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Chookas!

Thu, 21 June 2001, 07:41 am

ali22 posts in thread

I was at work last night (we had our first preview) and everyone was running around with the normal ritual of saying "chookas".

It suddenly occurred to me, where on earth did this saying come from? We all have theories on "Break a leg" but I've never heard one for "chookas".

Any guesses?

By the way, has anyone heard anyone use "Break a leg" lately? All I've heard for the last few years is "chookas"...

RE: Theatre superstition

Fri, 22 June 2001, 06:58 pm

Amanda Chesterton

> Joe McCabe wrote:
> -------------------------------
> As for 'Chookas' - the whole is 'TOI TOI TOI Chookas' there is a poem which goes
> with it and you place your right hand on your heart three times while saying it as for
> good luck.

I think you're just trying to make me feel silly...;-)

Another superstition is of dancers spitting on their shoes/the floor before going on stage. This pre-show behaviour has its roots way back before the introduction of tarkett (dance flooring) and rosin - moisture on the soles of leather ballet shoes stopped dancers from slipping on the bare wood stages.

Either that or dancers really are as feral as everyone says they are...:-)

Amanda Chesterton

Thread (22 posts)

Threaded Flat

Chookas!— ali21 June 2001

RE: Chookas!— Gill21 June 2001
- RE: Chookas!— Amanda21 June 2001
- RE: Chookas!— dingdong21 June 2001
  - RE: Chookas!— Toby22 June 2001
  - Theatre superstition— Toby22 June 2001
    - Leg Breaking— Toby22 June 2001
    - RE: That play— Grant Malcolm22 June 2001
      - ···
        RE: That play— Toby22 June 2001
    - RE: Theatre superstition— George22 June 2001
      - ···
        RE: Theatre superstition— JoeMc22 June 2001
        ···
        RE: Theatre superstition— Amanda Chesterton22 June 2001
        ···
        RE: Theatre superstition— JoeMc22 June 2001
        ···
        RE: Theatre superstition— Walter Plinge22 June 2001
        ···
        RE: Theatre superstition— Toby23 June 2001
RE: Chookas!— Walter Plinge23 June 2001
- RE: Chookas!— JoeMc24 June 2001
  - RE: Chookas!— Walter Plinge24 June 2001
    - RE: Chookas!— JoeMc26 June 2001
      - ···
        RE: Chookas!— JoeMc28 June 2001
RE: Chookas! Superstition— Walter Plinge23 June 2001
- RE: Chookas! Superstition— Walter Plinge29 June 2001

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