NON-STOP dancing will be the focus of a Basingstoke group which is aiming to raise funds for charity.

Basingstoke Theatretrain, the local branch of the nationwide performing arts schools for young people, will be dancing non-stop for 30 minutes to raise funds for a charitable organisation dedicated to improving the hospital experience of young people across the UK.

The danceathon is raising vital funds for Theodora Children’s Charity which provide ‘Giggle Doctors’ that visit poorly children in 21 hospitals, three hospices and two care homes throughout the UK.

The Basingstoke group will join the rest of the Theatretrain centres across the UK in aiming to raise £45,000 which could be doubled through various schemes.

Kevin Dowsett, former head of acting at the Italia Conti Theatre School and founder of Theatretrain said: “We are incredibly proud to be supporting this wonderful charity, our own organisation specialises in providing inexpensive performing arts training to young people so our partnership is very special to us and it is a perfect example of how young members of the performing arts community will pull together when there is need in the world.”

As a supporter of the Theodora Children’s Charity the performing arts organisation has already raised thousands of pounds for the charity and hopes that this event will be able to contribute further.

More than 25 Giggle Doctors visit 33,000 children across the UK every year and with the support of Theatretrain it is hoped to increase the number of visits to 42,000.

Sara Shephard, one of the 25 UK Giggle Doctors, said: “By combining music, play, magic and storytelling we are able to bring special and magical moments to brave children, often facing very long battles and challenging times.

“The visits often have a lasting impact on the children and equally their family members. It has been noted many times through the feedback we receive that a visit from a Giggle Doctor can significantly improve a child’s long-term experience of hospital and we are so grateful for the continued support of the young people at Theatretrain”

Theatretrain focuses young performers on learning about storytelling, sound, movement, time, space and how to be engaging with an audience.

The Basingstoke dancers will be undertake their 30-minute danceathon on November 3 at their base at the Everest Community Academy.

For more information about the event, go to theatretrain.co.uk.