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Staccato

Staccato is a small dance troupe that tours Elysia. Their music is mostly percussive using hand drums and pizzicato lalaiths. Members come and go, so the troupe never has the exact same numbers or even the same "feel" to its performances, but the core group and style remains the same.

Politics

Staccato is an informal group so is a true democracy. They each get a say in decisions such as their next destination, the direction of their music and dance, where they willl camp while in town, and so on. Wendolin Karmikel is less a leader and more of a Public Relations representative with a knack for drawing in audiences whilever the troupe is performing.

Relations

In theory, the group are members of various Guilds of Entertainment across Elysia and they take advantage of the networks these guilds enjoy within the towns and regions they visit. They never pre-book or apply to formal venues for a stage, preferring the organic feel of a street performance instead. Staccato's musicians often take up a seat on the back of the dashiri they use to pull their caravans to afford themselves a better view of the dancers so that they might take their cues as accompaniment.

History

Staccato is a fairly recent troupe, diverging from the better known Desert Fire Dancers when their styles clashed. Having picked up a Dryad along the way, Staccato has taken a leaf from the parent group's book and incorporated elemental dancing in their routine. While earth is much less fluid than fire and water (which are popular techniques for Nymph and Zanaryan dancers), it lends itself beautifully to the sharp movements and sounds of the Staccato troupe.

Joining

Assuming they have mastered an instrument or dancing technique, anyone can make themselves known to the troupe. The most common way of joining is to insert oneself into a street performance, displaying not only their ability but also the brass required to get up and dance or play in front of a live audience.

Staccato has a very distinct style, however, which clashes with most traditional performances in Elysia. Percussionists are more welcome than any other instrument, and the dancers have to be extremely skilled. The group makes their living on the coins tossed at them during performances, so joinees must bring something new and unique to the table.

Like most troupes, Staccato struggles to generate an income from their performances, which is partly why they must travel constantly. City laws forbid camping in the street, so they will find a quiet spot outside town where they can stay for a few nights. As a group, they are self-reliant and have a very low expenditure, so it is really not the life for someone to whom material wealth means a great deal.

Known Members

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