A TROUPE of tap-loving friends showed off their skills to raise funds for cancer research and support services.
After successfully staging the tap-tastic 42nd Street at the Palace Theatre in April, some members of Studley Operatic Society couldn’t bear to hang up their tap shoes and decided to join in with the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation’s Time to Tap event on Sunday, May 22.
Led by 42nd Street choreographer Cassie Rivett, the group learned a special routine for the annual event, which helps raise funds to support everyone affected by lung cancer – the biggest cancer killer in the world – from diagnosis, through treatment, living with the disease and end of life care, as well as for research.
Kelly Mitchell, a member of the tap-tastic team, said: “We are so proud to have raised more than £600 for the charity and we had so much fun doing it.
“This time last year most of us couldn’t even do a basic shuffle, so to be able to use our new-found skills to raise money for others is amazing, and a significant cause for a few of our members and friends.”
The annual tapathon event was hosted this year by television presenter and actress Naomi Wilkinson, best known for her time on Milkshake, CBBC and Countryfile.
As with the past two years, this tapathon took place virtually with everyone meeting via zoom and performing the dance together.
Overall the event raised £12,000 with participant receiving a T-shirt and a medal.
The routine was performed to Stevie Wonder’s ‘Faith’ ft. Ariana Grande from ‘Sing’ original motion picture soundtrack. A thank-you video with images from the event is available to view at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbOEs88FFpc
For anyone who fancies testing out their dancing feet to take part in next year’s event, Cassie is holding absolute beginner lessons at Woodrow Community Centre each week on a Thursday evening. For more information visit https://www.facebook.com/Just-Tap-Adult-Tap-Classes-109575795039298.
