Tsawwassen's Aaron Ottho part of group under the dome for 2010

Aaron Ottho can keep a secret. But that doesn’t mean the 28-year-old Tsawwassen resident can’t drop a few vague hints about what he and a large group of other performers will be up to Feb. 28 under the dome at BC Place.

“It's safe to assume there will be some Canadian content,” Ottho says when asked if he could describe the character of the closing ceremonies of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

Ottho says the crowds viewing the Vancouver closing will not be disappointed, especially with the long hours of rehearsal being put into the event to make the event a grand spectacle that is estimated to be viewed on TV by hundreds of millions of people around the world.

Ottho got the gig after auditioning last November.

“The call went out that there were not enough guys in the group,” he says. “So I turned up to the audition and it was like American Idol.”

The group of about 300, all wearing large numbers on their front and back, met the closing show’s producers and choreographers who had them view video of closing shows from other Olympic events. Then they were put through a number of dance moves, all to the sound track of a Michael Jackson tune.

“We were told that these were not the actual dance moves and not the music that would be used,” he said.

Lined up in rows they went through the moves before the officials.

The effort was to judge ability and 15 out of the group were chosen immediately.

While that left Ottho waiting for a call he was confident his background in theatre in high school (South Delta Secondary) and in Vancouver would serve him well.

A week later he was picked and since then has taken part in ongoing rehearsals that will make a switch from a large tent near the Plaza of Nations on the old Expo 86 site to BC place Stadium following the opening ceremonies on Feb. 12.

“I can’t wait for that,” he says, adding one of the perks of the event is getting four tickets to the dress rehearsal.

“I know three will be going to my family,” he says, adding it remains to be decided which of his friends gets that last pass to see some Canadiana.

Some of the other perks for being part of the performance include getting to keep some parts of the costumes Ottho and the rest of the dancers will wear during the show.

“That will definitely be a one of a kind souvenir,” he said.