From my bedroom to the Olympics

From dancing in her bedroom to entertaining 1.5 billion, CandoCo’s Victoria Malin tells Kelly Mullan how she made such a balletic leap

In a first for the Olympics, disabled performers will star in the closing ceremonies of both the Olympic and Paralympic Games. CandoCo, a dance company of disabled and non-disabled dancers, along with dancers from the Royal Ballet and ZooNation, will personify the image London wants to project to the 1.5 billion people watching the handover of the Olympic flag in the “Bird’s Nest”, the Beijing National Stadium.

CandoCo’s artistic director, Pedro Machado, says: “It’s a fair representation of London, in the sense that the way people think here is much more inclusive than any other city.

There are still issues around access, things that need to be changed, but London has the right idea about diversity. When we got invited it felt right and the choreography is similar to what we do in terms of spirit and humour.”

Set to strut her stuff in the Nest, CandoCo’s Victoria Malin is not about to sing like a bird when gently prodded to reveal plans for the performance.

Tight-beaked, she says: “I wouldn’t want details to be leaked because then the surprise is gone. I’m very excited and my friends and family are so proud, especially my mum: she’s told the whole of Reading!

“I only started dancing three years ago. I’ve always loved movement but I didn’t think dancing professionally was an option. I have cp and I didn’t think someone with a disability could do that sort of thing. Dancing was just a personal thing, something I did in my bedroom, until I did some research and discovered CandoCo’s foundation course.

“The opportunity to study on the foundation course was amazing. I was pushed and challenged and had lots of one-on-one work with different artists. I got insight into technique and learned to move in different ways, to use my body and work with others.”

After graduating from CandoCo’s foundation course, Victoria toured with Blue Eyed Soul Dance Company. While working as a freelance dance and drama teacher, Victoria performed an aerial solo at the Liberty Festival in Trafalgar Square in September 2007.

“Aerial work is incredible. I can do things I can’t do on the ground; cartwheels, back-flips. It’s so liberating.”

Asked what disabled dancers bring to a performance, Victoria says: “When we do unison work, all the dancers doing the same movements, you can see how everyone moves uniquely, yet we can dance together as a company.”

On the black cloud of controversy threatening to dampen the Olympic flame, the dancer says: “CandoCo represents the handover of the Olympics to London in 2012. That’s why we’re there; that’s what’s important to us.”

Pedro agrees. “I feel very strongly that we’re there representing London and for that I feel good. We’re there showing what London is about, so that’s a great thing.”

• CandoCo will premiere two new pieces on 16 October at The Point, Eastleigh, and will tour across the UK and abroad from October 2008 – December 2009