Rehearsals for the Cape Town Military Tattoo 2010: Part 1

Tonight is the big dress rehearsal for the Cape Town Military Tattoo 2010 at the Castle, and tomorrow is opening night!

The last couple of days have been really busy, with all the preparations for the start of this spectacular event (see here for some pictures of this), the arrival of the various groups of performers and marching bands, and the intensive rehearsals in the main arena.

On Saturday afternoon, I witnessed the rehearsals of the SA Navy Sea Cadets, the Drill Squad from the Western Cape Schools Marching Drill and Exhibition Association, the Celtic Dancers, and the Drum Majorettes of Curro School.

To give you a bit of a taste of what will happen at the tattoo, here are some pics I took on the day. Enjoy! 😀

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Gallery of Photos

From time to time, the resident Egyptian Geese have to be escorted off the arena

The Sea Cadets in their blue shirts and black pants perform a silent drill

The geese are back again, completely unfazed by all the marching around them

The Celtic Dancers rehearse on the stage in front of the ornate Kat balcony

Posing nicely with their swords

The Drill Squad in their dramatic yellow and black uniforms marches out of the archway

They are followed by their drummers, who keep up a relentless beat

Aim and… er… fire?

They have a very fast-paced drill routine

Expertly twirling the wooden guns

Before leaving the arena

Camo netting is draped over the lighting towers

Ah! The drum majorettes from Curro school in Durbanville

It’s the first time I’ve seen them – these young lasses have a huge amount of energy!

They really are excellent

Twirling and flying batons, catching them neatly

Every single one of them is smiling

Their energy and enthusiasm is contagious

You just can’t help cheering and clapping

Baton in the air!

The Sea Cadets concentrate on their drill

The base durmmer keeps up a steady beat, driving them

A brief pause, heads bowed

Shadowy figures with guns

They form a guard of honour for the functionaries and dignitaries