Local children took part in a nationwide attempt to break a world record last weekend! Children from SW19 took part in the event, raising money for Children In Need.

Along with thousands of others across the UK, they joined together to tap dance their way into the record books!

The children learnt a specially choreographed dance in just under a month and arrived at Christ Church Hall in Colliers Wood at the weekend, eagerly ready to perform in front of family and friends. The nerves and excitement began to kick-in as they pulled on their tap shoes and with the help of their teacher, Lauren Matthews and the Guinness World Record adjudicators, counted down the minutes to the start time.

The aim of the event was for people of all ages and abilities to join together, get active, raise funds for the BBC Children In Need project and have fun whilst attempting to smash the world record for the largest number of people dancing the specially choreographed routine.

Hours of rehearsal went into the preparation with the children rehearsing weekly during their tap classes at Motion Arts Dance Academy – a new ballet and tap school based in SW19.

The Performance Project who run the event and choreographed the routine, issued dancers with a video to help them with their practicing at home.

As the countdown ticked towards the start time, the video cameras were turned on ready to capture the dancers and help the adjudicators prove the record attempt was satisfactory and of course, if it was successful. 

The dancers ended their performance to a huge applause and as they took their bows with an enormous sense of pride and enjoyment, the footage was sent to the Guinness World Records and the BBC Children In Need project to be validated.

All the children are now waiting anxiously to find out if they smashed the record! Fingers crossed!

Based on information supplied by Lauren Matthews.