The Martlet

I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again: treading water while lifting half your body out of the water for dance-type movements, holding your breath, staying in sync with music — all while trying not to kill anyone — is impressive.

The UVic Synchro Club earned such appreciation at its Water Show last Sunday at MacKinnon Pool. The club saw an impressive turnout with almost all the bleacher seating filled.

The club’s competitive team members include: Emily Latimer, Joey Niezen, Kylee Lothrop, Lisa Kouzmina, Michelle Bowes, Tessa Coutu and Vanessa Garven. Mana Sato and Stephanie Shulman, who swam a duo performance, make up the novice team.

The show opened with a solo routine from Lothrop, who began with a graceful dive into the water. She swam a clean, fun routine to music from the Micmacs movie soundtrack.

Coutu and Kouzmina followed with a jungle duet. The two started slightly out of sync, but quickly regained their rhythm. The music was light, punchy and fun, as can also be said of their routine.

Bowes pleased the crowd with her James Bond solo. Her routine carried momentum (partially because of the music), and her movements were harsh yet lovely with robotic arm action.

Novices Sato and Shulman performed their duet before intermission. Though the two were out of sync with each other for the first half of the performance, this is the first year of swimming synchro for them both. Their intense music sounded like it came straight from an adventure or action film, gaining urgency as the performance went on. The routine gained a similar fluidity in the second half. Being the duo’s second performance ever, it was one they should be pleased with.

Raffle prizes were drawn at intermission, which included gift cards to The Keg and Earl’s, a haircut voucher and a Starbucks gift set. The event was a fundraiser for the club, who will be competing at the Canadian University Synchronized Swimming League (CUSSL) National Championships at the University of Calgary on Feb. 4.

The competitive team finished off the evening with a throw demonstration, followed by the night’s highlight performance to music from Beetlejuice. The routine consisted of more complicated elements, such as staggered synching and three throws. The routine was well-executed and fast-paced and the music was unsettling, but in a good way. The performance was hauntingly lovely until the music transitioned to salsa music, which effectively ended the routine on a lighthearted note.

Overall, it seemed like the performers enjoyed themselves in the water, and the lively crowd had an equally enjoyable experience as many watched in awe (and probably pure jealously).