The Clownfish team is currently in suspended animation. While the future of the team remains uncertain, these pages are left in place for reference and rememberance. [Editor’s note, Nov 2022: the Clownfish sashes have since been repurposed as part of the kit for the Nobska Lights]
Clownfish is a rapper team affiliated with the Vineyard Swordfish longsword team and located in Martha’s Vineyard and Falmouth, Massachusetts.
Compared to longsword, rapper uses a shorter more flexible sword, makes more use of step dancing, and is more energetic and acrobatic. Clownfish kit (uniform) follows the pattern and color of its namesake fish.
Clownfish is supported by grants from the Falmouth Cultural Council and the Woods Hole Foundation, as well as the Country Dance and Song Society and the Country Dance Society, Boston Centre.
Links + References
Clownfish videos from the International Sword Spectacular in York, England – May 2008:
Fresh Squeezed
Half Asleep
Use the following links to see some other great rapper teams:
Great Meadows Rapper
rapper teams in the UK
And here are some other miscellaneous interesting links:
Rick Mohr’s rapper web site
Rapper Sword Maintenance
Kevin’s notes from rapper workshop
Classic Clownfish dance:
Enter in line (from L side in order #1-5, or R side in reverse order)
Step
Forward, clash, spin L, clash, closed ring
Single [single guard]
Guard position – step
Curly
Crazy [Figure 8]
Guard position – step
NEW – Changing the Guard?
Nut (flip nut)
Prince of Wales
(Flip nut)
In & Out
Shoes: face out, swords down on 4, step, let go & move out, step, twisty thing to finish phrase
[Silent pause]
“4 potatoes”: on beat 4, shoulder sword, turn R & follow #1 off
Gallery
Team photos through time
DART – Cambridge, MA, 2010
Last 6 photos in this set courtesy of Sue Flint
Mayfair – Woods Hole, 2009
International Sword Ale – York, England, 2008
Lilac Sunday – 2008
Woods Hole Waterfront, 2008
Solstice Singers – Woods Hole, 2007
Lilac Sunday, 2007 – Clownfish debut!
Events
Clownfish are featured performers at the following past and future events:
| Date/Time | Venue | Event |
|---|---|---|
| 28-30 Oct 2011 | Cambridge, MA | DART 2011 – rapper competition |
| 8 May 2011 | Boston, MA | Lilac Sunday at the Arboretum |
| 16 April 2011 | Mansfield, MA | NEFFA New England Folk Festival |
| 22-24 Oct 2010 | Cambridge, MA | DART 2010 – rapper competition |
| 9 May 2010 | Boston, MA | Lilac Sunday at the Arboretum |
| 24 April 2010 | Mansfield, MA | NEFFA New England Folk Festival |
| 10 May 2009 | Boston, MA | Lilac Sunday at the Arboretum |
| 25 April 2009 | Mansfield, MA | NEFFA New England Folk Festival |
| 7 March 2009 | Barnstable, MA | CCCC Multicultural Festival |
| 18 Feb 2009 | Mashpee, MA | Cape Cod Children’s Museum |
| 14,15 Feb 2009 | New York, NY | Half Moon New York Sword Ale 2009 |
| 4 Oct 2008 | Carver, MA | King Richard’s Faire |
| 22 June 2008 | Boston, MA | Summer’s Day Revels |
| 20,21 June 2008 | Falmouth, MA | Arts Alive (with Pinewoods Morris Men) |
| 23-25 May 2008 | York, England | International Sword Spectacular |
| 11 May 2008 | Boston, MA | Lilac Sunday at the Arboretum |