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! 😀
———————————————-
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
