Vancouver, BC
Today, the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) announced the Creative Team that will join Patrick Roberge, to produce the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the 2010 Paralympic Games.
The Creative Team brings together fifteen highly successful Canadians with expertise in costumes, lighting, music and stage direction to celebrate the Paralympic movement with mermorable and awe-inspiring ceremonies.
“We are thrilled to have such incredible talent as part of the Creative Team,” said PRP President and Creative Director, Patrick Roberge. “After an extensive cross-country search, this team represents the best talent to stage a truly Canadian Celebration for the Paralympic Games.”
Under Roberge’s direction, the creative team will deliver on the creative vision for the ceremonies, create mass choreography for the 5,000 volunteer performers, including performers with a disability, design lighting and audio systems, select composers and musical arrangements, as well as design sets, costumes and props.
“The team is already hard at work on creating all the elements we need to put on exciting and memorable shows — one indoor, one outdoor — in two different locales over 100 kilometres apart in less than seven months time!” said Roberge. “Our first big challenge will be to find the hundreds of volunteers we need to perform in the ceremonies before live audiences and TV viewers around the world. We’ll be launching this search in a manner of weeks so stay tuned for more details.”
The ceremonies’ creative team members announced today are:
| Jocelyn Peden: | Associate Director and Head Choreographer |
| Paul Airey: | Music Director |
| Nik von Schulmann: | Production Director |
| Robert Sondergaard: | Director of Design |
| Shaw Saltzberg: | Headline Director |
| Luca (Lazylegz) Patuelli: | Segment Director |
| Sean Nieuwenhuis: | Visuals Director |
| Daniel Planko: | Art Director |
| Sheila White: | Costume Designer |
| Roger Parent: | Interactive Visual Designer |
| Louis-Pierre Morin: | Interactive Visual Designer |
| Mark Patterson: | Stage Designer |
| Tim Lewis: | Host Broadcast Liaison |
| Heather Connell: | Associate Producer |
| Anna Bond: | Associate Producer |
| Abilities Arts Festival: | Disability Arts Talent Consultan |
Jocelyn Peden
Associate Director & Head Choreographer
An accomplished dancer, renowned choreographer and seasoned director of award-winning productions, Jocelyn’s distinguished career spans more then 22 years. She has choreographed and directed the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers and Vancouver Grizzlies dance teams and multiple half-time spectacles for the CFL’s BC Lions. Jocelyn has choreographed numerous music videos and performed with famed artists such as Janet Jackson, Paula Abdul, Paul McCartney, Bette Midler, Vanessa Williams and Whitney Houston. Joceyln’s dance and choreography transcended to the silver screen with ”Dudley Do Right” and “The 6th Day” with Arnold Schwarzenegger. Jocelyn has worked with sports apparel giants Reebok and Puma and has choreographed programs for international figure skaters including former Canadian Olympian, Emmanuel Sandhu. Jocelyn has staged multiple live sport productions for VANOC that include Celebrate Canada, Imagine 2010, Countdown 2010 and the 2010 Olympic Mascot Launch.
Paul Airey
Music Director
A respected contributor to the International music industry with many albums and Top 40 singles, Paul Airey has composed and produced music for radio, television, film and special events for more than 20 years. Co-owner and operator of Avenue Music Productions Inc. and Sound Kitchen Studios in Vancouver, Paul’s special event themes, television themes, feature film scores and jingles have been heard worldwide through international clients like Columbia Pictures Television, Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros., MGM, Omni Films International, ESPN/Fox, NHL and CFL. Paul has worked with artists Michael Buble, Eckhart Tolle and Harrison Ford. Paul was the composer and music supervisor for VANOC’s Come Play with Us, as well as Celebrate Canada, Decision 2010, Imagine 2010, Countdown 2010 and the 2010 Official Mascot Launch.
Nik von Schulmann
Production Director
For more than 20 years, Nik von Schulmann’s extensive experience and understanding of production, design and staging have been utilized in many complex, large-scale international productions. His Broadway tours include Phantom of the Opera, Ragtime, Showboat, Riverdance, Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Sunset Boulevard. During his tenure with the Vancouver Opera as Director of Production, Nik managed multiple productions, which included Carmen, Aida and La Boheme. In 2007, Nik served as Director of Production for the Canada Winter Games Opening and Closing Ceremonies in Whitehorse. Nik previously worked with VANOC for the Canadian Component of the 2006 Torino Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony; Technical Director for Celebrate Canada and Decision 2010; and Production Director for Imagine 2010 Emblem Launch, Countdown 2010 and the 2010 Olympic Mascot Launch.
Robert Sondergaard
Director of Design
One of Canada’s premiere lighting designers, Robert’s exciting visual presentations have been featured in countless productions for more than 15 years. Founder of Electric Aura Lighting Design, Robert’s high profile lighting design credits include Dark Matters for Kidd Pivot; Opening Ceremonies for the BC Canada Pavilion in Beijing, China; Opening & Closing Ceremonies at the 2007 Canada Winter Games; Anne Murray: Friends & Legends - CBC Special; Rankin Family Canadian Tour; 21st Annual Gemini Awards; Opening & Closing Ceremonies for United Nations World Urban Forum; 2005 Grey Cup Half-Time Show; and the 2003 World Weightlifting Championships. A member of the Associated Designers of Canada, Robert was the Lighting Designer for VANOC’s Celebrate Canada, Imagine 2010, Countdown 2010 and the 2010 Official Olympic Mascot Launch.
Shaw Saltzberg
Headline Director
A 25-year veteran of the agency business, Shaw Saltzberg has been an integral part of S.L. Feldman & Associates (SLFA) from its beginnings in the 1980s to its position today as Canada’s largest and most successful talent agency. Shaw has travelled Canada and the world representing his roster – which includes Bryan Adams, Sarah McLachlan, Michael Buble, Barenaked Ladies, Diana Krall, and Norah Jones. As Senior Vice-President for SLFA, Shaw has also provided cultural programming for events and festivals including the Calgary Winter Olympics, Beijing Summer Olympics, International Commonwealth Games, BC 150th Birthday Celebrations and civic events in communities across Canada.
Luca (Lazylegz) Patuelli
Segment Director
Luca “Lazylegz” Patuelli has captivated audiences with his unique breakdancing for more than 10 years. Born with Arthrogryposis and diagnosed with Scoliosis as a child, Luca incorporates strength with crutches to excel at premiere International dance competitions. His collaboration with Canadian break-dance crews Illmatic Styles and Red Mask to form ILLMASK garnered top prizes at major North American competitions including Top Honour as the Absolute Canadian BBoy Crew. Luca founded ILL-Abilities, an International BBoy crew comprised solely of disabled dancers; directed Montreal’s entry in Chicago’s City vs. City competition; produced the 2006 Montreal Pro-Am break-dancing event; and managed multiple competitions throughout Montreall. Luca has performed with Kanye West, Talib Kweli, and K-OS; has appeared in Kickin’ It Old Skool, America’s Got Talent, and NBC’s Today Show; and teaches dance to people with disabilities.
Sean Nieuwenhuis
Visuals Director
For more than 20 years, Sean Nieuwenhuis, has supplied video design, multimedia, show control and visual presentation services to the event and corporate presentation industries. A graduate of BCIT’s Television Production program and Owner of Sensory Overload Productions, Sean has focused on utilizing display technologies and systems to create unique visual presentation experiences. Sean’s work has been part of events for numerous major Canadian and multinational corporations, festivals, charitable organizations and both the Vancouver 2010 and NYC 2012 Olympic Bids. In the theatre world, Sean's projection design work has contributed to productions for theatre companies such as The Stratford Shakespeare Festival, Vancouver Opera and Theatre Calgary. Sean previously worked with VANOC on Countdown 2010 and the 2010 Olympic Mascot Launch.
Daniel Planko
Art Director
An artist, designer and creator, Daniel Planko specializes in the concept, design and implementation of art, exhibit and event installations. Characterized as a marriage of the handmade and the industrially-produced that balances the serious and the whimsical, Daniel’s work seeks to reinvent the everyday. A design consultant and production contractor, Daniel was responsible for Art Installations at New York’s Gering-Lopez Gallery and the Art Cars Program for Vancouver’s Pacific National Exhibition annual Fair. Daniel has worked with iconic photographer Annie Leibowitz and actor Alan Cumming.
Sheila White
Costume Designer
Jessie-award winner and board member of The Associated Designers of Canada, Sheila White has graced the theatre, film and television industry with her costume designs for nearly 25 years. A graduate of ECCAD, UBC and Cordwainers College, Sheila began her distinguished career with John Lobb Shoemakers – holders of a Royal Warrant for shoe and boot making. Sheila boasts stints at Jill Sander, English Theatre of Hamburg and The Stella Opera Company. Sheila has designed over 100 theatrical productions in Vancouver most recently for Vancouver Playhouse’s "The Miracle Worker", and "Top Girls" and Arts Club’s "Black Comedy" and "The Altar Boyz.” Sheila’s work has been featured in multiple feature films and television productions that include 'Intelligence", "DaVinci's City Hall", "Everything's Gone Green", "King Of Fighters" and "The Score".
Roger Parent
Interactive Visual Designer
Having collaborated on more than 5,000 international productions, Roger Parent’s cutting edge designs have dominated the entertainment and architectural design industries for more than 35 years. As President of Montreal-based Realisations.net, Roger produces designs of meaningful entertainment and interactive moving architecture for public spaces, exhibits, expositions and museums. Roger was instrumental to the creative development and international recognition of Montreal’s famed Cirque du Soleil. He secured popular and successful runs of the critically acclaimed Nouvelle Expérience and Mystère in Las Vegas and Fascination and Saltimbanco in Japan. As Vice-President of Production, Roger oversaw the USA tours of Alegrìa and Saltimbanco. Roger’s designs were featured with Catalan Artist Antoni Miralda at Expo 2000 in Germany and with Francois Confino at spectacular exhibitions across Europe, Australia and Japan.
Louis-Pierre Morin
Interactive Visual Designer
Louis-Pierre Morin’s expertise in video projection, show control programming, sound mixing and video editing spans many years and has been prominent in countless TV shows and galas. Based out of Montreal, Louis-Pierre provided content and programming for international productions Cavalia, Dracula: Entre l’amour et la mort, Era: Intersection of Time and the Canada House and Closing Ceremonies at the 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Torino, Italy. Louis-Pierre collaborated on the content and programming of venues in Las Vegas such as Tabù, Teatro/Rouge, Diego, Shibuya, Centrifuge, JPOP, Aurora, Liquidity and Eyecandy.
Mark Patterson
Stage Designer
Gemini-award nominated and a leading creative production designer, Mark Patterson has produced numerous Sports and News production designs for CTV, Sportsnet Pacific, CBC, City TV, A Channel and Channel M. Owner of Vancouver-based Eclipse Productions, Mark’s television production designs include the 2006 Gemini Awards, Lambchop’s Play Along with Shari Lewis, and Country Recording Artist Terri Clark’s Coming Home special. Mark’s countless international events include the 2006 World Figure Skating Championships Opening & Closing Ceremonies, 2006 World Urban Forum Opening & Closing Ceremonies, 2001 MasterCard Senior PGA tournament and the annual Canadian Association of Broadcasters Awards.
Tim Lewis
Host Broadcast Liason
A multi-talented director and producer, Tim Lewis boasts more than 30 years of professional television and event production experience. Tim’s directorial credits include Clinton Foundation Sustainable Growth Initiative, Variety Club Telethon (2007-2009), Diana Krall & Friends and Global National Election Coverage. As Technical Producer, Tim’s credits include Miracle Network Telethon, HRH Queen Elizabeth Royal Visit, Global National’s Coverage of the IOC decision for 2010 Olympics Host City, and multiple National Conventions for the Canadian Association of Broadcasters. Tim was the Audio Designer for the Wedding of Bill Gates, and was the Director of Sound & Communications for the 1999 Pan Am Games and the 1994 Commonwealth Games. Tim previously worked with VANOC as the Television Director for Countdown 2010.
Heather Connell
Associate Producer
An accomplished event management professional, Heather Connell comes to the Paralympic Ceremonies Creative team with extensive experience in the sport production, theatre and special event industries. A graduate of the University of Manitoba’s Recreation Management program with a minor in Theatre, Heather began her career as a stage manager for the 2003 Western Canada Summer Games. From here she developed her project planning skills with Sport Manitoba as part of the Manitoba Games program. In 2005, Heather oversaw the Ceremonies, Medal presentations and Protocol portfolio for the Canada Summer Games. For the 2007 Canada Winter Games, Heather successfully managed the National Artists Program, Opening & Closing Ceremonies, protocol portfolio, Cultural Festival file and Medal presentations. Heather also previously worked with VANOC as the Project Manager for the 2010 Olympic Mascot Launch and Countdown 2010.
Associate Producer
With over 10 years of professional experience in Strategic Management and Corporate Development, Anna Bond excels at combining the artistic vision with the business realities. Versatile in both a creative and production capacity, Anna has managed and coordinated talent, performers and VIPs for a wide variety of large-scale, high profile events. As Associate Producer for the BC Canada Pavilion in Beijing and BC Canada Place in Torino, Anna was an integral part of the business and development team during those Olympic Games. Anna provided Business and Project management for the 2007 Canada Winter Games Opening & Closing Ceremonies and Her Majesty’s Royal Visit to Vancouver in 2003. Anna previously worked with VANOC on Celebrate Canada, Decision 2010, Imagine 2010, Countdown 2010 and the 2010 Olympic Mascot Launch.
Abilities Arts Festival
Disability Arts Talent Consultant
Abilities Arts Festival is a disability arts organization that promotes diversity, inclusiveness and the power of art as a means of enriching the cultural fabric of our communities. Since 2003, Abilities Arts Festival has been adding a new dimension to Toronto’s diverse arts scene. Through multidisciplinary, visual, film and performing arts festivals and events, Abilities Arts Festival showcases artistic excellence by artists with disabilities. Dynamic and powerful artistic presentations are used to entertain, engage, enlighten, provoke, provide opportunities, and positively impact attitudes. All events use art as a transforming medium to provide opportunities, change views and provide exciting artistic experiences. The festival promotes an inclusive and vibrant arts and culture sector: one that is shaped by the full breadth of creative expressions.
The Opening Ceremony for the X Paralympic Winter Games will take place March 12, 2010 at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver BC. The Closing Ceremony will be on March 21, 2010 at the Whistler Medals Plaza in Whistler BC.
More Information
Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC)
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