sportphysio2010

Physiotherapist Dan Hewson has had a side-gig for the past few months that has been kept under wraps. Here is his story:

Opening Ceremonies

“Way back in May, I responded to the open call for volunteer performers. In June I had an initial audition with around one hundred people where, much like Canadian Idol, we were taught choreography, and then asked to perform it for the Producers of the Ceremonies.

About a month later I received a phone call inviting me to a callback audition to be performed on rollerblades. I said I would definitely be willing to, then promptly went out and bought a pair of rollerblades; I hadn’t owned a pair for a few years. I rollerbladed a few hours every night for the few days left before the audition. This time around a hundred of us bladed around an arena, keeping time and skating in formation.

I had a long wait until October, which was when I was informed I had been selected to perform in the Opening and Closing ceremonies! In late October, we had a brief orientation, at which time we met most of the other volunteers and got a teaser look at the direction these ceremonies were going to take. And we were sworn to secrecy.

Rehearsals began in earnest in December starting in the tents to the south of Canada Place, moving into the stadium in mid-January. Everything was very secretive, with little bits of information being given to us, a little more every week. Finally we began to have large group rehearsals, where we could finally see what the other groups had been up to.

The final week was very exciting, with 4 full run-throughs in costume, two of those being dress rehearsals where we performed in front of crowds of 25,000 and 50,000 filled with friends, family, volunteers (see Timberly George’s blog entry last week) and former Canadian Olympians. Even some of the stars were around for those nights including Sarah McLachlan and Donald Sutherland. Very exciting!

Finally on Friday, February 12th, the time had finally come to put on our show for the world. Waiting backstage for six hours to get out there for our two minutes of glory was absolutely nerve wracking, but worth all the hard work that was put into it.

Next for me is five nights of volunteering at the Saskatchewan Pavilion, taking in some events and other pavilions and finishing preparations for the closing ceremonies! So stay tuned for more stories from that.”

by Dan Hewson, The Skating Physio