Liam Klenk was born in Central Europe and has since lived on four continents. He has always been engaged in creative pursuits. Ranging from photography and graphic design, to writing short stories, books, and articles, to working as a show diver, performer trainer, and stage manager for large scale aquatic shows and stunt shows. In 2016, Liam published his first book and memoir, Paralian – Not Just Transgender, where he gives us an authentic view into his incredibly turbulent life journey, which so far has presented him with an abundance of challenges and adversity. This also included aligning his soul with his body when he understood that he was transgender.
So, what are show divers, and what are their responsibilities? People’s overall confusion is forgivable, considering that worldwide there are only a few hundred professional divers who work in theatrical shows.
By the age of sixteen, I felt a burning hunger inside of me, urging me to pack my bags and explore the world. Everyone else in my family had stayed within a fifty-mile radius throughout their lives. They felt rather terrified at the thought of venturing further, much like the old seafarers, afraid to drop off the edge of the world should they get too close to the horizon. I am not sure why I was the only one of that bunch who couldn’t stop thinking about far-away destinations.
Working in Zurich’s movie theatres as a student, I especially enjoyed working at Cinema Corso. The eight-hundred-seat movie palace was a remnant of glorious times.
