2012 standard pg 3

1. evening standard Monday 30 July 2012
This Is For Everyone
Stage romance : Jasmine Breinburg
and Henrique Costa at the ceremony
Young lovers
of 2012 are just
good friends
The kiss
THE teenage dancer whose kiss
during the opening ceremony turned
her into an overnight sensation told
the Standard today she was “just good
friends” with her co-star.
Jasmine Breinburg shared a clinch
with Henrique Costa, 20, in front of
billions of viewers during a segment
on nursing
that paid tribute to British pop music
and the inventor of the world wide
web, Tim Berners-Lee.
Jasmine, 18, who works in a clothes
shop in Stratford Westfield and a
burger stall on the South Bank, said:
“The kiss wasn’t really awkward. We
were in character and my character
was in love with his, so it didn’t feel
strange. But it’s not about what part
you play. The event wouldn’t have
been anything without the masses of
other performers.”
dancers and not-so-good dancers, and show was about what it means to be powerful. At the end, we all got a text one of my heroes so the highlight was Mr Costa’s real girlfriend was only a
people of all ages. We all helped each British in the modern world.” saying it wouldn’t have been possible to seeing him in the stadium. We were few feet away during the kiss. Jasmine
other to learn the steps and the timings, do without us and thanking us for mak- behind these gates but managed to give said: “My friends were like, how did
and cheered each other up when we Tiago Bravo, 32, a healthcare assistant ing a country and city proud. My family him a big wave. I’m hoping he’s going you do it? When I was told what I had
were tired after a 10-hour rehearsal. in UCLH emergency department, who in Portugal said ‘We can’t believe you to win lots of medals.” to do, I was all silly about it, like a
“There were so many different peo- lives in central London: were part of this. We’re so proud’.” Alex’s father John, 47, a Home Office teenager, thinking, how am I going to
ple; I was dancing next to a woman “What made it special was this was a civil servant, said: “There were nine do it? I had a boyfriend [during
called Margaret in her seventies and an celebration of sport and all walks of life. Alex Plank, 11, heart patient treated at children who went straight from GOSH rehearsals] and so I didn’t know.”
Australian guy who was 24. The youngest person I met was just six. Great Ormond Street hospital, from to the ceremony and back again. Jasmine, pictured below, grew up in
“We were all having the times of our The oldest was 78 and she wanted to Beckenham: “To see GOSH recognised was quite Brixton before moving to Deptford.
lives. When we came out of the stadium participate in the Olympics because she “It was a very big secret taking part and moving. The work the hospital does is She was in the Olympic park last night
afterwards there were people cheering came from Stratford and had seen the I couldn’t tell anyone. It was difficult not so important — and it’s important they to watch the hockey with her father.
and waving and wanting to take our stadium being built. I was in the ‘G’ telling my friends. The dress rehearsal get the credit for it. Alex has been at The kiss was the climax of a storyline
pictures; I felt like a celebrity! spelling out ‘GOSH’ for Great Ormond on Wednesday lasted from 4pm to mid- GOSH since he was a baby — he had in which June ( Jasmine) and Frankie
“I think it was absolutely brilliant that Street. I’ve never danced in my life but night. Our job was to wave at everyone open-heart surgery at five months.” (Henrique) travel through a series of
Danny Boyle had the NHS involved. I they wanted real people working in the watching. My mum told me who Danny musical eras as they fall in love thanks
don’t see it as political — the NHS is one NHS. They said: ‘The world is watching Boyle was — he was a kind man and ■ Additional reporting: Michael to a lost mobile phone. Henrique,
of the things that makes us British and you. Just smile.’ I told myself not to cry asked me what football team I sup- Howie, Benedict Moore-Bridger, from Newham, is a dancer.
makes me very proud. I think the whole but it was very emotional. It was so ported which is Chelsea. Usain Bolt is Maxine Frith, Peter Dominiczak Josh Loeb
practically perfect after months of training
what I see. I can’t get rid of it. It will but they asked me how I felt about Magic moment:
be with me for a long time. It’s that heights. I said I was fine and then gliding down
dream of flying. It was so special.” they said, ‘How do you feel about on wires above
The 32 actresses, who trained for 40 metres?’ I didn’t realise how high the opening
more than nine months for the vital that was until we got to the stadium ceremony crowd
role, were on wires attached to and we started at 20 metres [65 feet in Stratford,
rigging capable of supporting 25 tons 7in]. We all started looking at each left, 32 artists,
for the 20-second descent. They all other, going, ‘Oh my God!’” enchanted as
carried umbrellas which lit up. Ms Walker said the hardest aspect Mary Poppins.
Annette Walker, another Poppins, was keeping quiet about her role. “I Far left, two
said it was a childhood dream to fly did drop a hint to my mum that she’d of the flying
like the magical nanny. The dancer, be better off looking up in the air for nannies
35, from Catford said: “Mary Poppins me rather than down on the ground.
was my favourite film when I was a kid Other than that I didn’t tell anyone.
and I always wanted to fly like her, but “I was a bit nervous about the
I never thought I’d get to do it. brollies, in some rehearsals they
“I’m a professional tap dancer but I didn’t open properly, but we knew
can also do aerial work. When I went everything would work on the night.”
to audition I thought I’d be dancing Peter Dominiczak