Enthusiastic tappers at an Ascot Performing Arts School have raised hundreds of pounds for charity in a new Guinness World Record attempt.

Gemini Performing Arts School, founded by Shani Woodley took on the tapathon for a Children in Need challenge.

Alongside hundreds of other dance groups across the UK, 26 dancers from age three to 73 completed a choreographed tap routine to Queen’s ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’.

Principal of the school, Shani said: “The tapathon was so much fun. It is managed by a project called the Performance-Project who organises it for dance groups across multiple venues.

“You email them to sign up and they send you the choreography so that you can teach your students. I had all my adult tappers and then some of the kids from my children’s classes joined in.

“We made a buffet of sweet and savoury treats, I brought bubbly for the adults and we just danced and had a really good time.”

The new Ascot based arts school is housed in Charlotte Pratt Hall and offers children and adults of all ages classes in singing, dancing and acting.

The adult tap classes have been an established fixture at the venue for a number of years. In September, further performance sessions were added on evenings and weekends offering 12 kids and 5 adults classes under the Gemini umbrella.

Shani added: “My adult dancers really thrived during the challenge as they loved having something to work towards.

“They started to learn the routine in March and the kids started in September but over half term I really ramped up the pressure in rehearsals.

“I wanted to make sure the primary focus on the day was that they were having fun so I applied the pressure in lessons.”

The Gemini Arts Tapathon have so far raised £675, 225% above their £300 target for Children In Need.

“At 30 years old, this is all I’ve ever done and all I’ve ever wanted to do. I am so proud of all of my dancers for what they have done,” explained Shani.