Changing perspective of Deaf and disabled people in sport and art: London 2012 – Choreographer Mark Smith reflects on his experience of the powerful legacy of a Paralympic Opening Ceremony

Back in 2012, I received an email from Jenny Sealey and Bradley Hemmings asking to have a meeting at the Three Mills Studio regarding a secret project. Whilst at the meeting they asked me if I would be interested to be one of the choreographers for the London 2012 Paralympic Opening Ceremony. I was utterly thrilled and over the moon. This was an amazing opportunity which of course I wanted to be a part of. They wanted me to incorporate my style of dance incorporating sign-movement to a song “I am what I am” which would be performed live by Beverley Knight and Lizzie Emeh, and would be signed by Caroline Parker. My choreography would be performed by 1000 performers at the Olympic Stadium. It was safe to say I knew this would be amazing opportunity to showcase my unique style of sign-language incorporated into movement to the world and would open doors for the future. 

We started by using workshops in which we had a diverse cast of disabled and non-disabled performers in which we explored how sign-movement would work with their physicality and movement, so everyone could work equally together. 

I then started to teach the choreography to approximately 1,000 volunteer cast members involving a process spread over different groups and weeks of preparing. Then after the group stages of learning the choreography eventually all the groups came together as one and it was so exciting to see the performance come together. For me this moment was so magical and overwhelming as I saw all these people perform my choreography for the first time. 

Once we started to rehearse at the stadium, the performance truly came to life with the mass movement groups. A team of dance captains had done amazing work to take up my vision of the finale and co-ordinate the large cast of volunteers into a rendering of the Paralympic logo spread out across the field of play. The execution was stunning and beautifully integrated the sign movement which had first devised in the workshops months before. 

I was so fortunate to not only choreograph this amazing performance, I was also able to perform on stage with the professional dancers which was such an honour and truly amazing experience. With our kilts and Dr Marten boots the costume design by Moritz Jung created a British punk inspired look. It was striking design which brought the protocol stage to life as Beverley Knight and Lizzie Emeh with Caroline Parker appeared alongside the dancers. 

After working on the whole project for 6 months, the day of the performance was just unbelievable The fantastic atmosphere and joy from the audience. We knew that we were creating and performing a show that was so groundbreaking and new. There was a lot of theatre and storytelling in the show. There was drama, a story, acrobatic and aerial performance. Amazing Deaf and disabled performers along with one of my own deaf dancers from my company Deaf Men Dancing.

What made the opening ceremony of the Paralympics London 2012 so special was that is changed people's perspective of Deaf and disabled people especially in sport and art. It made people see us differently in a more inclusive and positive way. I think we gained so much respect as a result. I remember a moment when I was walking into the stadium when there was a group of Paralympians and a little boy shouted out Superhuman! He was so happy and excited about it. For me, this was a beautiful moment as it showed that although we may look or be different, they just see a person that is doing something amazing and making their country proud. That made me very proud of who I am as a Deaf artist and proud to be a part of this special event. 

During this project, I learned so much and it made me grow as an artist. When I have spoken to people about the ceremony, they always remember it and said how amazing the show was – a historic moment for Great Britain and a very proud moment. I am honoured to have been part of it and also believe that it gave inspiration to a new generation to pursue their dreams. This is why it was so important to many people in the Deaf and disabled community. 

I have wonderful memories from the London 2012 Paralympics and will always have a fantastic recollections and a place in my heart for this unique global occasion. 

Since London 2012, I have worked on many shows in many theatres all over the UK, for which I am incredibly grateful. I’ve choreographed many successful shows and plays like ‘The Color Purple’, ‘Hedwig And The Angry Inch’, The Who’s ‘Tommy’ and  ‘The Last Five Years’. Recently I choreographed a new British West-End musical ‘The Little Big Things’ at Sohoplace in London which was nominated for Best Musical and I was also nominated Best Theatre Choreographer for an Olivier Award 2024, about which I was thrilled as I was in the company of many amazing well-established choreographers. It was an honour. I felt welcomed, embraced and recognised in the West End as a choreographer. I am currently working on ‘Antony and Cleopatra’ at The Globe Theatre which is fully embracing sign- language and demonstrating that Deaf and disabled performers are being welcomed into the mainstream. The London Paralympics fed my imagination and creativity as a choreographer.

I am currently working as a choreographer & creative director for a project called Synergy. This is a new performance created for a company of Deaf, Disabled and Neurodivergent artists with support from the UK aid funded AT2030 programme, led by the Global Disability Innovation Hub, The Arts Council, Blueprint and Sibikwa Arts Center (South Africa). Synergy will be presented at the Greenwich Dockland International Festival this September. It has been a great experience to work alongside such talented performers such as Musa Motha (who will be performing at Paris Paralympic Opening Ceremony), collaborating to create this magnificent piece. I am proud to be an artistic director and founder of my own dance company Deaf Men Dancing and DMD+ which have a successful following and have had many opportunities to present inspiring new work. 

Like many Deaf and disabled performers I’ve had to adapt and rise up to many challenges but I believe people can learn a lot from the challenges we have to face in our everyday lives and how these challenges help make our work so distinctive. We are making the popular culture more interesting and surprising. Inclusion can help make a difference and change our lives whilst inspiring and encouraging others. 

Being a part of the London 2012 Paralympics helped me gain knowledge and confidence in myself as a person and an artist. I hope it inspired many others to build their career and change their lives as it certainly changed mine and helped my development as a choreographer as an artist who will always be willing to learn adapt, inspire and bring joy to others.