The day started with Russell and Pam from the Museum moving a couple of sculptures for us in the Long Gallery so the dancers could get into the Arches.
Next an engineer from PA company FRASP arrived to set up the sound systems for the long Gallery and our Chinese Harpist, (who would be playing live in the Bandstand).
They did an amazing job and where completely unruffled by our unusual requirements and my complete lack of PA knowledge.
Elsewhere the dancers where getting into costume and running through the choreography, for some their first chance to work on site without any visitors around. In the Bandstand it was also the first time all the elements of the ambitious Bandstand costume had been put together and the first time we would see how easily Hayley could get in and out of it.
After lunch our musicians arrived, Nick Landa a Dohl Drummer and Xiao Ling, our harpist, we also invited photographer Sian Stammers to document the day, capturing the performances and the "behind the scenes" of the event.
The only thing left to do was to run through the whole event, a total of around 40 minutes of music and dance that started at the Bandstand and then lead up into the Castle and through the Long Gallery.
Cherry Lui, our window ledge dancer.
Hayley Ross in the bandstand.
Jen Manderson and Conrad Jago in the Long Gallery.
It was a really productive day, highlighting a few things to still iron out and a couple of repairs and alterations to the costumes.
Also a huge amount of hard work was put in today by all involved, the museum staff, professionals, dancers, musicians and not forgetting the incredibly enthusiastic and hard working Illuminate members. I'll be posting a credits list as a separate post