Welcome to the Routine Rewind series on the Diamond Dolls blog!
We will be taking a look back at some of our past routines and giving them a historical and cultural context covering things from song inspirations, artist highlights, discussing the origins of the dance styles, and more. Join us on the first of every month right here to follow this new series.
This month we are taking a look back at our routine “Shim-Me-Sha-Wabble,” from 2011, choreographed by Becky Vigil and Delilah Williams. They got inspiration for this routine from their friend Shiri Gutman, who suggested doing a synchronized swimming routine!
The Musical Guide: Sidney Bechet
Charles Peterson/Getty Images https://www.bloomsburypopularmusic.com/person?docid=person_sidneyBechet
“Shim-Me-Sha-Wabble” was recorded by Sidney Bechet and released in 1950. Sidney Bechet is known as being the first important jazz soloist on records in history. Originally he started with clarinet, which he picked up quickly, and then later on moved onto making the saxophone his main instrument of choice. His sound was his own with a wide vibrato. He spent most of his career bouncing around, including recording with Clarence Williams and playing with Duke Ellington’s early orchestra. Later on, he operated a tailor shop where players would jam. He gained some notoriety for his recording of “Summertime” in 1938 but after unsuccessfully trying to have a band with Bunk Johnson, things started to dry up. He kept his love of music alive by teaching his protégé Bob Wilber. Finally in 1949, he caught a huge break at the Salle Pleyel Jazz Festival in Paris. Shortly after he moved overseas and spent the last decade of his life playing concerts, making recordings, and being a major celebrity in France.
History of Synchronized Swimming
A swimming scene from “This Time for Keeps.” Source: https://cometoverhollywood.com/2013/06/07/the-all-american-aphrodite-remembering-esther-williams/
When most of us think about synchronized swimming, or water ballet, we think of Esther Williams or the Olympics. However, synchronized swimming has a history dating back all the way to Ancient Roman times. While it was not synchronized swimming as we know it today, it was a forerunner where ladies would make elaborate formations and nautical shapes in the water, and would portray water nymphs during aquatic gladiatorial contests. Then in the 19th century England swimmers would perform at elegant permanent circuses, performing tricks such as smoking or eating will submerged in giant aquariums, as well as physical stunts. While these entertainers started out mainly being men, it shifted to young women. This shift allowed these women to make a living with performing and teaching swimming to other women.
In 1908 synchronized swimming made its way over to the United States with Annette Kellerman, who many consider the mother of synchronized swimming. This Australian champion vaudeville swimmer debuted in New York with the stage name “Diving Venus”, and her act included dancing, swimming, and diving. She always promoted swimming as a great way to stay healthy, but when the American Red Cross became alarmed at high drowning rates in the U.S. they used water pageants as a way to get people involved in learning how to swim and be safe around the water. They relied on these events to demonstrate safe swimming as well as entertainment (swimming, acting, music). These demonstrations caused a boom in clubs for the precursors to synchronized swimming called water pageantry, water ballet, and “rhythmic” swimming.
Up until this point, if there was music it only served as a background, not as a rhythmical guide for the swimmers to stay on beat with each other. In 1934, the Modern Mermaids from the University of Chicago Tarpon Club led by Katharine Curtis, performed live to a 12-piece band at the Century of Progress World’s Fair in Chicago. At this event Norman Ross officially gave the sport its name, “synchronized swimming”. By the end of the 30’s a rule book had been written and synchronized swimming was officially a sport!
The Boom of America’s Mermaid:
Esther Williams
Image Source: https://www.ifitshipitshere.com/the-million-dollar-mermaid-swims-out-of-our-lives-all-about-the-lovely-esther-williams-35-photos/
Becky and Delilah were inspired specifically by Esther Williams performing in Aqua Musicals that were choreographed by Busby Berkeley. Esther Williams was an Olympic level athlete, whose dreams of competing on the worldwide stage were dashed when WWII cancelled the 1940 games. Many people overlook Esther’s work that she had to put in to become such an astounding swimmer. Her mother rallied to get a neighborhood pool put in to give her girls something to do during the summer. As a little girl she worked at the pool, and was quickly noticed for her natural aptitude and amazing work ethic by the local lifeguards. They took her in and taught her all the strokes as well as pacing and breathing correctly for competitions. Esther quickly excelled at swimming, specifically the butterfly, which back then was thought to be a male-only domain. She would use this technique to win races on the national stage, while other women were only using the breast stroke.
She was a fierce competitor and won her first big race in 1932. By 1937 she earned a spot on the prestigious Los Angeles Athletic Club swim team at the age of 16. By the end of 1939 she had four national championships. It is important to note that despite all these accolades, most of the press that she and other swimmers got were specifically about their looks and their bodies, while press for men at that time was about their strength and their skills.
Examples of headlines and captions that she was involved in are:
“Pretty Girls Set Records at National Swimming Meet”
“Lithesome Lassies”
“Sitting Pretty: Here’s one reason why swimming is such a popular sport… Incidentally, the girls are star performers”
Esther’s first movie appearance was not an Aqua Musical, instead she played Mickey Rooney’s love interest, Sheila Brooks, in the movie “Andy Hardy’s Double Life” (1942). MGM created her a new sub genre, Aqua Musicals, with her first filmed swimming role in “Bathing Beauty” (1944). She starred in multiple films of this sub genre, including “Million Dollar Mermaid” (1952) until these movies lost their public appeal. While she was in the limelight she was often called “America’s Mermaid”, because she appeared to be able to stay underwater forever. Esther Williams was able to pull off these amazing stunts, not only because of her grace, but her amazing skill and strength.
Representation in Synchronized Swimming
Practice at the pool in Kingston. Credit: Malin Fezehai/The New York Times
When you look back at videos and pictures of these times, it is important to understand why it is all white women. Swimming pools were among the most segregated public spaces across the United States. Racist beliefs that Black people were diseased, or sexually threatening, perpetuated segregation in the water. When pools were opened to Black people, many were attacked with nails in the bottom of pools, bleach or acid in the water, or were beaten. Once it became illegal to segregate public places, including pools, after the 1964 Civil Rights Act people found work arounds which included filling in some public pools, and creating memberships and charging fees for access to public pools. During this time, the Federal Housing Administration openly discouraged public recreational facilities and promoted private HOA planned developments with private recreational facilities, thus deepening the racial divide on access to affordable public recreational pools. As time went on, cities defunded their public pools which left most places with a dense Black population without access. That deep divide is still felt today with the estimate that 70% of Black people do not know how to swim.
Because of everything above we wanted to highlight some representation of Black women and men, as well women of varying body sizes, since these are demographics still disproportionately underrepresented in synchronized swimming today. The first one we want to highlight is the Jamaican Synchronized Swimmers that were featured in Beyoncé’s visual album, “Black Is King” during the song “Mood 4 Eva” (see video below, their appearance begins at approximately 4:10). “Black Is King” re-imagined the story of The Lion King. “The inclusion in the film is a major boost for the local synchronized swimming industry, which lacks the support of locals. The team said it is their dream to make it to the Olympics, which has never been done before.”
Subversive Sirens
The Subversive Sirens. Jenn Ackerman for The Lily
Next, we wanted to highlight the Subversive Sirens, an inclusive team that focuses on body positivity and inclusion. This team made up of Black liberation and social justice artists believe that joy is a radical act. Check out their video below for better background and to catch a glimpse into their graceful underwater moves. We respect the women that have done synchro before us, but we definitely want to blow up the whole idea that you have to look a certain way to do synchro,” Holloman said. “We feel like it’s really for everybody, and in particular for women of color and queer women. We want to create visibility to just say, ‘Hey this is for all of us. Anybody can do this.’ ”
The Harlem honeys and bears
AP Photo/Kathy Willens
Finally, we would like to highlight The Harlem Honeys and Bears, an all-Black senior synchronized swim team that has been around since 1979. Even members that have varying abilities of mobility are all able to participate, because their coach ensures that there is a formation every team member can be a part of. Not only are they there for the senior community, they also started the Youth Learn to Swim Program to positively affect their community and lower the amount of childhood drowning deaths, which Black youths are 5.5 more likely to die from than other children.
After seeing all of these performances in the water, you can check out the Diamond Dolls perform their synchronized swimming inspired routine on dry land here:
Photo by Jess Keener https://www.jessicakeenerphotography.com/
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Sources:
https://theblondeatthefilm.com/2016/08/20/history-through-hollywood-esther-williams-swimmer/
https://theundefeated.com/features/the-harlem-honeys-and-bears-want-everybody-in-the-pool/
https://www.caribbeannationalweekly.com/entertainment/jamaican-synchronized-swimmers-featured-in-beyonces-new-visual-album-black-is-king/ *
https://www.thelily.com/meet-the-subversive-sirens-these-5-women-are-bringing-joy-and-inclusivity-to-synchronized-swimming/ **