TWO teenage girls performed alongside former ballet superstar Darcey Bussell in the Closing Ceremony of the Olympic Games.

Ballet dancers Megan Hill and Dani Nieuwenhuys auditioned in February to take part in the show. They spent hours rehearsing and learning the routine from professional ballerinas.

Megan, 16, from Basingstoke, who will begin studying for A-Levels at Peter Symonds College in September, said the final dress rehearsal was “amazing”.

She added: “We were treated to performances by the Spice Girls, Russell Brand, Queen, Jessie J, Tinie Tempha and Taio Cruz to name but a few. Victoria Beckham had brought her husband and children with her to watch too. Russell Brand seemed to revel in the chance to have his picture taken with us dancers and was as down to earth, witty and flirtatious in person as he is on TV.”

Dani, 17, from Hartley Wintney, a student at Farnborough Sixth Form College, added: “The show day itself was amazing, starting with a chance encounter with Take That who smiled at us as they walked past.

Darcey Bussell managed to spare the time to see all of us ‘flame girls’ before getting ready to be strapped to her flaming phoenix high above the stadium. She signed our ballet shoes, programmes and happily posed with us for photographs. At the end of the show Megan was treated to a hug and congratulations from her.”

The two friends performed towards the end of the show as the flame was extinguished. Megan said: “The atmosphere in the stadium was amazing and it all looked so big. We were dancing on the ramps of the Union Jack stage, surrounded by all the fabulous athletes. It seemed bizarre that the athletes were filming us on their iPhones, as it felt like it should be us filming them.”

Dani added: “We will never forget the fabulous experience we have had.”