Troupe Mayyadah

at the Lompoc Renaissance Festival

Lompoc, Ca. Mar. 27-28, 2010

. . . . . . . . . Cast of Dancers -

Chelle Hendrix

Dana Johnson

Janet Cunningham

Leslie Thompson

Fran Nigro

Candence "Bubbles" Troxell

Kayla Emard

Eileen Speers

Suzanne McCaslin

Michelle Silva Brown

Theresa Reilly

Jeannie Teplansky

Susan Drake

Wanda Parker

Lisa Felton

Sara Scott

Sarah Allred

Miranda de Silva

Rachel Greenlee

Emily Biolley

Heather Calderwood

Melanie Thomas

Roxy Goon

Jeriah Mieha

Missy Denney

Nyoka Jameson

Drummers -

Dennis "Lighening" Troxell

Jason Koon

Tyler Johnson

Roger Hendrix

Camp Guards -

Frank Cunningham

Vince Cicero

Garrett Johnson

Protectors of the women

Mar. 26th, Friday -

Chelle had been working hard all week loading the trailer with all the stuff that makes us look the way we do, on Friday morning we got up and went out to breakfast in Santa Maria circa 2010 then stepped into the time machine and set it to take us back to 11:30 am March 26th 1482 AD

Chelle and I arrived at Faire to check in, we were taken to our property allotment and started offloading the camp - soon after Eileen, Suzanne, Wanda, Dana, Tyler, Kayla, Frank, Janet, Bubbles, Lightening, Jason and Lisa appeared, it’s great to have help setting up camp. Mucho Thanks. You're all the best !

About 5:30 pm Camp was together and the gals were decorating, a Faire official walks in and asks Chelle and Dana if they could get dressed and do a live interview with the local TV station. Sure they said, when do they need to be ready, 20 mins he says ........ 20 mins. are you kidding they have to get dressed and apply make-up, a process that usually takes 2 hours - being the camera hogs they are they made in 18 mins. Time to spare and off to the interview they went. They did an awesome represent for Troupe Mayyadah and the Lompoc Faire, good job ladies.

Chelle had brought dinner of porcupine meatballs, a requested favorite, as dinner warmed, camp was completed and all the candles were lit.

It is a special magical atmosphere around Camp Mayyadah at night when the only illumination is 150+ candles burning and a campfire warming. Good company, Perfect evening ………..

Saturday, March 27th, -

Sunrise breaks over camp, coffee dances into the sleeping bags of those still hiding from the daybreak. The lure is great however and one eyed dancers accumulate around the stove for hot libation. Java and teas of various types and smiles start to show thru. Mornings are quiet with dancers painting their faces, fluffing of the hair and layering themselves in a plethora of colors and jewelry, others are laying the drums out to warm in the upcoming sunlight. Tap, tap, thump, thump, turns to doom doom, tek tek kaa tek …..

Meanwhile, back in the kitchen, Bubbles and Lightening are cooking up a great breakfast of scrambled eggs with sausage and some awesome seasoned potato’s …. Hearty breakfast for a long day of dancing, we eat good at camp.

At 9am Mistress Chelle is off for morning notes … half hour later she is back and tells us the day will be warm and watch out for serpants with rattling tails.

We have no on-stage performances scheduled as is our preference. We set up camp with a stage so that we can impromptu for any folks that wander by. Whenever a few people gather at camp someone will grab a drum and some of the gals start moving to the beat.

This happens often because typically we have many people stop at our camp and take pictures. Many colors, many layers, a wandering group of gypsies that have banded together to put on shows for all those who will watch. I am slightly biased but we DO have the best looking camp at the Faire. Not even close, 2nd place is in the 19th century.

The ladies of Camp Mayyadah lay out an afternoon Feast, snacks of fruit, cheeses, and assorted goodies. Leisure around camp has been reduced to an art form.

Saturday we were blessed with guests from far away lands, Lisa "Firefly" Felton, Heather Calderwood & Melanie Thomas. Along with guests from villages nearby Wanda Parker, Theresa Reilly, Jeannie Teplansky & Susan Drake.

In the afternoon The Northstar Penguins guild asked if we could spare a few dancers to come and entertain for them. So half dozen of our finest took trip to Northstar where they had a couple young gents chained together in a barrel, two men in a barrel, disgustingly funny, heads painted gold and cheeks blush red, Heather led the assault and enticement of the poor trapped lads. As Heather danced the tops of their heads took on a certain glow as the fellows felt a little more romantically involved ...... and even more disgusting for we onlookers.

The gals did such a fine job the Peguins had a special favor to ask. They had a fellow who had too much drink and slept in late so for punishment he was given over to Dana and Chelle. They dressed the young man in some of their finest costume bits and taught him how dance before a crowd of onlookers laughing enjoying the humiliation of the young man. I must say the fellow did a fine albit girly job of the dancing. They even took him on a walk about so that the others at Faire could share in his humiliation. All the way to the front gate where he had to dance at the meet and greet.

It was a grand performance and I have yet to witness anything so funny at faire yet……wonderful job.

At 5pm, the patrons of the Faire must leave and a few of our dancers also left, Two of our new dancers Sarah Allred & Miranda de Silva were on their way out and passed by the Northstar Penguins Camp, dazed by the giddiness of a first time faire dancer and under the spell of all those tall tales they had been privy too all day, they decided to take upon themselves to procure from the Penguins Camp one of their mascots. They had envisioned the glorious conquest would secure their spot with Troupe Mayyadah the following day when they would present Guild Mistress Chelle the piece of Penguin booty.

Alas, likely due to their inexperience they got immediately BUSTED by the Peguin crew. They let them go but then reported the violation to Guild Mistress Chelle and appropriate punishment was agreed upon to be dealt with at the next Faire in Ojai. Mmmm Mmm Mmmm, the girls have something to look forward to for 2 months. Heh Heh ..... (now I must say I am quite proud of Sarah and Miranda for taking upon themselves a positive attitude and challenge in support of their new Troupe Mayyadah, I see great things in these lasses future. HaaZaa girls !!! )

As the sun sets into off shore fog and a wonderful dinner by Janet is warming on the fire. Janet had prepared a huge pot of spaghetti w/meat sauce at home and brought it with her, I make special mention of the timing because we all know left over 2nd day spaghetti is the BEST ... Awesome grub Janet. Mmmmm, Did I mention we eat good at faire …..

After dinner Tyler starts our fire, we gather around to warm to fend off the approaching chill. Our encampment becomes the gathering place for other guilds travelers to visit, share the news of the day along with a few tall tales.

This faire does not generate the nightlife the Ojai faire does with the after hours stage show but good times none the less.

Dawn arrives, Sunday, March 28th

I was up at sunrise to fire up the coffee and tea water, same morning routine, this morning the glow of dawn radiates from beautiful women’s faces as they gather for their morning nectar. This morning Michelle & Kayla cook up a great breakfast of bacon, eggs and potatos, Have I mentioned we eat good at Camp Mayyadah.

At morning notes Chelle was again informed to have everyone watch out for rattlers. 80+ degree days may draw them out.

Typical day at Camp Mayyadah, drumming and dancing off and on for those mundanes who gather. Afternoon snacks of wine, breads and cheeses, salami, olives, cookies and cakes … yes we do, eat well.

Late Sunday afternoon, The Peguins thought Dana and Chelle did such a fine job disciplaining their fellow yesterday that they requested a repeat treament for another neer-do-well. Tsk, Tsk, Tsk, will they never learn.

Let me just say to you Peguins, you are AWESOME also .... almost as good as we are ...

Then it sneaks up on us it's time to start the Camp breakdown, always the bummer of the weekend. As I mentioned before we have the best camp at faire but that means it is much work to setup and tear down, this time of year darkness falls early. So it is tear down in the dark….

The dancing all weekend was awesome, this was the best turnout of ladies we have ever had. Drummers, you threw down some awesome beats -Lightening, Jason, Tyler and Roger, with drumming assist from Janet, Eileen and Suzanne .... GREAT job. Together ladies and gents we Raq'd this house .....

Here I must make special note of THANKS those who helped with the process of setup and tear down …… Chelle and I sincerely love you guys hanging in there until the trailer was loaded and made the entire weekend a wonderful experience for us.

~ Thanks gang, Roger & Chelle