COMMENT 290891P
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2012-06-24 09:19 AM |
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For the record I love the Solstice parade and have not missed one in years. And I in no way mean to disparage the parade, it's participants, or it's organizers but this year version, though visually stunning in more ways then one, seemed a bit disorganized. For the past few years I have watched it from a vantage point near the end of the route by the park. This year was no exception. Most people in that area seemed to think the parade ended just after the Blue Dragon floated by with a few smaller floats tailing it and started to gather in the street behind them as if the parade was over. I too took that to mean that the parade was over and left the area and entered the park only to learn later that there was more that came after I left. I think the large gaps between floats and groups of marchers fooled people at the end of the route me included. I am not sure what caused this but other then that I loved the parade as always.
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COMMENT 290912P
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2012-06-24 10:02 AM |
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Does anyone know how to find out about the participants in the parade? Who were the dancing ladies groups? They were all awesome! I think I may have missed the first part, but the ladies in the pink feathers and the hula ladies were terrific! Are they a professional group or an amateurs organization? If the latter, then I am very impressed!
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TAZ
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2012-06-24 10:54 AM |
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I thought this was one of the best parades ever! So fanciful and beautiful, we loved it :) Solstice imo is the best - or one of the best - things about SB :) I love living in a town that has such a fanciful nature.
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COMMENT 290933
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2012-06-24 10:56 AM |
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I think crowds were down from prior years and those who came left annoyed at the long-stalled and overly loud parade.
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MIELEMAI
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2012-06-24 11:06 AM |
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290912P: I was one of the dancers with the pink-feathered Samba group - thank you for the great compliment! : )
The group's name is Hip Brazil, and the magic behind it is Vanessa Isaac. She has been creating incredible Solstice shows with the famous feathered dancers for the last few years. This year she was joined by Guest Artist Nadra Ehrman, who is also an amazing dancer and choreographer who holds workshops several times a year. Vanessa teaches a Brazilian dance class every Sunday at 11:00 am at the SB Dance Center at 127A W. Canon Perdido St. and many of us joined the parade by first dancing with her regularly at this incredible class.
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JOHN WILEY
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2012-06-24 12:04 PM |
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Thank you Staff, for a fun writeup and great pix. :)
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COMMENT 290968
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2012-06-24 01:12 PM |
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The usual guy who has organized that solstice parade for years retired after last year and moved away, or so he told us. This year seemed more disorganized, I know some of the volunteers were frustrated by the way that things were unorganized, it makes it hard for them to help things go smoothly!
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COMMENT 291005
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2012-06-24 04:21 PM |
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I live about 1 1/2 miles from start of parade, up near Old Mission. It was great fun to water my garden and watch all the fancy new cars (and touros) cruise past, all looking for a parking space. At 1pm, this extra "traffic" died down. By this activity alone, I would say there were more people attending this year's parade than in years previous. What a stunningly beautiful day for a parade, too. Perfect.
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RAINE5360
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2012-06-24 06:57 PM |
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It was great. It's always great. We are privileged to live where there are so many playful, imaginative people.
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COMMENT 290933
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2012-06-24 08:50 PM |
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Professional groups and professional costumes are not playful, imaginative or a privilege to watch. It was an endurance test this year. Bring back local, bring back volunteer and bring back whimsy. I'd rather see homemade kleenex flowers on a Red Flyer than a bunch of sound trucks and professional troops hacking away at this formerly fun local tradition.
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COMMENT 291078P
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2012-06-25 12:41 AM |
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933: How can you be so sure that the performers were "professionals" from out of town? Sounds like you were watching a different parade.
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SEEDLADY
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2012-06-25 07:04 AM |
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...so some had their amps turned up PAST eleven?
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COMMENT 290933
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2012-06-25 08:32 AM |
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Hip Brazil and Panzuma were blatant, self-promotional commercial operations. They don't belong in the Solstice parade. Scram.
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ANDY
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2012-06-25 08:36 AM |
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It was great. Very Northern Exposure. What fun. The dancers were terrific. Who was the weird looking guy at one end of the balloon arch? He looked familiar. Was he a celebrity?
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COMMENT 291176P
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2012-06-25 10:30 AM |
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I didn't think the parade was that great this year - it seemed shorter and less creative AND as others have commented, the long gaps were a pain. Sad that the man on the stilts was walking this year. (Yes, I know things change...but still...) What I liked the most were the crowds of people enjoying themselves.
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COMMENT 291078P
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2012-06-25 11:17 AM |
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290933: Very interesting. How do you know so much about these groups? Methinks there may be some past-experience bitterness involved here. Sad to see this. Both Hip Brazil and Panzumo are beloved, community-based groups that have brought much joy to many people right here in Santa Barbara. These troll-like comments do not belong on this page.
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COMMENT 291216
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2012-06-25 12:12 PM |
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290933 The groups are not professional groups, per se. The dancers are all local amateurs who put a lot of time and effort into making polished public performances this town can be proud of. You can sit in your kleenex wagon and pout while I congratulate all the wonderful dancers for bringing color and beauty and joy to our Main Street.
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FLICKA
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2012-06-25 02:40 PM |
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Parade gaps are a drag, don't understand why things can't just move along. I think it starts at the beginning when groups are held back from starting, leaving too much space.
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