Olympic Opening Ceremony’s Thanks Tim sequence sees Hackney pupils making an international dancing debut
After months of dedication and a gruelling rehearsal schedule, the effort put in by dancers at Hackney Community College paid off with the show of a lifetime.
Nine students from the college in Falkirk Street, Hoxton, featured in the Thanks Tim mass dance sequence, with a reprise of music from the 60s through to the present day.
The performance paid tribute to Tim Berners-Lee, the inventor of The Internet.
Precious Omonuwa, Michael Warrick-Gooding, Adilson Santos, Chloe Rooney, Leah Walker-Murrain, Gracie Marshall, Kim Allen, Kate Hill and Bria White have been involved in rehearsals since bagging a part after auditioning several months ago.
The 16-18 year olds are performing arts and circus skills students, and were accompanied by performing arts lecturer Adele Smith and administrator Ndenko Asong, as well as head of leisure, arts, sports and tourism Paul Lazarus who acted as chaperone.
Precious Omonswa, 18, sees his involvement in the ceremony as the start of something big – a springboard to an exciting future in performing arts.
Meanwhile, 16-year old Kim Allen who joined HCC because of the circus skills course, now wants to study a circus skills degree and tour the world after the incredible experience.
Most Read
- 1 Boy, 16, in custody after spate of sexual assaults in Hackney Marshes
- 2 8 charged after drugs raids in Hackney and Tower Hamlets
- 3 Cops hunt 'crucial' witness 'Sandra' who helped teen rape victim
- 4 Wanted: Suspect sought after series of sexual assaults in Hackney Marshes area
- 5 TfL worker launches petition to reinstate Finsbury Park to Edgware railway
- 6 Met defends Israeli police visit to Hackney
- 7 Pole thrown on railway tracks 'caused over 11 hours of delays'
- 8 The three strikes and protests hitting Hackney this week
- 9 Plea date set for teen charged with broad daylight stabbing
- 10 Man dies after being found on fire in Stoke Newington
Within 24 hours of going on sale, the compilation track they danced to - named Isles of Wonder - sold more than 10,000 copies.
Featuring tracks from Dizzee Rascal, Emeli Sand�, Underworld, David Bowie and the Chemical Brothers, it is now number 1 in the iTunes store album chart in the UK, France, Belgium and Spain
To top off HCC’s involvement in the extravaganza, former Olympian swimmer, Brian Brinkley who teaches at the college, proudly took the stage alongside other GB Olympians.