WATCH: The “Tattoo 1967 Sisters” have reunited and will attend the Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo, they performed at the first Tattoo in 1967. Global’s Ray Bradshaw reports.
PORTERS LAKE, NS – The Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo officially opens Tuesday night in Halifax at Scotiabank Centre. It’s the 37th year for the extravaganza, but the Tattoo dates back to Canada’s Centennial in 1967.
The “Tattoo 1967 Sisters” have reunited and will attend the performance on Saturday. They performed dance routines back in 1967 as part of the cross-Canada performance schedule of the then military tattoo.
Toni Morris and Winnie Booth hadn’t seen each other in 30 years until last week. They first met when they joined the Navy in the mid 1960’s. The two performed in the “Tattoo 1967 Sisters” dance group as part of the military’s committment to Canada’s centennial year. They did stadium shows in Montreal for Expo ’67, Vancouver, Ottawa, Hamilton, and the CNE in Toronto.
“That was the first year the CNE ever opened on a Sunday,” said Morris. “And they didn’t think anybody would go and we danced and performed to sold out crowds.”
“They asked me what was my background? I love music. I love dancing, so that’s all I had and they chose me anyway,” said Booth.
There were 13 women each from the Army, Navy, and Air Force in the group, the first time women from the three services collaborated on a project.
“We just got along and helped each other out,” said Morris, with a twinkle in her eye. “We really became unified before the rest of the forces did.”
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They were trail blazers.
“At the time we were hoping to go to the states,” Morris said. “But because of Vietnam we didn’t go, but we never expected this in Nova Scotia ever year.”
Many of the 39 original performers in the group hadn’t seen each other since 1967, until they went on a web site for the 1967 Tattoo.
“There was a guest book there, and we saw a few names and then we all tried to get in touch with each other,” said Morris.
That resulted in 22 women meeting in Ottawa last year.
“We had such a grand time meeting each other after all these years. Most of the girls I hadn’t seen in 47 years,” Morris said.
Fifteen of the women are gathering again in Halifax this week. Booth has lived in England for more than 30 years and this is her first time reuniting with the group to meet good friends and relive memories.
“It’s just wonderful,” said Booth.
“The fountain of youth is meeting friends you haven’t seen for years and years,” Morris added
“I can’t wait for Saturday,” said Booth.
At Saturday’s matinee performance they’ll be seated in section 16.
“We’re all wearing our red T-shirts that say the Tattoo 1967 Sisters. The show looks like it’s just going to be wonderful and as soon as you hear the music and see it, it brings back so many memories,” said Morris.
Memories indeed.
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