Dance Students Join National Tapathon for BBC Children In Need

STUDENTS at Wiltshire’s leading dance school, the Dancing Academy, are preparing to take part in a national tapathon to raise money for the 2017 BBC Children In Need appeal – and hopefully break a world record at the same time.

More than 20 dancers from the school which is based in Foundry Lane, Chippenham will be gathering on Sunday November 19 to start the national dance marathon from 1pm. They will join thousands more dancers nationwide who will all tap to the same music at the same time in an attempt to break a Guinness world record for the biggest tapathon ever attempted. which currently stands at 7,596 people. 

Amy van Maris, a director of the Dancing Academy, said: “We’re thrilled to be part of this world-record attempt and to raise money for a worthy cause at the same time. Students have all purchased a t-shirt and the proceeds from those sales will be donated to BBC Children In Need.”

The organisers of the Tapathon 2017, The Performers Project, with the support of BBC Children in Need, have choreographed the tap dance routine to one of the UK's biggest selling singles, 'Faith' by Stevie Wonder, featuring Ariana Grande and they hope to break the world record with over 10,000 tappers of all ages dancing the routine. 

The Dancing Academy, run by MD Samantha Reed, works with more than 300 dancers of all ages every week who take part in a range of classes from street and modern dance to ballet, singing and musical theatre. 

Samantha said: “It’s fantastic to be asked to take part in this national world-record attempt. A text service will be used to coordinate the timing and the students have been practising their techniques ready for the big day.”

The Dancing Academy offers classes in classical ballet, baby ballet, adult ballet, tap, street and modern dance as well as musical theatre, singing, drama and Pilates. Alongside Samantha are four other ex-professional dancers, now teachers. For further information visit http://www.dancingacademy.co.uk