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MBCH-01-02-12- Leonie Shephard will be dancing in the closing ceremmony at the Olympic Games in August. Stotfold.
A PROFESSIONAL dancer is preparing to play a starring role in the closing ceremony of the London Olympics.
Leonie Shephard, who runs her own dance school, will be among the hundreds of performers who officially close the games at the Olympic Stadium on August 12.
The 26-year-old, who lives in Fairfield Park, Stotfold, attended two auditions hosted by Take That choreographer Kim Gavin.
She has seen off competition from more than 10,000 other dancers to secure a role at the ceremony.
She said: “I saw an advert inviting people to apply to take part in the closing ceremony and after a few weeks I was invited to go down to London for the first audition.
“There were about 200 people there and they played music and asked us to dance.”
The auditionees danced in groups and members of the closing ceremony team walked among them.
Leonie, of Bronte Avenue, added: “In the first audition I think they just wanted to see who had rhythm and who would potentially be a good fit for the ceremony.
“When we finished they said that if we had been successful we would hear within 48 hours, and when I got home they had already sent me an email inviting me to the next audition!”
The following audition was more formalised and demanding.
Leonie said: “At the next one we were taught a dance routine which we had to learn in 15 minutes and then perform in groups of five.”
Before long Leonie, who specialises in ballet, tap and modern dance, heard back from Kim and his team.
She added: “I know that I will be dancing during the ceremony and that I will also be playing a character but that’s all I know at the moment.
“There will be 13 rehearsals between now and the day including a dress rehearsal at the stadium itself.”
Leonie, who runs the Aspire School of Dance in Hitchin is also auditioning to be a Pointe dancer at the ceremony.
She will attend a third audition on February 22.
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