NDS Goes Out With a Bang
Posted by Avital Pinnick on September 23, 2012
Flash mob, drummers, five songs from the Live@NDS band — all the stops were pulled out at the final NDS Annual Company Meeting at Binyanei haUma a couple weeks ago.
This year I was asked to photograph the flash mob rehearsals, create a presentation, and make a video recording of the band at the meeting itself. I had no idea that the band’s performance would be 25 minutes long. It’s a good thing I took a tripod! But that seriously limited my mobility because the room was so crowded.
Martine’s solo at the beginning of the flash mob (“Glad you came”) was unforgettable. I was lucky to get a clear photo in these conditions from the back of the room.
The rest of the photos were hit-and-miss. The fast movement and erratic purple and blue lights and spotlights made it very difficult to get clear shots.
The best way to get a sense of it is to watch the short video I made:
Here’s the dress rehearsal. I chose this angle because I didn’t fancy trying to get 200 model releases….
A professional drum ensemble performed:
They were followed by NDS drummers, one for each year of NDS, chosen by the year that they started with the company:
At the end of the performance the drummers came forward in groups and turned around so that their year was displayed (one of my office mates said, “1988? That was before I was born!”):
Here’s the drumming video:
The Live@NDS band was brilliant and their touching rendition of Auld Lang Syne received a standing ovation. Someone on Facebook said, “Not a dry eye in the room!,” which pretty much sums it up. I uploaded a video but was asked to take it down, so you’ll have to use your imagination….
Debbie said
Fun! Wish we could see the whole video.
But, huh? What do you mean by final meeting? and Out with a bang?
Avital Pinnick said
http://www.cisco.com/web/about/ac49/ac0/ac1/ac259/nds.html
Avital Pinnick said
And another link: http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/15/why-cisco-paid-5-billion-for-n-d-s/