Kirky's Story - Edinburgh Military Tattoo - Salute to Australia

Hi Justine,

I had to write a story for English recently about a journey that interests me and explain what was significant about it and what insights it gave me . I wrote about the 2005 Tattoo, and then i thought that if you thought it sounded OK, you might but it on the banksies site, well here it is:

In February 2005, the Edinburgh Military Tattoo left Scotland for the second time in its 54-year history, and made its way to Sydney, Australia. Over 1,300 performers would perform to 160,000 spectators over 5 nights at Sydney's Aussie Stadium, where a dramatic replica backdrop of Edinburgh Castle was build to help capture the essential magic of the Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

For this once in a lifetime event, 170 highland dancers were to perform, 20 were from Scotland and 150 were from Australia. I was lucky enough to be chosen as one of those 150 dancers, accompanied by four of the dancers from my studio. Our rehearsals started on the 29th of January, we arrived at Sydney University and were told that to succeed at the tattoo we must always be focused, committed and disciplined. Mrs. Cheryl Roach and Mr. Billy Forsyth were the choreographers who would be taking us through the Australian Tattoo and for five long days we rehearsed 3 times a day for 3 hours at a time with them. It was a long process to learn all the steps and sequences while continuously being told 'You're going to be standing with the army! Make sure your lines are straight!'

Eventually we made it to the 2nd of February, our second dress rehearsal, and our first performance with an audience. Anxiously I waited out in the Sydney Cricket Ground, reviewing the steps, making sure that the last 5 days of practice was not a waste of time. Eventually 8pm arrived, we all heard 5 cannons, and the dress rehearsal had commenced. It seemed such a long time before we were told to leave the SCG and make out way for the back of the Castle, we all walked up in our lines while hearing 'Austin Powers' being played by the New Zealand Army Band. Soon after that, the Queens Colour Squadron took to the spotlight and performed their Specialist Drill Display, while the massed dancers made their way to the arches of the castle.

The lights went dark after the departure of the Queens Colour Squadron; it was our time to perform. The music started as we begun to make our way to the field, heads low, moving in the dim light listening to the voice informing the audience that we were under the direction of Billy Forsyth, Former World Champion. The drums started and we all turned to face our audience, one row at a time. The calm voice that was once dictating to the audience suddenly rose to introduce 'The OzScot Highland Ceilidh Dancers!' The lights suddenly came on, and we could all now see our audience. This was the best moment of the whole tattoo; the smile never once left my face. The adrenaline pumped quickly as I danced in front of 30,000 people without ever thinking about what I was doing, knowing very well that I knew the dance, and that I should just enjoy that moment, and cherish it.

I couldn't believe how spectacular it felt to dance in front of an audience that big! That was only the dress rehearsal! The following 5 nights we performed that same dance, in front of a new audience and enjoyed every minute of it.

I will never forget the feeling that went through me on the 2nd of February 2005 as I performed in front of the biggest crowd I could have ever imagined. The significance of this event to me is that it is unlikely that I will ever perform in front of 30,000 people at one time again. I was only 15 at the time, but this was an experience that will never be forgotten. When the Edinburgh Military Tattoo performed in Australia at Aussie Stadium, only the second time the tattoo had ever left Scotland in its 54-year history, and I was a part of it. Being a part of this performance taught me a few things, one being that you should cherish every great moment that you receive in your life, don't forget them, and the second being that if you want to achieve something, you must be focused, committed and disciplined; or you will never reach your goal.

Kirstin Murray

2007