Thunderous cheers filled the air Friday noon as Nile Garden School seventh grade students opened their 20th Celtic Faire in the school’s courtyard with the blessing of their history teacher “King Lewis” after he was pulled into the heart of the activities by a pair of bards.
Nearly 50 students were dressed medieval fashion from the “Court Jester” to the student King and Queen as they first paraded around the South Manteca rural campus shortly after 11 a.m. on Nile Avenue with parents and teachers looking on. It was part of an effort by Tim Lewis to bring history to life.
At the beginning of a specially prepared noon lunch the student royalty was served by eighth graders as the remainder of the class filed into large white food tents that were adorned with flags depicting the heraldry of the time.
The talent show was opened by “Desdemona of Camelot” – Emily Salizar – with a poetic offering of a poem entitled “Faire Thoughts,” from the lectern. The second event was a “Florin Dance,” by Gwendalyn of St. Andrews, Sarah Marlin; Agnes of Wycombe, Sabrina Caldwell; Margaret of Aberwyth, Destiny Herrera; Nicole of Brentwood, Josceline Dominguez; Roslyn of Liverpool, Trinity Ortiz; Juliet of Wycombe, Kayla Riley and Ethelfled of Avalon, Holly Brothers.
Three friars with stretcher in hand walked around the center courtyard with the body of a dead girl that they dumped on the ground – chanting, “Bring Out Your Dead!”
“Three Ball Juggling” followed with Wilhelmina of Belfry, Kaileah Johannsen and Galahad the Ditcher, Ethan Sanchez throwing up four balls.
Singing was next on the calendar with “I’m Not the Only One,” by Gwendalyn of St. Andrews, Sarah Marlin. Two others joined in the trio of singers Roslyn of Liverpool, Trinity Ortiz; and Agnes of Wycombe, Sabrina Caldwell.
On the heels of the singers came a sword fight between two bards in the crowd.
A dancing skit with eight dancers filled the courtyard. The dancers Galahad the Ditcher, Ethan Sanchez; Dante the Turner, Jayden Tanforan; Augustus the Squire, Andrew Banegas; Lorenzo the Squire, Holden Fishburn; Leo the Atilloiator, Jesus Aguilar; Virgil the Bowman, Nolen Gavino; Bartholomew the Hunter, Abhijeet Dhillon; and Horace the Herald, Karanjap Kahlon.
Another poem was offered by Agnes of Wyncombe, Sabrina Caldwell, with “Garden of the Nile.”
Six dancers took to the center field with “Morrison’s Jig” dance to the delight of their audience sitting around the courtyard. They included Rosemary of Winchester, Natalie Dias; Wilhimena of Belfry, Kaileah Johannsen; Miram of Winterbourne, Andrea Ruiz; Esmerelda of Dorchester, Alejandra Aguilar and Mary of Avalon, Jackeline Martinez.
Singing “A Thousand Years,” by Margaret of Aberwyth, Destiny Herrera.
Seven dancers followed with “Nonesuch” offering. They were Merlin the Blacksmith, Davis Gray; Bartholomew the Squire, Vincent Gomez; Wilfred the Hunter, Adrian Paez; Guido the Atilloiator, Robert Wilcox; Will the Squire, DeShon Thomas; Percival the Bowman, Joseph Deruyter; and Raymond the Baker, Mauricio Arnoldus.
Then Rollo the Hunter, Ethan Brummett, presented another juggling act along with Dante the Tanner, Jaden Tanforan.
The final dance included eight students “The Springle Ring” was another exciting display of the Celtic Art. Dancers included Gueneveve of Belfry, Varshaa Bala; Claire of Winterbourne, Aisha Saeed; Alexandria of St. Andrews, Alexia Garcia; Gwen of Gillingham, Sulema Campuzano; Theutberga of Dorchester, Maricella Lopez; Gabriella of Aberwyth, Britany Nunez; Elizabeth of Camelot, Zuluyma Castro and Desdemona of Camelot, Emily Salizar.
The final song rendition was singing “All of Me” by Clovis the Bowman, Jake Alton.
King Tim Lewis – last but not least – was juggling knives and torches to close the talent show.
