Episode 86 - Sarah Kawahara

In a very special episode, Sarah Kawahara - Canada, USA and World Figure Skating Hall of Fame inductee and Emmy-award winning director and choreographer -  joins the Salt Lake 2002 Retrospective podcast and tells the incredible behind-the-scenes story of the Opening Ceremony ice program (recorded 9 February 2021). 

If you worked on the Games as a staff member, contractor or volunteer and want to share your story please email cnapier@gpfour.com.

Show Notes:

WARM UP
00:26 - Watercolors and piano
04:06 - Figure skating - a melange of the arts

PRELIMS
06:12 - From skater to choreographer
10:08 - A ring of fire leads to Salt Lake

QUARTERFINALS
12:10 - Sarah signs on to help Don Mischer and Kenny Ortega
13:50 - "I had never been pushed that far, ever, in my life"

SEMIFINALS
17:05 - Costume challenges
20:52 - A town to cover the ice, replaced by trains

FINALS
22:57 - Day one in Rice-Eccles
26:37 - "People's lives were uprooted"

MIXED ZONE
28:37 - The scale of the Ceremonies
32:28 - Choreographing to soundscapes and stopwatches

PODIUM
35:47 - Staging the performers / watching from the audience
41:47 - Rings of fire ("it had to be perfect!")

COOL DOWN
45:00 - Walk through the door
50:18 - Cruise challenges / wrap up