REVscene Automotive Forum - So you think you can dance? VANOC may want you

Performers will lip-synch at the Vancouver 2010 opening and closing ceremonies, admits executive producer David Atkins.

But there will be no repeat of the Beijing controversy, where a little girl's voice was dubbed and her song performed by a better looking performer, he said.

"I don't know of a ceremony in the last 20 years where there hasn't been a pre-recorded and lip-synched performances," he said. "I don't think anybody . . . would want to take the risk of going to four billion people live and expect every instrument and voice to be live on that night. It would be madness.

"I can guarantee you there will be no dubbing in the ceremony."

Atkins' comments came at the Vancouver launch of a casting call for 4,500 dancers, athletes and performers to take part in the 2010 Olympic opening and closing ceremonies.

Atkins refused to give details, but said that the B.C. Place Stadium opening ceremony on Feb. 12 will not be on the lavish scale of Beijing or Athens.

"We're looking at a much more theatrical, smaller ceremony," he said. "We've gone out from the beginning to create a ceremony that is intimate and emotional and not the sort of spectacle that happened in Athens, Beijing or even in Sydney."

He said he anticipates that between 10,000 and 15,000 people from across Canada will apply to be part of the ceremonies.

Applicants must be 17 or older as of May 1 and will be expected to pay their own way to Vancouver for auditions in May and June.

If picked, they must commit to pay their travel and accommodation while taking part in 100 hours of rehearsals between November and January.

Atkins remained mum on the question of how the Olympic cauldron will be lit in the indoor arena.

"Obviously, that represents some challenges but we're well ahead on our planning for that," he said. "The cauldron has to be in the stadium. There's a custom that the cauldron has to be seen both inside and outside the stadium and obviously, in Vancouver, that's not going to be possible because it's an indoor stadium. But the IOC realizes that."

As well as performers, there's a need for marshals, audience leaders and placard bearers.

"We're looking for volunteers with lots of personality, a positive attitude, tons of energy and a willingness to perform on a stage in front of thousands of people live and billions more around the globe," said David Guscott, 2010's head of celebrations.

Anyone interested can apply online at www.vancouver2010.com/ceremonies.