Dancers of all ages put their toe-tapping skills to the test for a charity tapathon.
Children from three years old joined teenage and adult tap dancers in the annual Roy Castle tapathon to raise funds for the charitable foundation formed in memory of the Scholes-born entertainer.
Hundreds of dancers from 15 tap dance clubs from Huddersfield, Calderdale and Bradford took part in the day-long tapathon on Sunday.
And they’re hoping to raise more than £14,000 for the Roy Castle Lung Foundation.
Janet Austin, one of the organisers, said: “I think everyone involved gets the feel good factor from taking part.
“We put our hearts and minds into dancing and doing something we love and doing what we can for charity.
“There’s been a lot of dedicated people involved over the years, I only got involved four years ago but it’s so important to keep it going.
“Tap dancing is a great way of exercising, socialising and we see people remain dancing for life.”
The tapathon is in its 19th year and has raised £229,000 in total for the Foundation.
Janet added: “Next year is a big year for us, it’s our 20th year and we really hope to raise £250,000 by then.
“We hope to get as many tap dancers involved and really make it a year to remember.”
The tap dancers themselves were enjoying taking part, putting on a show in front of family and friends.
Maisie Williamson, aged 10, of Fixby, said: “I love dancing and we’ve been told about the charity and I think it’s a really good thing to do. It’s nice seeing all the other dancers and costumes as well.”
Maisie has raised £240 in sponsorship so far from family and friends.
Roy Castle – a dancer, singer, musician and comedian – died from lung cancer in 1994 aged 62.
The Tapathon was founded in 1997 by Roy’s friends, including Derek and Vera Hamer, of Brighouse, who had danced alongside him in the 1940s and 1950s
Tap dancing groups taking part at Sunday’s event were: the Gainsborough Stage School; Dance 4 All in Halifax; Baby Ballet in Halifax; the Dance Mill in Halifax; Janet Austin Tappers in Huddersfield and Brighouse; Karen Binns Stage School in Elland; the Strickland-Cook Theatre School and Pam’s Tappers in Huddersfield; North Bridge Leisure Centre Tappers; Barbara Peters School of Dance in Halifax; Donna Claire School of Dance in Huddersfield; Whiteley’s Academy in Halifax; Dance Arena Ballet and Stage School in Halifax; Lisa-Jane’s Dancers in Ripponden and the Brighouse Central Tappers.
