Fusion
Over
18,000 guiding members descended on Harewood House, Leeds on 4
August 2010 to be part of the biggest one-day event for all
sections that Girlguiding UK has ever organised!
Fusion was a spectacular open air performing arts festival, with
33 performance and activity areas, including a Big Top and a Dome
stage.
Fusion day also marked the launch of Girlguiding UK's campaign
to introduce compulsory labelling to distinguish between airbrushed
and natural images. Everyone at Fusion and the Centenary Camp had the chance to sign the
petition, which has been presented to the Prime Minister, David
Cameron.
Over one hundred
professional performance artists and acts filled the site, brought
to Harewood by Manchester International Arts, who booked and
provided artist management for Fusion. Variety was the order of the
day with acts including grannies on motorised baskets (a firm
favourite of many participants), giant seagulls, a portaloo that
had a mind of its own, giant snails, break-dance crews,
storytellers and life guards with loud megaphones!
Megan Griffiths, 11, a guide from Ely, said:
'Today’s been really fun, I enjoyed the man who was doing cool
tricks on a pole and dove into a tiny bucket.'
Several stages
featured artists from around the world. These included dance and
music from international Guide groups (who were attending the
Centenary Camp), bands and dance groups. Local members also formed
part of the ‘Be Prepared’ Trail – a trail imagined by Gerry Pilgrim
and Corridor to tell the story of the first 100 years of guiding in
a new and imaginative way.
The National Scout and Guide Orchestra (NSGO) performed
the Centenary Fantasia, composed by Rodney Newton, which
premiered at Fusion to celebrate 100 years of guiding…and it
went down a storm!
Members of all ages also had the
chance to show off their talents for the thousands of visitors to
enjoy in busking spots dotted around the site.
The Big Top saw acrobats, trapeze artists, jugglers
and balancing acts from Circus Space amazing their audiences.
Other attractions included the Fusion beach where girls made 100’s
of sandcastles and the Geopods, an interactive science
attraction.
Senior Section member Catherine Houston, 15,
from Knaresborough, said: 'Fusion was amazing I went to the circus
and got to sit in the front row with the Rainbows.'
Not to be forgotten was the Fusion feast where everyone
attending joined together for a giant picnic with many groups
dressing up for the occasion occupying tables covered with
colourful table-cloths, candelabras and even a picket fence!