Legs twirled, arms waved and hands fluttered. The swimmers inched their way to the center of Gimbel pool with strong, accented moves. Small touches of grace and femininity were added as they moved in unison. About 70 students and community members watched last night as the Pennguinettes, the University's synchronized swimming team, performed their spring show, "Rubber Duckie Meets Opus." The Pennguinettes' performance consisted of nine routines announced by College freshman Christopher Nason and choreographed by head coach JoAnne Hangen, Assistant Coach Wendy Buckwalter, and the nine members of the team. The routines fell into two categories -- technical and entertaining. This mix of choreographic styles seemed to appeased both critical and first time audience members. Classical, patriotic and contemporary music marked the performances. Opening the performance was a synchronized performance to a Muppet Show medley -- an instant winner with young audience members. Solo performances were given by College junior Joanna Kwa and Wharton freshman Kristin Brown. Kwa chose songs by Todd Rundgren, Erasure, David Byrne and March Slav. Brown focused on a Fiddler on the Roof Medley. Two short intermissions consisted of performances by Amorphous Jugglers. The performers wooed the audience by juggling balls, rackets, pins and stuffed animals. Amorphous Jugglers ended their performance by throwing several plastic bowling pins into the pool. College freshman and audience member Howard Gottlied removed his shirt and shoes and courteously entered the pool to retrieve the floating objects. College sophomore Helen Rosenfeld, president of the Penn Synchronized Swimming Team, gave a brief history of synchronized swimming and said that it will be part of the Summer Olympics in Barcelona. Rosenfeld, a first-year team member, also received a trophy in honor of her hard work as a synchronized swimmer and leadership as the team president. Rosenfeld talked about her two roles on the team. "It has been a challenge to be both a team president and a synchronized swimmer, but fun," she said. Team member and College freshman Jennifer Faelton said her first year as a team member has been enjoyable. "I particularly enjoyed performing the show," she said. The audience appeared to like the performance. Some audience members said that synchronized swimming was unique and refreshing. "I liked the peerformance because synchronized swimming is something new and not something you can see on television often," Wharton senior Derrick Lynn said.
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