As we moved into the final weeks of preparation for this year’s festival, a well-known video of a little girl’s positive affirmations caught our attention and our hearts. If you haven’t seen it yet, you can watch it here.

And at Tsunami Central, we made up our own version of daily affirmations and they went something like this…

WE LOVE OUR TSUNAMI!

WE LOVE OUR PERFORMERS!

WE LOVE OUR CIRCUS CAMPERS!

WE LOVE OUR VOLUNTEERS!

WE LOVE OUR SPONSORS!

WE LOVE OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS!

WE LOVE OUR COMMUNITY!

WE CAN DO ANYTHING GREAT TODAY!

It’s hard to believe that it was just one week ago that we hosted the 12th Annual Tsunami on the Square. Making this festival happen was a challenge that some people didn’t think could be met. We proved, once again, that Prescott not only needs the performing arts, but that this community is willing to support this fantastically improbable event.

All of you who stepped up and lent a hand – volunteers, local businesses, performers, and supporters in all shapes and sizes – helped transform “The Little Wave that Could” into a fantastic success. And we thank you from the bottom of our collective hearts.

WE LOVE OUR TSUNAMI!    And we can’t wait to see you again next year . . .

(photo by the amazing Josh Gosell )

Hey! Check out this year’s fab poster! Many thanks to Dina Ponder, Tsunami’s awesome graphic designer as well as photographers John Seaman and Josh Gosell for providing great material for Dina to work with.

To give you a taste of what to expect from your Tsunami this year, here’s the event press release:

Surf’s up, Prescott! Tsunami on the Square’s 12^th annual Performing Arts and Culture festival is set to hit Prescott’s historic Courthouse Square on Saturday, June 19, 2010. This community-supported event is free to the public and offers a full day of fun for the whole family. Expect the spectacular as “The Little Wave that Could!” rolls out a flood of music, dance, fire, and circus arts.

The event kicks off at 12:30 pm with a parade featuring this year’s performers, the Whiskey Rollers roller derby team, and a moveable retro fashion show from Snap! Snap! to name just a few. As the parade makes its way to the main stage, the Circus Campers will have a chance to show off their new skills. Then it’s time to get out the sunscreen and settle in as Tsunami officially opens with the Return of the Wave ceremony.

Tsunami brings old favorites and brand new faces to the main stage, starting with Sedona belly dancers White Lotus accompanied by live music from Rhythm Oasis.  Just when you thought it was safe to give those hips a rest, the Aero HoopStars hit the stage and take us on a journey of hula hooping through the ages. Next up, Jonathan Best will bring you to your feet with his electronic musical looping extravaganza. Added to the mix will be short performances by the Supersilliest Band, the Mural Mice, and some of Tsunami’s world famous skitmercials.

Throughout the day and evening, be sure to stroll around the Square and check out the community business and service organization information booths. If the little ones are feeling restless, stop by the Kids Cove to enjoy performances and activities designed especially for Tsunami’s younger audience members. Keep an eye out for the Out of Africa Wildlife Park staff and animal ambassadors who will visit the Kids Cove in the afternoon. Parched throats and empty stomachs can find relief at the Peddler’s Cove, where cold drinks and snacks as well as other nifty goods and services are available for purchase.

Clan Tynker, Santa Fe’s favorite family circus act, brings their amazing show back to the main stage. Up next, Rio Flamenco wows with a passionate flamenco performance. With their blend of incredible athleticism, martial arts and rhythmic grace, Grupo Axé Capoeira is sure to leave the audience stunned. Making their Tsunami debut, PyroKlectic will combine fire, dance and props in an all new fire show. Finally, Switch Black takes the stage with a potent mix of modern dance, acrobatics and feats of balance to help Tsunami say Farewell to the Wave.

Want to relive your favorite Tsunami moments? Set your VCRs, DVRs and Tivos! For the first time in Tsunami history, the night show will be simulcast on Channel 13, local Access television. Still want more? No problem! Join Clan Tynker and singer Rita Cantu for Tsunami Tsunday, June 20, at the Prescott Public Library from 2pm until 3pm. So come on down, the water’s fine.

You donation is tax deductable and much appreciated!

We are interested in hearing about your ideas – whether its selling items compatible with our festival’s celebration of life, wonder and water or you want to get the word out about your non-profit also compatible with our themes.

We think you’ll find our booth fees very reasonable and, with an all day, most of the night festival, there’ll be plenty of time for our audience to get to know you and your booth!

To find out more, simply email andrew.tsunami@gmail.com and put the word “Vendor” in the subject line. Talk to you real soon!

On April 1st, local choreographer Delisa Myles will host a salon for local performers at her home. Tsunami Executive Director Andrew Johnson-Schmit and the Tsunami board will be there to talk Tsunami with anyone interested in participating in this year’s festival.

Tell us about your dream to clog dance gargling the theme to “Seahunt,” we won’t laugh. That’s how we all got started on this cock-eyed caravan! And you’ll also be able to find out cool stuff about this year’s festival as it developed so far!

For an invite to the salon, simply email

andrew.tsunami@gmail.com

Looking forward to seeing y’all there!

Date Set for 2010 Tsunami!

- Happy Tsunami Season 2010 to everyone from this year’s Executive Director (and Grand Pooh-bah) Andrew Johnson-Schmit!  As our volunteers scurry about finding sponsors, selling skitmercials, locating acts, the theme for this year is:

“THE LITTLE WAVE THAT COULD!”

In these tough economic times, as festivals across the nation go dark – some of them never to return, it’s good to remember that Tsunami has always made its improbable appearance due to the kindness of its community and the dedication of its supporters.

See you all on June 19th for

“THE LITTLE WAVE THAT COULD!”

Thanks to the dawn-til-deepdark production crew; thanks to the Tsunami on the Square Board of Directors; thanks to the skitmercial crews and all the volunteers; thanks to the artists who came from near and very far; thanks to the Circus Camp kids, families and staff; thanks to the spirited crowd and a special thanks to those who donated to support our nonprofit, community festival!

We raised about 1/3 of the cash we need to solidly start next year’s cycle, but we’re working hard and planning on keep Tsunami on the Square alive. Please consider sending us a check, to PO Box 2570 Prescott, AZ 86302. We’ll send/email you a tax receipt for your records right away.

Have a wonderful summer from everyone at Tsunami on the Square. Thank you for supporting the arts!

As we countdown to an incredible festival of performances, Tsunami on the Square is struggling to raise enough funds to support the festival. Business sponsorship has fallen about $10,000 this spring due to the economic climate. We are so grateful for those businesses and individuals who have come through to support the free festival this year. It costs about $35-40,000 to produce Tsunami on the Square. We are asking all who attend the festival to please donate $10 this year. Tsunami is a community festival and we need everyone’s support to make it happen.

IF YOU’D LIKE TO DONATE, PLEASE SEND CHECKS TO:

P.O. BOX 2570 PRESCOTT, AZ 86302

Thank you and see you at the festival !!

                                                                                                             Thursday, June 18th: The Deep End @ GPAC

Friday, June 19th: AquaDance Party @ The Raven

Saturday, June 20: TSUNAMI ON THE SQUARE FESTIVAL

Sunday, June 21st: Tsunami Tsunday @ Prescott Public Library

***** for all details and showtimes, see below!!! *****

                                                                                                             Thursday, June 18^: The Deep End

Tsunami on the Square and the Highlands Center present “Water Council”

followed by Dance Jam with Moving Edge Ensemble

Prescott College’s Granite Performing Arts Centre

219 North Granite Street

2pm children’s show (kids free, adults free w/ child)

8pm adults $ 7, students/youth $5

Friday, June 19^: AquaDance Party

The Raven Cafe

142 N. Cortez

7:00 to 11pm

Performances by: Revital Carroll/Odissi Dance

Delisa Myles + Katrina Molnar

Sonidero Verbobala

Saturday, June 20^th

Tsunami on the Square Festival:  

Free, all-ages

Kickoff parade at noon

Festival Main Stage 1- 11pm

Kids Cove Stage 1-5pm

Sun, June 21: Tsunami Tsunday

Children’s/Family Performance

2-4pm at Prescott Public Library

Clan Tynker

Prescott Independent Theater

Looking Forward in a Difficult Year

Warren Miller, past President, Board of Trustees

Times of economic turmoil challenge all, but may challenge the arts most. Some may think the arts are expendable in times of hardship, but I maintain they are even more necessary to nourish our community and to keep the human spirit enlivened, inspired, and productive.

Tsunami on the Square, founded in 1998, has become a unique part of Prescott’s cultural ambiance. I think I will not be contradicted when I say it occupies the cutting edge of Prescott’s wide-ranging cultural scene. In this year of challenges, it is worth bragging about the accomplishments of this seminal performance arts festival in a little town in the mountains of central Arizona. It is also necessary to challenge supporters of Tsunami on the Square to come forward and make sure its future is assured.

Tsunami on the Square has become a multi-faceted organization presenting one of the most important performance arts festivals in the country. It has maintained its initial goal of keeping this festival free to the public, to make it accessible to all. Tsunami has also spun off into some exciting new directions. The Circus Camp is a week-long workshop for children culminating in a children’s performance at the festival. Circus Camp had two main objectives: to connect the incredible national talent coming for the festival with local children; and to provide an opportunity for our community children to learn and perform circus skills—juggling, stilt-walking, face painting, drumming, mask making.

Tsunami on the Square’s weekend (June 18-20) gets kicked off with a Friday evening celebration and showcase of some of the festival talent with great food and drink and atmospherics only Tsunami can provide. Tsunami Sunday after the festival offers a special afternoon on the lawn of the Prescott Library just for children and families.

The least known, but my personal favorite, performance event of Tsunami usually takes place on the Thursday evening before the festival (June 17th). It is called Flourish Before the Flood and is difficult to describe. It must be experienced, but is only open to a limited number of people. It is a “site-specific dance performance” choreographed by recent graduates of Prescott College (who all studied under Delisa Myles) and their hand-chosen creative dancers along the waterway of Granite Creek. Small groups of patrons are guided along the path by costumed guides and stop at a number of sites where the dancers perform on the banks, in the trees, in the water. . . If Tsunami’s festival is cutting edge, Flourish is way beyond! Each year is unique in theme and narrative line, and every one has moved me.

I also greatly enjoy another innovation of Tsunami: Skitmercials. These are live commercial skits written and performed by the Skit Crew and are always clever, striking, funny, and entertaining while recognizing sponsors. The Skitmercials are interspersed between performance acts during the festival, but may be enjoyed in concentrated form at the Skitmercial Preview Evening and Dinner, a few nights before the festival.

Tsunami is one of Arizona’s treasures, but this year it needs special care and help. How can you help? Volunteer. Become a member of the Order of the Umbrella. Donate (remember, think globally but contribute locally). Talk about Tsunami to your friends. Come to many Tsunami events and enjoy while contributing.