30 days and the momentum can not be stopped...

so here i am sitting blogging after pumpkin hour and luckily my laptop doesn't turn into a pumpkin after midnight....

i can not sleep! because i saw the heart of Cape Town in community leaders from across Cape Town and it was GRAND!

more than 50 leaders, representing over 30 different community groupings, all taking hands, rolling up sleeves and coming together building something beautiful. 6 songs have been learnt, dance paces have been choreographed, music sheets have been handed out... 30 days to Carnival and we can't wait.

i saw the dream of Carnival that started a long time ago, resound in the hearts and the minds of leaders. i saw the willingness to bring whatever people have to create something new. i saw the passion burning in people's hearts, the music pumping through their veins and the light in their eyes, all knowing that it would be one of those moments which we could remind ourselves of "we were there".

i saw the vision of a massive float, more than 2000 people making music, and swaying to the rhythm. we could imagine the energy in the air as the parade stood waiting... we could envisage big big costumes (2 meters high), stilt walkers, large props, stories being told through rhythm, roots and boots....

Cape Town it is time! put on your dancing shoes, grab your favourite bright shirt, don a pair of fairy wings or a fabulous hat. harass your DJ's to play the music, so that we will all sing and celebrate together. the people have come together. we are READY!

Rehearsal day: 13 February 2010

wow, hats of to the minstrels and the Klopse and the choirs and the dancers and everyone that has ever put together a carnival or an event.... everytime one stands ahead of the challenge of bringing large groups of people together there are a million things to address. and our first firetest was on Saturday, 13 February 2010.

this is a tribute to the carnival stakeholders after a day that will forever stick out in my mind, the day i saw cape town embrace our differences and celebrate our oneness.

firstly, to our valued partners: you blew us away. arriving with your teams, setting yourselfs up in the different groups, lending us your ears and your passion, coming together on a day where we made history together. 1300 of you joined in this rehearsal and represented more than 2000 participants. it was GRAND!! for getting into the vibe, parading up and down the field of Rygate, dancing your heart out THANK YOU! minstrels and marimbas, marching bands and choirs with youngsters and gogos, soccer players, bellydancers, djembe drummers, indian dancers, pantsulas, gumboots, drum majorettes - the list goes on and on.... We salute you and can't wait to conclude this journey with you.

to all the help from the City administrators and logistics teams: you were amazing - without your help we would have never been able to pull it off. and without your willingness to get it right - we came to once again appreciate our partnership with the City. thanks to you, our Carnival people were safe and protected, and had the sound

to our service providers: the bus company - what a logistical challenge and for most of it, you did a phenomenal job... not a mean feat for a company - we applaud you.

for all the other service providers - NICE equipment, SK Sound (and my own personal bodyguard :) ) and anyone else we have left out, 13 February 2010 will forever stand out in my mind as the day where history was made.

to the Carnival team, well done doesn't even begin to fathom to what you achieved in bringing the rehearsal together - amazing what a bunch of dedicated passionate people can do. i can't really point out just one of the team, as everyone really did their bit. however, noel - for saving my voice and igniting the enthusiasm, well done on the mike there Sir.

we had our moments of challenges and lessons learnt, we had moments of being let down very badly by our suppliers and for that there is no excuse, but as we said we will pledge to do it better next time.

but i think, when we all got back home and looked at the day, we can proud of what was achieved and the momentum that is just growing stronger. Cape Town Carnival participants... I can not wait for 20 March!