The German ladies may have beaten England in September’s Women’s European Championships, but a group of 24 tap dancers from across the UK led by Jo Scanlan from Nine Elms is looking for payback at the World Tap Dancing Championships held in Germany from 1 to 5 December.

But first, they have to raise £35,000 for the trip. A fundraising curry night at Peatmoor’s Bombay Lounge restaurant on 28 September and a dinner dance on Saturday 3 October will help. Encouraged by the appointment of former Strictly Come Dancing judge Arlene Phillips as the government’s dance czar, Jo is investigating whether her team could receive financial backing.

She was surprised that the UK was not represented at the world championships when she attended in 2007 and set about recruiting a team for the 2008 event which saw 3,500 dancers performing in a range of styles. Jo said, “perhaps taking a team last year was too soon; we didn’t have enough time to prepare. But we learnt what we have to do to compete at world level. It really is the Olympics for tap.”

Tap Attack are training hard for December with dancers aged 11 to 20 travelling to Swindon from all over the country to rehearse. Jo has enlisted the help of James Doubtfire, resident director of Australian dance company Tap Dogs. He was one of the key people involved in putting together the impressive opening ceremony of the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney where 1,000 tap dancers performed to a worldwide TV audience.

Two locals selected to represent Britain at auditions are Adina Nyahwa, 14, from Nine Elms and Keith Henderson, 17, from Chiseldon. Adina, who is in Year 10 at Bradon Forest, has been dancing since she was three and learnt at the Swindon Dance Academy. “I’m looking forward to the atmosphere offstage,” said Adina who soloed last year in Germany and performed in Billy Elliot in early 2008.

Keith, who is studying at a Performing Arts School in London and Kent, said, “I’m most looking forward to seeing what we can do once we get there.”

To help mail: jo@tapattack.co.uk or visit www.tapattack.co.uk