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MERMAIDS OF AVALON
To some they were known as Siren to others Water Nymphs, but to most the name mermaid
brings the magic of the legends alive.
Our story begins with the Adventures of a young fisherman from a rural Newfoundland
fishing settlement on the early 1800's. With dreams of the sea and adventure he
finds himself recruited by the English Sea Captain. Once at sea the crew encounters
many adversities, the sea, the crew, life on ship, dreaded pirates on the high seas.
Our young fisherman taking a moment looks into the sea and what does he behold,
what does he encounter, it can't be real, yes she is very real, her beauty instantly
captures him, her song, there is a strange feeling that comes over him, she speaks
to him not with words with her thoughts, he hears, AVALON. What was happening? Who
or What was there before him? Was it a Mermaid? He had heard of them from the old
seamen the tall tales of the sea. Was it Nemah, Shalaya, Nahla, Atargatis, Imathiam
Alexandra, or the Tidewatcher Orla, so we begin to tell the tale of the Mermaids
of Avalon.
The Mermaid of Avalon performance will be launched and run at the Arts and Culture
Centre, starting March 29th 2008.
One of the unique properties of culture in our province is the fact that the various
art forms are still performed informally in family homes and communities. Newfoundlanders
still tell stories and step dance in their homes and at community events. Much of
this participation at the amateur level is missing in the larger centres where "art"
is done primarily by professionals. When this link with the "kitchen" is missing
art tends to become an elitist activity and more of a "spectator sport". Not only
does it lose (in any discipline) its practitioners, it loses it s audience as the
cost of performance and attendance goes up. Our province has an abundance of talented
dancers, musicians, visual artists, and designers and our goal is to use as many
local artists (in all disciplines) as possible. Because of this we can create original
works based on their specific talents. In other words, the works are inspired by
local artists and designed specifically for them. These works will become a part
of Kittiwake's repertoire to be remounted in the future. They are designed to not
only entertain but to record a part of our heritage through movement and music,
designed for family entertainment.
Further information on Newfoundland legends & tales about Mermaids:
For centuries sailors have cast their eyes purposefully towards the evening sky
- a majestic sunset with crimsons, golds and reds cascading across the water was
not only a treat to weary eyes, but a pleasant foreshadowing of a fine tomorrow.
Mermaids, as creatures known for their enchanting and magical powers, led some seafarers
to refer to a beautiful evening sunset as the "Mermaid's Palette".
Nemah literally means 'heart of a child' in ancient mermaidian. She was so named
for her innocent and trusting nature and for her love of all children. Nemah once
saved a young child who had been swept overboard during a fierce North Atlantic
storm. She has swam the seven seas exploring the wonder of the world beneath the
waves. She loves all things colorful and can sometimes be spotted sitting on the
rocks off Cape St. Francis gazing out at the sunset. Who knows but that these 19th
century Newfound- land shipwrecks were sometimes blamed on mermaids, by men in their
cups, whispering dark sea tales about a figure, half woman, as the cause of their
doom?
Shalaya, literally, "one who helps", to others she is the Goddess of the deep. Born
and raised on the Algeria Lophelia Coral Reef, the "rainforest of the sea" off Newfoundland's
south east coast, Shalaya was filled with a love and compassion for all living creatures.
Gazing into her mystical orb, she seeks out those in trouble and swims to their
aid, often traveling disguised within a family of dolphins. Many a shipwrecked sailor
has awakened on a strange beach, alone but safe, wondering how he got there. He
finds himself drawn back to the sea, searching for something, or someone, he can't
quite explain. Sometimes he thinks he catches a glimpse of a beautiful face beneath
the waves ... but no, it is only the dolphins.
The playful mermaid Nahla, hailing from a magical underwater kingdom, is truly a
child at heart and is known for her overwhelming love of all children. She's been
swimming the oceans for centuries, surfacing whenever she hears the cheerful laughter
of children at play to invite them to join her for exciting underwater adventures.
Atargatis is a mermaid goddess and siren, descended from Ishtar and Venus and is
well known in Syrian legend. Atargatis came to dwell beneath the sea in a bid to
end her suffering from unrequited love. Her reincarnation as a mermaid came with
a powerful ability to turn sailors into stone with her longing gaze. During her
time above the waves, she wears sea urchins over her eyes to protect passers by
from her mystical power. Strikingly beautiful, she has swum the clear waters of
Newfoundland since before John Cabot ever set eyes on her rocky shores.
The Beothuk named her Imathia, from "Imamus" for woman and "Ebauthoo" for water.
From her unique vantage point from the crest of the waves, she has watched the Isle
of Newfoundland evolve as a mother would watch her child grow. From the island's
Native roots to her European discovery, from her Colonial rule to Confederation
and dreams of Independence - Imathia has watched and guarded and loved and nurtured.
Imathia is a celebration of the wisdom of our heritage.
Alexandra, the daughter of a fine Selkirkian brew master, was thought to be lost
at sea when she disappeared from the ship during the family's voyage from Scotland
in the early 1800's. Alexandra is in fact a type of mermaid known as a landwalker
- equally at ease exploring the depths of the oceans or walking amongst us. Land
walkers are known to be social and festive creatures, always in high spirits and
it is said, only distinguishable by her eyes as deep as the ocean.
Orla, literally "friend of the seas" in old Mermaidian, has freed many dolphins
and young whales from long forgotten drift nets and has come to the aid of many
a storm-damaged ship. One story tells of a ship, returning to harbour with a badly
damaged rudder, on an unavoidable collision course with a large iceberg. The ship
suddenly turned itself to avoid the huge berg. When the first mate ran to stern
to check the rudder he found himself eye to eye with a beautiful mermaid. He paused
to rub his eyes in disbelief and when he opened them, she was gone, with no more
than a gentle ripple on the water's surface. Her name is Orla ... tidewatcher and
friend of the seas.
Ancient mariners spoke of a kind of mermaid called the Tidewatchers whose gentle,
shallow breathing causes the oceans to rise and fall in their daily tidal rhythm.
Tidewatchers dwell close to the surface and are often seen swimming with pods of
whales and dolphins, literally thousands of which owe their lives to these kind-hearted
mermaids.
The first production in the series titled "Mermaids of Avalon", inspired
by the Sittings of Mermaids, by Captain Withbourne in St. John's harbor (graphic)
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