NORFOLK — Some people actually do grow up to be mermaids and pirates.
Both brought a little magic and fantasy to Hampton Roads over the weekend at the 47th annual Harborfest.
Nicole Mangune and Candace Burns of Virginia Beach splashed around, educating children about ocean conservation and the magical lives of mermaids while donning shimmering tails with purple, pink, blue and gold hues. Right across from the mermaids, mateys with Loose Cannon Company set up camp to show historically accurate reenactments and glimpses into pirate life in the early 18th century.
Mangune has been a professional mermaid for almost a decade after a stint in the circus industry. Burns, of Back Bay Mermaid, began her mermaid career in 2017 when she realized her corporate job was less than magical. She always has been by and in the water, so becoming a mermaid felt natural.
But being a professional mermaid requires more than just flipping fins. Mermaids must be good swimmers and undergo diving, rescue and other safety-related training. And since some events can last hours, endurance is a must.
Having a properly fitted fabric or silicone tail is important, and the water can’t be too cold. Creams and gels are needed to protect mermaids against bacteria from the water they encounter. Mangune said mermaids typically dip their tails in aquarium tanks for a while so the aquatic life can get used to their presence before they swim with the sharks, for example.
Mermaids typically have various duties. Mangune said she’s a fire mermaid, so she helps sailors and ships find their way back by lighting the way for them. Mangune also frequently works with fire and fire eating entertainment with her company, Visual Artistry Entertainment.
Burns said she tells children when she’s not cleaning up ocean debris, she’s cleaning the bottoms of ships or directing ship traffic. Other jobs include taking care of the sea animals, educating the public about keeping the environment clean and ensuring ship safety.
The most important job, however, is providing a little bit of magic for children — and reminders that they’re beautiful and strong.
“Kids grow up so fast now that if we can just give them a little bit of innocence and fun and fantasy for a little bit longer, that’s what I want to do,” Burns said. “And I feel like they remember moments like that.”
Being a mermaid can feel magical. Burns and Mangune often feel it when they hear the “ooos” and “ahhs” and laughs from children when they say their favorite food is a peanut butter and jellyfish sandwich.
“It’s fuel for the soul,” she said. “Because when (children are) so enamored, and you’re like, ‘Pinky promise me that you’re going to help keep the oceans clean,’ that’s like a core memory that you implanted in them.”
Burns said Back Bay Mermaid will soon offer apprenticeship opportunities. Anyone interested in learning more can reach Burns at BackBayMermaid@gmail.com.
Devra Brusso, whose pirate name is “Lashing,” said the crew of about 20 at Loose Cannon Company all have different specialties, ranging from sewing to working with herbal medicines and weapons. Some are trained to use black powder when they launch cannons. Others show children how pirates made use of what they had, such as throwing lay pins to kill rats.
Andy Park, or “Andrew Atley,” said it’s also an opportunity for physics lessons, such as using ropes to lift heavy objects, to show what science pirates knew at the time.
“We put stuff in their hands and say, ‘Feel that; try that; look at this; throw this over here; pick that thing up …'” Park said, who specializes in weapons education.
Brusso focuses on historically accurate clothing, which Park said often didn’t include shoes, and especially not the boots typically portrayed in movies. Fabric was often expensive, so many pirates visited tailors when they needed updated clothing.
“We are very much a family when we get together,” Brusso said. “We help each other, we learn, we teach each other. And I think all of us are really into this because we love seeing the ‘oooing’ and the ‘ahhing’ and the light bulb going off.”
Pirates on the whole operated democratically, Brusso said, adding that crews would often vote out the ship captain if they were no longer satisfied. Both said people often have misconceptions about pirates based on what they’ve seen on TV, such as buried treasures and walking the plank.
“Piracy as history is never everything that you think it is,” Park said.
But partying, overindulging and spending money quickly is something pirates really did, said Todd Willis, who goes by “Mister Willis” and founded the Loose Cannon Company.
Jackson Leitner, or “Jack,” added that pirates historically worked more secretively and hid that they were pirates because they didn’t want to be caught. Park added that pirates’ biggest weapon was the ability to instill fear, which they often used to raid ships.
Natalie Anderson, 757-732-1133, natalie.anderson@virginiamedia.com
