Paralympics: Leamington choreographer’s work was watched by one billion people
Kevin Finnan, artistic director at the Leamington-based Motionhouse Studios, who choreographed the opening ceremony for the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
IT WAS a once-in-a-lifetime experience for everyone - but for one man, the opening ceremony for the Paralympics 2012 was an even more extraordinary moment.
Kevin Finnan wasn’t just one of the lucky few that got to soak up the experience - he choreographed it.
The co-founder of the Leamington-based Motionhouse Dance Studios was selected to organise the dancing for one of the biggest shows on earth.
In last week’s Courier and Weekly News, we managed to speak briefly to Kevin about his experience as he stood at the epicentre of the action.
This week, we managed to chat to him just after the event last Thursday night, and he was able to reflect on the incredible honour.
He said: “There was a tremendous roar and atmosphere throughout the show it was an amazing experience.
“Obviously you know that it is an extraordinary occasion and that you’re making a show for one billion people worldwide and you’re also representing your country - The Queen and the Prime Minister where there, in a stadium with 80,000 people.
“You almost have a split personality, one part is focused on delivering and the other is saying ‘this is an unbelievable experience’.
“Dancing is the glue that holds the event together and it was about making movement that everyone could do and look good doing.”
He started work on the ceremony after Christmas, but switched to doing it full-tim e at the end of June.
Themes of the ceremony were the journey of enlightenment and how this can empower people and also of how dignity and human rights are essential to our lives.
Kevin had 3,000 volunteers to choreograph. He added: “I had volunteers aged from 18 to 84 with every type of body ability and to create a dance compatible for everyone was a massive challenge. It was wonderful to take on such a beautiful concept and to make it accessible and engaging for the audience.
“Afterwards the dancers were just bouncing off the walls and in their own way they had all won their own gold medals.
“In most people’s lifetimes there are only two opening ceremonies in their country so for someone from Leamington to be involved in this event was just an amazing thing to have done.”
Kevin’s next projects are tours of China and also of the USA with Motionhouse this year.
He said: “The company (Motionhouse) is in the middle of the most unbelievable time. It’s is just one incredible thing after another.”
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Thursday 23 May 2013
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