Mermaiding

Mermaiding (also referred to as artistic mermaiding, mermaidry, or artistic mermaid performance) is the practice of wearing, and often swimming in, a costume mermaid tail. It is hard to pinpoint exactly where the term mermaiding was coined, however there were some of the first professional freelance mermaids appearing on the world scene around 2004 like Hannah Mermaid and Mahina Mermaid and Mermaid Linden in 2005 who were all playing with the term. A little later on, the term was bought to a wider use and community by Iona the Mermaid, co-founder of MerNetwork.com. In the beginning of the twentieth century mermaiding was sometimes referred to as water ballet, but it is not currently a term that is used much. Mermaiding should not be confused with modern synchronized swimming, although there can be some overlap if a mermaid performance troupe is performing a synchronized routine. Mermaiding was originally started by Boston native Erica Mirabella and Sara Hawes. These two are direct descendants of Aerial Merlady the original HMIC(Head Mermaid in charge) Mermaiding is both a profession and a hobby. Professional mermaids will often swim in live, filmed, or photographed productions or shows and can be hired for special events. Nonprofessional enthusiasts swim in tails at their local pools, lakes, rivers, or seashores, and a handful do not actually swim but practice activities such as mermaid-themed photo shoots. Mermaiding is popular with all ages and genders. Mermaiding practitioners are sometimes called mermaids, professional mermaids, or occasionally, water ballerinas. Within the community, mermaid or merfolk can be shortened to “mer.”

Mermaiding is often seen to go hand-in-hand with cosplay and crafting, due to the nature of the tails and other prosthetics used by practitioners. There are several tail making companies supplying the community with everything from fabric tails to full SFX prostheses costing thousands of dollars. Many tail makers have roots in mermaiding, but not all. It is not required to be a mermaid to be a tail maker or vice versa.

Annette Marie Sarah Kellerman (6 July 1886 – 6 November 1975) was an Australian professional swimmer, vaudeville star, film actress and writer. She was one of the first women to wear a one-piece bathing costume, instead of the then-accepted pantaloons, and inspired others to follow her example. In 1902, Kellerman decided to take her swimming seriously and subsequently won the ladies' 100 yards and mile championships of New South Wales in the record times of 1 minute, 22 seconds and 33 minutes, 49 seconds respectively. In that same year, her parents decided to move to Melbourne, and she was enrolled at Mentone Girls' Grammar School where her mother had accepted a music teaching position. During her time at school, Kellerman gave exhibitions of swimming and diving at the main Melbourne baths, performed a mermaid act at Princes Court entertainment centre and did two shows a day swimming with fish in a glass tank at the Exhibition Aquarium.

...
Wikipedia