In Synch

   Synchronized swimmers from Eau La La Entertainment performed on Saturday night at an East Hampton Library Authors Night dinner to honor Lynn Sherr, the author of “Swim: Why We Love the Water.” The dinner was hosted by Ken Lipper at his East Hampton house.

    In a light rain, Georgia Luch, the founder and director of the troupe, performed with another swimmer, Emily Terwelp. Both are veterans of synchronized swim teams, and Ms. Luch, after performing in a show at Sea World in San Antonio that also featured whales, dolphins, and divers, appeared as a mermaid in one of the “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies.

    The performance on Saturday joined the retro style and music of the era of Esther Williams, a competitive swimmer and star of “aquamusicals” featuring synchronized swimming and diving, with modern touches.

    When the swimmers climbed out of the pool, Ms. Sherr, whose book is a collection of information, history, and anecdotes celebrating swimming — including the tale of her own quest to swim the Hellespont, a strait between the Aegean Sea and Turkey — asked them to talk a bit about what synchronized swimming entails.

    A key element is the ability to support the body in the water, either upright or upside down, by sculling, a technique of hand movements that creates pressure that holds the swimmer in place. Great core strength is needed, as is endurance, flexibility, and precise timing. 

    With Ms. Terwelp, Ms. Luch choreographs performances geared to particular events, pairing complementary costumes and music, and, sometimes, props used during the show. Each routine lasts about five minutes, and features from two to six performers.

    The troupe is on Facebook and can be contacted at [email protected].