The Olympic Torch Relay
London April 6th 2008



Following an invitation from Nicky Miles of Star Dance, the following dancers were invited to do a demonstration rhumba at The Royal Festival Hall in London as part of the celebrations to welcome the Olympic Flame to London:

Casey Redman & Alex Mayron
Katherine Gianinni & David Brown
Stevie Jones & John Gianinni
Abbi Irvin & Ross Bushell
Lynne Mockridge & Luke Williams
Yasmin Priestnall & Emund Ault

Instructions were that they had to dress in colours of the flame but other than that the youngsters really didn’t quite know what to expect.

The weather forecast was simply dire with snow and sleet forecast for the 6th. There was a rumour that the display was going to be outside but nothing else was known about the format of the day.

Arrangements were made to meet Mark Willemite outside the Festival Hall at 10am and by the time we were all together it was very cold and snowing although in London the snow wasn’t lying. We were given coloured wristbands and shown into The Southbank Centre next to the Festival Hall and the dancers were allocated a changing room.

Rehearsals were to take place in The Queen Elizabeth Hall from 11am. By this time Mark had been told that the event was almost certainly going to take place inside due to the weather but a decision would be made as near as possible to the 1.30 start time.

During the rehearsals it became clear that the rhumba was a key part of the display. They were the only dancers who were actually dancing to the 600 strong choir singing ‘Forever Friends’ the official Olympic theme. They were also to be onstage right next to the handover of the Olympic flame giving all of them a wonderful view.

Various parents had gone outside during the morning and were returning with terrible weather reports but slowly but surely the weather improved during the morning and at 12.45 the decision was made that the dancing would be outside. Although alternative plans had been made Mark was pleased to hear that without exception all the youngsters were fully prepared to wear their latin outfits despite the chance of the weather changing at any time.

At 1.15 all of the families and friends who were there went outside to find somewhere to stand. We were all amazed on walking round to the Embankment side of The Festival Hall to see the size of the spectacular. A stage had been constructed on the second floor balcony and the area to each side was seating areas for the choir. The front of the Hall was decorated with ‘flame’ banners and TV cameras were in abundance. The whole area was full of spectators as were both bridges either side of the Hall.


At this point the sun actually came out which made everything seem better. We had all been receiving texts during the morning so knew that there had been violent reactions and protests during the relay of the torch from Wembley Stadium but apart from the odd group standing quietly with placards there were no signs that there would be any trouble where we were.

The concert started at 1.30 and we all had an excellent view from the Embankment. I must admit though that it did look very high up to the stage which was on a level with the glass barrier surrounding the balcony. There was no barrier on the front of the stage simply a gap of about half a metre between that and the glass barrier.

Following a couple of modern dance troupes we cheered loudly when we could see our youngsters coming onto the stage from the rear. They were warmly cheered and although they all did their own rhumbas, Mark had worked out a start for them which went without a hitch. I am sure they were all nervous but they certainly didn’t show it and all danced beautifully. They were popular and from the comments around where we were standing everyone thought the dancing and the singing of the theme tune to the orchestra were spectacular.



At the end of the concert all of the dancers came on stage and again ours had centre stage and were all dancing away and having a wonderful time with all the other dancers to a group of African drummers while awaiting the arrival of the torch.

I have to say that I found that part a shade disappointing. Vanessa Mae came onto the stage but the torch was actually out and although there were no police she was of course surrounded by the Chinese security staff that we all saw was in light blue tracksuits. One of them came forward and lit the torch to the cheers of the spectators and then they all left the stage straight away. We thought that Vanessa Mae should have perhaps come, at the very least, to the front of the stage but at this point we were unaware that the protests had become violent elsewhere so that is probably why she did not.

At no point whatsoever were there any demonstrations or trouble of any kind where we were. We would like to think that it was because this event was geared towards children but will never know. We understand that News 24 had constant coverage all day and that the concert at The Festival Hall wasn’t shown at all.

When I looked at the papers the following day and heard all the news coverage you wouldn’t have even thought that anything else had happened apart from the violence which I think is such a shame but I suppose that doesn’t sell newspapers does it?

What a wonderful experience for all these youngsters! This was something that they are unlikely ever to repeat and in years to come can tell their partners and children – ‘I was there’.


Hilary Casey