Naughty Monk awake. |
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(left) Uh, oh! Monkey see, monkey do. Or, in this case, lion see, lion do. Bad Li checks out the bottle of wine.
(below) |
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(right) You can run, Kip, but you can't hide!
(below) |
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(left) Ms. Gryphon sounds the dinner drum as the lions parade the guests to the dining hall. |
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(right) Ornate door guardian guarded the entrance to the dining hall, as Piao Liang welcomed the guests and Ms. Gryphon drummed.
(below)
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We had an awesome time at this venue. Everyone was wonderful to us and so encouraging, especially the gun fighting group and the event promoter. The gunfighters told us they were sure they would see us again, and we hope they're right! Questions? Comments?
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