The Metropolitan

hythm in the music, expounding upon it like a seasoned orator,
toying with it the way a cat plays with a mouse. Then it is thrown
to the judges and spectators to do with as they please.
The stages themselves are quite large, at least sixteen square
feet, and get larger for the more experienced dancers. In front
of the stage is a table for the judge. To the side of that, there is a
chair, speaker, and microphone for the musician. There is usually
only one judge, but for the top two levels there are three. Family
members and friends are seated on one side of the stage, while
dancers waiting for their turn sit on the opposite side.
The show that is put on by these dancers, ranging in age
from ten to nineteen, is as much a visual spectacle as it is one of
sound. They perform impressive feats, spinning tightly and flying
across the stage with lightning speed. The jumps and mid-air
spins that they view as a matter of course would be considered by
people unfamiliar with the sport to be near impossible.
All of this is only enhanced by the costumes. Girls wear
knee-length dresses made of thick cloth, with long sleeves and
several large pleats at the bottom. They come in every color of
the rainbow and are embroidered with all manner of decorations.
These range from the obvious Celtic knots to the more eclectic
spiderwebs, seashells, and cloth roses, and, of course, anything
that sparkles or shines.
The typical outfit for boys is a dress shirt, black pants, and
a black vest. However, in the upper levels, black vests are more
the exception than the rule. Many of the shirts are custom-made
and range from black-and-white hound’s tooth to solid colors to
black with white tiger stripes, and most have French cuffs. The
ties feature stripes, polka dots, paisley, and every other design
and color imaginable. But the real tools of this trade are the
shoes. Made of soft black leather, the heels and toes are gilded
in smooth fiberglass. They are the sole implements used to create
the sounds so evocative of this captivating sport.
No matter how many competitions I attend, I always feel
the same excitement and respect for this art form, for that is
what it truly is. The flashing costumes, the music, and most of all,
the extraordinary skill of the dancers—all of these things unite to
create quite a memorable experience. Anyone unacquainted with
this sport should definitely attend one of these competitions.
Contributors’ Notes
Bob Orsi was born and raised in Omaha. He currently attends
Metropolitan Community College and the University of
Nebraska at Omaha. He is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Studio
Arts with a concentration in graphic communication arts. One of
his goals is to some day illustrate a children’s book.
Elizabeth Evenson-Dencklau is currently a student at
Metropolitan Community College with plans to transfer to
the University of Nebraska at Omaha in the fall of 2010. An
avid reader, she lives at home with her two cats, Tip Toes and
Thackery Binx, and enjoys writing poetry in her spare time.
Paul Garth’s work has been selected and read at various events in
the Omaha area. A native of both South Carolina and Nebraska,
he currently attends the University of Nebraska at Omaha,
and he plans to attend Creighton University for a Master of
Fine Arts in Creative Writing. He thanks Steve Lovett, Sana
Amoura-Patterson, and Liz Renner for their support.
Liz Gutekunst grew up on the East Coast and spent her wonder
years between New York City and the District of Columbia. She
is a visual artist and spent the last nine years working as a graphic
designer in southern California. She moved to Nebraska to go
back to school and has learned something about writing, in the
process.
Polly Hidalgo, a Georgia native, moved to Omaha with her
husband and nine children in 2005. With six children still
at home, she is currently a theatre major at the University of
Nebraska at Omaha having completed a liberal arts associate’s
degree through Metropolitan Community College last year.
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