Prep List - for Sunday, September 18th

Here's what you should be working on for our rehearsal this Sunday:

• Ensure that all notes and rhythms from the work we did at camp are secure (i.e. all of Snowforms, Noviori Ani to end of p. 4,  the beginning and end of Womanly Song of God
• Listen to the recording of Womanly Song of God with your score several times and begin work on the parts so our work on them this Sunday isn't "from cold".
• Watch this video of Mi'kmaq women drumming to get a feel for the way the mallet bounces off the drum.  This is the feeling we need to get into our bodies for this song - we are the drum (especially in the opening and closing of the piece), so our sound needs to move as steadily and fluidly as a drum mallet.

Finally, remember that the time to start memorizing these pieces is now!  Try to integrate your memory work with your music-learning time so that you are able to achieve your goal of feeling confident in performances and being well prepared in plenty of time.  This will make our concerts less stressful and our rehearsals way more fun!  

Xara Camp Notes

Congratulations on an AWESOME XaraCamp!!  It was the best one yet, by a long shot!

Obviously, we can't summarize here the many hours of workshops and activities we took part in but there are some key items.  These notes will also help Xarites who were at camp to ensure that the work they did is still nice and locked in by next Sunday.

Repertoire Work

• Snowforms: We have now nailed down the whole piece (notes and rhythms are finished) and have the first 3 pages memorized.  
• Womanly Song of God: This is our hardest piece and we did really good work on mm. 1-51 (beginning to middle of p.7) and m.237 to the end.  These parts should now be solid, including the body percussion at the end!
• Noviori Ani: We worked on balance and being able to hear your part in cluster chords.  We got to the bottom of p.4 with notes and rhythms solid.

If you were not at camp, it's your responsibility to make sure that you are caught up on this repertoire work.

Key Movement Concepts We Explored

• sensitivity and awareness (balancing stick formations, watching your walk, leading your partner)
• moving as a group (flocking like birds, and "The Watching")
• moving lightly on the floor (like birds landing!)
• tension and release

Xara Ambassadors & Administration

• 1 minute pitch: how to talk about Xara to a co-worker, an artist, a politician, or a business person (please see the link Tenille posted on our facebook page)
• You can fund raise your fees away by selling advertisements for our programs!  
• The importance of talking about Xara in your non-Xara life
• How to sell tickets
• Many hands make light work: get involved!  There are many roles Xarites can take on to share in the leadership of the choir!

This can only scratch the surface of an amaaaaazing weekend but hopefully it will help keep the memories fresh and assist those who couldn't be there in preparing for Sunday the 18th.

We were so proud of your commitment, your enthusiasm, your relationship building, and your hard work last weekend.  Thank you SO much!

Love from,
Christina, Claire, Tenille, and Deirdre

Xara Camp - location

Hi all! Just in case you want to see some pictures of the beautiful place we are going to spend the weekend, I thought I'd pass on their web address:
 http://www.artscentre.ca/

 It's a GORGEOUS location on over 100 acres of property that includes waterfront on the Bay of Fundy! They've also got a huge garden of fresh foods that we are free to cook with all weekend. Weeee!

Xara Camp - Driving Directions

Ross Creek GPS:
 Latitude 45.22159
Longitude -64.43816

 If coming from Halifax:
- Take Highway 101
 - Take Exit 11, turn right off ramp
 - Continue straight through lights toward Canning and Port Williams – follow signs for Canning (11km)
 - In the Canning Village centre, turn left at the monument
 - At the T at the top of the mountain, turn left
 - Turn immediately right down Ross Creek Road (gravel)
 - Approximately 3 km down that road, The Ross Creek Centre is on your left

Xara Camp - Packing List

Ross Creek Centre for the Arts is half way between a nice retreat centre and a camp. Your accommodations will be dorm style (two large cabins with 12 bunks in each). They do not have electric lighting but they are heated. Good quality mattresses are provided but bedding is not (although pillow are provided, I'd suggest bringing your own). Good quality bathroom facilities (with electricity) are a short walk from the cabins. The rehearsal facilities are top-notch-gorgeous and the kitchen/dining situation is also really nice (we will be doing our own cooking).

Suggested Packing List:

• Weather-appropriate clothes 
•  Warm clothes for evening 
•  Toiletries 
•  Towels, facecloth 
•  Bedding or Sleeping Bag 
•  Pillow 
•  Shoes for walking around camp
• Gym/yoga clothes for sessions (layers are good) - must be comfortable and able to move in them  
• Gym slippers (Xara shoes for those who have them) 
•  Water bottle, pencil 
•  Yoga mat or large towel 
•  Journal or something to write in/on(very important!!) 
•  $20 for supper at The Port 
•  Flashlight (really important since the bathrooms are a walk away from your cabins) 
•  Ear plugs for light sleepers!

Xara Camp 2011 - Schedule

Location: Ross Creek Centre for the Arts (Canning, NS)

Friday
6:30 Arrival
7:00 Intro Session
9:00 Performance and Rehearsal Philosophy + Day Closer

Saturday (Contract Interviews on-going through the day)
8:30 Breakfast and Clean-up
9:30 Movement Session
10:20 Music Session
11:00 Snack
11:15 “Fatty Legs” Show Orientation
12:15 Lunch prep and eat and clean
1:00 Contract Interviews begin
1:30 Movement Session
3:30 Break
4:00 Music Session 
5:30 Supper Break
6:30 Contract Interviews Resume
7:00 Integrated Vocal/Movement Workshop
9:30 End of Day Ritual / Sister Song

Sunday
8:30 Breakfast/Cleanup
9:30 Yoga
10:30 Music Session
11:30 Break
11:45 Xara Ambassadors Workshop
12:30 Lunch
2:00 Movement/Music Session
4:00 Group Bonding/Closing
4:45 Clear out
5:30 Dinner at The Port

Transitions for F500 Short Program

Hi everyone,

Here is the the order and the transitions for our Short Program. Please have a look at this, put notes in your scores accordingly, and be ready to give these a "go" on Saturday!

Wind Song - 3 pods with spoken opening (walk up on opening)
Scantei Solare - break into mixed scattered during p. 1
Transition: spoken translation and move to U (Claire will work the timing of this on Saturday)
Satakieli - U formation: S2|A1|S1a+S1b|A2
Las Amarillas - on opening, S1 step forward and to their usual places, others move when they sing to a loose U
Transition: at end of applause move to U for Enns
Tree of Life - U with Xara-arms

See you soon!
Christina