Performing in the Olympics
Amy Gregson – Times Reporter
While most of us watched the closing ceremonies on television, a former Strathmore resident got to experience it first hand as a performer in the show.
Kristy Klaiber, who is now living in Vancouver, got the experience of a lifetime by getting to perform in the closing ceremonies.
“I feel so lucky to have been a part of this moment in history,” said Klaiber. “I’m so sad to see the Olympics leave. The streets are quiet again and everything is going back to normal, but I have so many memories that I will be talking about for the rest of my life and will never forget.”
Klaiber filled out an application online in February of 2009 to perform in the closing ceremonies after her dance teacher had told her they were accepting applications.
She was invited to audition in May, where applicants were asked to do floor work such as splits, jumps and pirouettes, along with combinations, a kick line and improvisation in different styles.
“It was very interesting,” said Klaiber. “Very different from any audition I’ve ever been too.”
Klaiber found out on Oct. 31 that she would be a part of the show. She said at this time the performers were given minimal information, only when they would be rehearsing and that the production team was excited it was all coming together.
They weren’t required to sign any confidentially agreement, but did take an oath promising they wouldn’t reveal any secrets.
“They didn’t really let us know much until the very last minute though,” said Klaiber. “We still weren’t allowed to talk about what style we were doing or who was choreographing.”
Klaiber said as the day approached it was harder to not talk about her part in the show. However, the organizer didn’t tell performers about what else was going in the ceremonies or who was performing.
She said it wasn’t until the first dress rehearsal in the stadium when they realized what would be happening.
“When I had people ask me to give them a hint of what was going on, it was more fun to say ‘I can’t tell you’ because it wasn’t just some small secret, it was a secret we were keeping from the world,” she said.
Klaiber was involved in two parts of the show. The first was a preview on Sochi, where the Winter Olympics will be held in 2014.
Klaiber was in the aisles holding a big balloon that was full of confetti, and they had to pop it when cued.“It wasn’t anything complicated, but I’m so glad that I got the opportunity to be a part of it because we got to see the Russian ballet dances and the Russian choir practice,” she said.
The other segment Klaiber performed in was at the end in the hip-hop dance.
There was one rehearsal in November to learn the routine and another one Jan. 2 Klaiber had to miss because she was home in Strathmore for Christmas.
She said they started having consistent rehearsals starting Feb. 15.
They also had a pre-dress rehearsal, which was the first opportunity for performers to see and hear what was going on.
She said the dress rehearsal was a ‘surreal experience’ because everyone was in full costume and everything and everyone was brought together.
“Our jaws were literally dropping open as we listened to each announcement of all these performers and bands that we didn’t even know were performing – Nickelback, Avril Lavigne, Alanis Morissette, the list just kept going,” said Klaiber.
Klaiber started off the day of the closing ceremonies by watching Canada winning the gold medal in the mens hockey game with other performers while getting ready, and that it just got them all pumped for the show.
She said her favorite part of the night was when the airlock door opened and she could look into the stadium for the first time that night.
“I’ll never forget what it was like looking up the ramp and seeing the flame, the flashing lights. It was unreal,” said Klaiber. “Everything about being there felt like being in a movie, from Canada winning, to dancing in the closing ceremonies, to the big after-party in the streets. The city was going crazy and I’m so lucky to have been a part of it.”
Klaiber also got the chance to be close to the outside cauldron when Wayne Gretzky ran by with the torch.
She did all her work without getting paid, but performers did receive lots of free swag, got to keep their costumes, receive the audience kits from the closing ceremonies, a Sochi snow globe and a commemorative Olympic performer coin.
“The experience was priceless though,” said Klaiber. “I’d volunteer to do it all over again.”