Writing Samples
Renegade, Feminist Synchronized Swimming Team: The H2Hos Make a Splash
By Chandra Moira Beal
Published in austinwoman magazine, April 2004
Mention synchronized swimming and most people think of Esther Williams and elaborate Busby Berkeley musicals; others think of the newest Olympic sport. The H2Hos fall somewhere in between.
Born during the summer of 2001, the H2Hos began as a few girlfriends who saw an Esther Williams movie and thought that it was time to bring water shows to a larger post-modern audience. The H2Hos share a belief in the transformational power of women's creative collaboration. The team strives to present feminism through the aquatic arts as something that is dynamic, aesthetically engaging and outright spectacular.
"I think that one of the main reasons the team identifies itself as feminist is because we are interested in transforming the very idea of 'feminism' from being either feminine or masculine," said Anne Glickman, one of the co-founders.
"We were all interested in presenting an alternative image of what powerful, politically active and radically eclectic women look like and what they can do. I was personally tired of the popular notion of a feminist as someone who is aesthetically dowdy, culturally uninteresting and ridiculously dogmatic." Plus, they were all good friends who loved to swim.
The Hos and their helpers, a core group of about 20 people, share an interest in building community through art and performance in the water. Past shows have featured themes about unity, optimism, and the celebration of just being here together on the planet.
"All of these ideas are connected to a history of people struggling for a more equitable society," says Julie Burgardt, co-founder. "Every element of the show is inspired by our collective and individual ideas about the theme of the show."
Swimmer Krista del Gallo agrees: "The fact that so many of us can come together and create art and a joyous space to collaborate within, is testimony to the fact that grassroots social change is infinitely possible."
The H2Hos collaborate before shows with their signature band, Wishing Well, whose musical accompaniment is integral to performances as they write and perform original work for every show. Costume designer Rachael Shannon makes the swimmers' costumes, and Molly Gove creates outfits for the band. Shannon started making swimwear for herself as a disgruntled consumer unable to find a properly fitting bathing suit. She began making costumes for the Hos, incorporating found clothing and pieces gathered from local thrift shops or their own closets.
The costuming started simply the first year, with five hand-made fish tail shirts, and leg and arm adornments put together with bottoms the swimmers already had. This past year's production, "The Seasons," featured four entire costume changes for each swimmer and an extensive organizational system backstage with three people drying and dressing the swimmers. Bubble machines and "attitude galore" enliven every performance.
Before each show, the swimmers, costume designers, set designers and musicians all come up with a similar idea to go on, then they each go forth and create. "The end result has been an amazing display of psychic synergy of the entire collaborative group," says del Gallo.
"Our shows are a collage of all these different artists' reactions to the given themes," says Shannon. "We like to play off of each other's ideas and have amassed a group of people who can produce spectacular costumes, music, sets and swimming that make the Hos what they are."
Only two of the H2Hos had officially learned synchronized swimming, although everyone on the team could already swim. They developed routines just by playing around in the water, reading books and watching Esther Williams movies. Although there is a synchro team for kids at the local YMCA, adult amateur classes are almost nonexistent.
The H2Hos represent a slice of typical Austin demographics: One swimmer is a landscape designer by day; two women work to reduce violence against women; a couple own coffee shops; there's a graduate student; a therapist; an elementary school teacher; decorative painters; and an event planner. Four of the H2Hos are mothers.
They've been a natural hit with Austin, since people here are almost forced to enjoy a relationship with water, at least in the summer; swimming is an integral part of the culture. "Austin is a great town for artists and creative people to get charged up about things," says Glickman. "People here are very supportive of one another, which is terrific."
Despite their edgy name, the H2Hos encourage families to attend their shows. "We have always been mindful that our shows incorporate young kids and hoped younger people would come watch the performance," says Burgardt. One girl who came to the second show loved it so much she decided to take synchro lessons and joined the team for their last show.
"I love that this work appeals to the very young and the very old, as well as everyone in between," said Glickman. "It's accessible, beautiful and joyous, while also being challenging, unpredictable and fresh."
Contact Details
La Luna Publishing
Brighton, England
Tel: 44 (0) 1273 236436
E-mail: laluna@chandrabeal.com