Monday, 30 July 2012

My Olympic Experience - The Auditions



This is the image that will stick with me for the rest of my life. My brain still can’t quite full comprehend that just next to one of those flames I am stood, performing to billions of people across the world in the London 2012 Olympic Opening ceremony.

The journey started almost a year ago when I saw an advert on Twitter (how terribly modern) for auditions for dancers for the Olympic Opening ceremony. I took a curious glance to see what the criteria was and to my surprise no experience was necessary. I didn’t think this could be right! But I thought nothing ventured, nothing gained so I applied. Having up until this point only taken Michael Jackson style dance classes (which to be fair come in handy on a night out!) I doubted I would even get through the application process.

About a month later, whilst on a family holiday in Florida, I received an invitation to attend an audition. I couldn't quite believe it! Surely I had managed to stealthy get through the process and at some point they would realise their mistake! I remember telling my mum I had an audition for the Olympics and she looked baffled. I hadn’t mentioned to anyone I had applied and I think she thought I meant as an athlete! (And that would be fooling no one!). Even just receiving an invitation to audition was enough to start the buzz around the possibility I may be involved in some capacity in the world’s largest sporting event .

When my audition date arrived I headed to 3 Mills Studios in Bromley-By-Bow and I was nervous. I had never auditioned before in my life and was sure I would be the person with the least experience there. I was certain I was about to step onto the set of ‘Fame’ and although I had sneaked through the application process I would suddenly be outed as an infiltrator.

In fact the audition process was brilliant! I had a fantastic day meeting such enthusiastic people who were just as nervous and shocked to be there as I was. We were inspired by videos of previous ceremonies and regaled tales of people’s memories of previous ceremonies. The range of people was so diverse it was inspiring. People of all ages and walks of life were taking a shot to be involved in the biggest show London would ever put on.  We ran around in a giant game of battleship, danced to Beyonce (it was a sign!!) and acted our way through a scene involving vigorous teeth brushing and Oyster Card swiping.

I left on a high. I was sure I may not get through but just to be able to say I auditioned for the Olympics was enough.

The next day I received an email saying I had been successful and was invited to attend a role specific audition. Surely this wasn’t real? I was so excited! And curious as to what the role may be. I was hoping for dance (as this is my passion) but terrified that if I was against actual dancers, people who had danced their whole lives, performed in shows and took regular classes, that there was no way I would get in.



Three weeks later when I arrived once more at 3 Mills everyone was wearing sweats. This was a good sign! It was almost certainly a dance audition. But then the fear returned. What would be in store? I now realised I wanted to be involved more than I thought and didn’t want this to be the end of the road.

Once the audition started I relaxed – in fact you couldn’t do anything other than enjoy! It was hours of dancing fun and the buzz was brilliant. At the end when we danced to ‘Moves Like Jagger’ everyone, even the paramedics, were dancing! It was an infectious jubilant mood! Once more I left on a high, happy to have been given the opportunity to be invited to audition.

We then had a nervous 8 week wait to know whether we were in or not. I had a friend who had also auditioned and whenever an email was sent she would receive hers around  8 hours before I received mine. I always took this as a sign of not being ‘in’.

On the 13th January around 8PM I received the email. ‘Congratulations! London 2012 Ceremonies are pleased to inform you that you have been successful in your audition to become a Ceremonies Volunteer Performer in the London 2012 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony’. I couldn’t believe it! I was going to be in the opening ceremony of the Olympics! I cried with joy. Whoever thought someone with no experience would be given the opportunity to represent their country and perform on the world’s biggest stage?

Rehearsals started in April. I was so excited to get going. Unfortunately for me three weeks before our first rehearsal I had to have an emergency operation of my back. This lead to me having a section of my back removed and needing to see a nurse every day for 6 weeks. I was told I may have to accept defeat and pull out of the show. I was flabbergasted. At no point had I ever contemplated I may not be able to take part.

Three weeks later and it was the first rehearsal. The operation was more serious than I thought and this was the first time I had been properly out of my house and moving since my operation. It seemed impossible that I would be able to dance but I was determined I would not let this opportunity slip through my fingers.

Once more I returned to 3 Mills, which would be our home for the next five Sunday’s. We received our Olympic accreditation (well actually I didn’t. My photo was never right and I spent the first 4 weeks having my photo taken!). It felt real all of a sudden. I mean I had a BADGE!

We sat in one of the sound stages and all of us nervously but excitedly spoke with our fellow volunteers about how we couldn’t believe we were here! Then Steve Boyd – the softly spoke but ever so enthusiastic American who guided us through our auditions – introduced Danny Boyle. The Danny Boyle. I was so excited! I was sure other people would lead our section and Danny would direct from afar. But this was our first opportunity to see just how hands on, and how down to earth, Danny was.

When Danny explained our section I was overjoyed. The concept sounded fantastic! A blend of the best of British pop music combined with a thank you to Sir Tim Berners-Lee, the British inventor of the World Wide Web and the man responsible for how we live in the modern technological age.  We were then shown a storyboarded video of our segment. I can’t lie, I choked up a bit when I realised just how proud this segment made me feel to be British. I could not wait to start learning the choreography. Plus my segment was the 80’s and 90’s – totally music I grew up with!

Danny then took smaller groups to look at a scale model of the stadium. It was huge! I couldn’t believe we would be performing in such a huge arena, the OLYMPIC arena at that.

Then we split into two groups and moved into another sound stage. The first rehearsal was hard. Nearly 4 hours of constant dancing. I was in agony. We were lined up, drilled with choreography and then performed two rows at a time. There was a feeling of at any moment if you messed up you would be kicked out. The team reassured us that we were through so we could relax but everybody was on edge.  I felt gutted. I knew I was underperforming but the fact I was even moving was a feat unto itself! At the very end I spoke to mass movement to let them know of my situation. I was told it was OK for me to sit out the last two runs of choreography but the message was passed onto my cast coordinator. I was asked if this was a reoccurring problem and couldn’t help feel like I possibly may be relegated to an understudy position or moved to a space where I may not really be visible.

At the end I was ready to lie down and rest. I felt a mix of emotions. Such excitement of being in on the secret, enthusiastic to keep learning more choreography but also worried that maybe my body was not ready...

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