kroje and accordians

last night there was a summer arts festival in omaha, roller derby at the pershing, and the annual nebraska czech queen pageant in clarkson. i ditched the music, the art, and the skates to see mari compete for the title.
the outgoing queen was so weird! she gave a very uncomfortable farewell speech in which everything she said seemed to be a little bit naughty. it had something to do with her inflection, her strange whimpery giggle, and how she said pieces of her speech in an undertone. for instance 'i was just backstage with willy and we were hugging and i just want to thank him so much for everything he did for me this past year' became an eyebrow raising statement. the highlight of her speech was the part where she was describing the perks of being the nebraska czech queen, one of which was the opportunity to ride in a 2007 silver mustang convertible. she emphasized this perk with a very loud 'whu whoop' that i can't figure out how to translate into text.

the man in the white jacket is backstage willy and he mc'd the event. i thought he was awesome and completely irritating. as a recording of 'god bless america' played at the opening of the pageant, willy boomed out key phrases in spoken word, in time with the music. willy was very loud and animated and probably spent alot of time watching the price is right. mari seems a little wary of his approach in this photo!

as part of the judging, the queens are expected to design and model a version of the traditional czech costume, the kroje. (pronounced like the sparkling water la croix, but without the la). mari's was my favorite, maybe because i know how many hours went into embroidering and crocheting her vest, apron and tissue puffed sleeves. also, because i thought mari looked really nice in her kroje where the other girls just looked puffy.

another part of the pageant was the talent. mari chose to play the accordian and she did some intricate work on the keys. the reigning missouri czech queen had tears in her eyes.

also judged was the oratorial, which i think was a statement of goals and interests. we missed this portion of the pageant because we were in the bar trying to warm up after a cold front blew through. both cara and i came unprepared for cooler weather. we did hear mari introduce her parents and her introduction was by far the best. where the other girls mostly said very emotional thank you's, mari thanked her mom for all her help on the costume and said 'i owe you a kroje' then thanked her dad with 'if it wasn't for you i wouldn't be czech at all'.

mari lost the title to a girl who has competed three years in a row and whose father is also the accordian instructor for all czech youth with a desire to play. so, bah! mari may not have won the crown, but without the advantage of years of experience and grooming she still had the best costume and the most wit (something the outgoing queen was sorely missing. whup whoop.)