By Dr. Diana Yu
Spring is here! The grass is getting greener. Daffodils are blooming. Buzzzzz! I even hear some bees starting to work on their hives! Oh, wait, these bees are huge and are mostly two-legged!
Where else, but in Olympia, do you get such a big spurt of energy at this time of year? The Procession of the Species Community Art Studio (located in the alley next to the Royal Lounge on Capitol Way) is staffed by volunteers, helping everyone with creating batik art, making shakers, working on luminaries and whatever else you may want to “bee.” It is a veritable hive of activity. Anyone can come visit the studio, make something to wear, or craft a banner to carry. Get ideas, be part of the community and have fun. Donations are gladly accepted.
During Procession, tens of thousands of people line the streets or don a costume for the parade. Three rules – no words, no motors, no pets or live animals. Dance and drum groups, such as Samba OlyWa, are currently practicing their routines for the Procession of the Species. Samba OlyWa is a community drum and dance group, dedicated to learning dance and rhythms from Brazil. We get together every Sunday all year round, and participate in many community events and celebrations.
The last four weeks have been dedicated to learning the new routines, the next four weeks will be spent polishing up those routines and getting it ready for “procession down the streets and turning corners while dancing.”
Each year, hundreds of additional participants join us for the eight week sessions to get ready for the Procession of the Species. There are four elements that you can represent: earth, air, water and fire. This year Samba OlyWa is representing the fire element that includes creatures and species that are endangered or extinct.
Three years ago, as water, we had a parade of octopi and other sea creatures. In 2012, in the air element, we had the largest monarch butterfly migration ever seen in the Olympia area. 2013 was the year we howled like wolves as part of the earth element. This year, there is a lot of buzzzzz about the decline in the honeybee population. It’s not too late to get in on the act, just “bee” ready, “bee” at practice and work on your costumes. What are you gonna “bee?”
Follow one of these links for more information about Procession of the Species, the Community Art Studio, or Samba OlyWa. Procession of the Species is slated for Saturday, April 26 at 4:30 p.m.
