Getting Wet and Hot with the Beauties

Sirens is being billed as 'New Zealand's first water ballet in 50 years', performed by a 70-strong contingent of women (and a few lucky men).  What inspired this revival of a spectacle which peaked in the less-than-politically-correct 1930s? Renee Liang talks to co-conspirators Linda McFetridge, Judy Dale and Pip Hall poolside at rehearsal.

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It’s 11 am on a Sunday, the sun is blaring down, and the waterslides are going at the Parnell baths.  The kids aren’t in the water though – they’re on the sides, mouths hanging open as they watch a bevy of black-swimsuited beauties, uniformly attired in white swim caps, gliding in formation through the shallow pools.  At the front, Linda McFetridge yells encouragement, dances up and down, claps, and scribbles notes madly. “Smile! Hypnotise them! It’s your one chance to be ballerinas! Go for it!”

The Wet Hot Beauties are a collection of women who have been getting together twice a week for the last three months to practise a water ballet. Water what?  Think of those epic Las Vegas extravaganzas with lines of sequinned ladies, diving into the water in sequence, making patterns in the water with their perfectly proportioned limbs while improbably maintaining their makeup.  I learned that although NZ didn’t have anything on this scale, local ‘aquacade’ groups were very popular in the 1930s and 40s.  And very much in a similar vein, WHB is a community group, made up of women who are as passionate about the perfect formation as the originals.  The group snowballed from an original 13 (for the first shows last year) to over 100 at one stage, fuelled by word of mouth and Facebook referrals.

But why now, and what of the rather obvious feminist implications of getting dolled up in red lippy and swimsuits to show off?  Judy and Pip say that the women in the group range from high-flying career women to students and stay-at-home mums, and it’s from this empowered position that they are revisiting the all-female extravaganza. “It’s a celebration of the female form,” Judy says, “and they get a huge buzz out of working together and getting it perfect.”  Partners and family are very much involved as well, as they have to work around rehearsals, deal with childcare, and often end up at the pool as well – a spin off group, Wet Hot Babies, is being talked about. The women are making lots of connections and friendships within the group – for some it’s a chance to get outside of their usual circles, and they’re making the most of it.  “They’re well bonded now - they all go off for coffee or a meal after rehearsal,” Pip says.

Linda, whose background as a director and choreographer has stood her in good stead over the last few months, speaks of what inspires her.  “I loved the old Busby Berkeley movies, the iconic Hollywood choreographer and director who was known for his formation work and spectacular ensemble performance pieces,” she says.  “I filed away those images – and once I have the music and theme of the show, I can play the music and see people dancing in my head. Those images that are definitely influenced by Busby Berkley and other amazing bits of choreography that works well with such large numbers.”

The theme that the trio settled on was the legend of the Sirens, the watery temptresses who tried to lure Odysseus and his crew to their deaths.  Men were needed – so once again husbands, boyfriends and flatmates were called on to play hapless sailors.  Not that it’s been a drag on them – as Judy points out, there’s some quite nice “eye candy” in the group, along with the aforementioned social possibilities.

Body image is something that comes up a few times.  Watching the rehearsal, I’m impressed at the age range – 20s right through to women in their late 50s – all different body shapes, more than a few pregnant torsos, tattooed backs and arms.  Pip says that some women were initially scared to appear in their swimsuits in front of the others – until they realised that it was an equaliser. “We've all got different body types but when we hit the water in our outfits we suddenly all look the same.  There’s a safety in numbers that make it okay to be performing in public in your togs!"

Sirens is very much an update of the vintage spectacle.  Aside from the tongue in cheek name, and the fact that this time it’s the women in control – both creatively and narratively - modern divas such as Lady Gaga, Beyonce, Kate Bush and Celine Dion are used to supply the soundtrack.  There’s more than a whiff of nostalgia though. Pip reveals that each of the WHBs has chosen a “stage name”, inspired by the old time musicals – hers is “Million Dollar Mermaid” (the title of an old movie).  Judy, who’s heavily pregnant, tells me hers is “Bathing Beauty (Belly).” 

They’re expecting their audience to be wide – anywhere from the hip young 20-somethings who experience retro as a new cool thing, to the group’s fan base of women in their mid to late 30s, friends and family, and yes, oldies who are keen for a bit of nostalgia.  And as the swimmers exit the pool, chilled after over two hours of being in the water but smiling and still with perfect lippy, I’m sure that the audience are in for a very good time indeed.

I asked Pip some further questions by email.

How did you come up with the idea (over some wine, I'm told) ?

It's something that we'd been talking about for a while, for a few summers.  We were inspired by Alison Bruce and a group of her friends that meet 10 years ago for weekly session of synchronised swimming.  We tried that but it was a bit athletic for us.  Once we started rehearsing in the kids pool at Parnell the idea morphed into water ballet, which is much more fun and achievable.  We even have non swimmers in the troupe!

How did you recruit 65 luscious ladies to be wet and hot?

Word of mouth and Facebook and people that saw our shows.  First year we had 13 ladies, last year 40 - this year 65 ladies and 9 men.

What skills are required to be a WHB?

A fun, can do attitude.  Coordination helps but is not compulsory.

How do you coordinate such a large number?

It's a logistical nightmare.  Linda is constantly having to rejig formations as people join and leave the group.  We have set rehearsal times that are once a week initially - to keep it achievable and then more as we get closer to the show.  Lots and lots of group emailing!!!

Do you base your routines on actual historical footage?

Hmmm you'd have to ask Linda, but certainly there are a lot of moves that are inspired by the old styles aquacades.  It's about half and half old schools/new schools.  Lady Gaga etc - There's even a tiny Kanye West inspired piece in there.

How do you get your inspirations for design and choreography?

See Linda again - but once we came up with the idea of doing a show based on the Sirens legend that led down a certain path - old world sailor type thing.  We also brought 'our lady in red' image online and she's been very inspirational too in terms of the look and the colour palette and the influence of ribbon work in the show.

Where is this heading? Will you set off a "wave" of  ‘30s inspired water ballets around the country?

We're aiming for the stars.  But seriously - we'll be having a big discussion post show about how to keep growing the group while still keeping true to our kaupapa of being fully inclusive, family friendly, realistic, achievable, while having fun and creating something special.  I think that success for a group like this is a potential minefield and I have seen other groups shatter under the weight of it so we'll be trying super hard to make sure we're all on the same page on what we want for the WHB and what we see the future being.  I think we'll certainly be aiming to do another show next year.
 
Will men be able to take part in the future?

Good question.  Something we'll think on during the off season.  This year we needed men to be sailors for the Sirens theme to work.  This started off as a women's group but I guess if we're embracing the fully inclusive thing then by rights if guys wanted to join then they could.  Hmmm - we'll get back to you on that.

The Wet Hot Beauties present:
Sirens – the water ballet
at Auckland Fringe Festival 
Venue: Parnell Baths, Judges Bay Rd, Parnell
Date: Wednesday 23rd – Sunday 27th February 2011
Duration: 45 mins
Price:  Full $20.00 Concession $16.00 ( service fee will apply)
Book: iTicket Express www.iticketexpress.co.nz
Web Site: www.whbs.co.nz

• Backstage: Renee Liang offers her take on Auckland Fringe and Festival - digging a little deeper behind the scenes and into the minds of creators. If you're involved in the festivals, you might even see her at a rehearsal - or performing in an elevator... See more interviews here.