Budding dancers out to break record

6:21pm Sunday 6th July 2008

More than 200 budding dancers braved the weather in Trafalgar Square to break a world record for Bollywood dancing.

The five-minute routine had people of all ages and backgrounds gyrating their hips to classic Indian show song Om Shanti Om, and the 212 people who took part earned themselves a place in the Guinness Book of Records.

The event was part of a dance-themed festival organised by BBC Blast, which caters for teenagers and young adults.

Hosted by Strictly Come Dancing's Erin Boag, it encouraged hundreds of young people to break several world records, including the largest number of football freestyle tricks in one minute, largest number of couples jiving simultaneously, the most ballet dancers en pointe for a minute and largest number of street dance moves in 60 seconds.

Among those taking part was Kalpana Halai, 34, from Stanmore. She said: "It was an amazing experience and really good to be taking part in a world record attempt." Her daughter Tara, 7, has been attending Bollywood dance classes for two years and said: "It was good fun but I found it easy."

As Boag announced to cheers that they had broken the record the heavens opened and sent people dashing for cover.

Organisers admitted the weather had put many people off, with attendance down on the 10,000 who took part last year, but said they were hopeful of breaking all the records.

Strictly Come Dancing judge Bruno Tonioli was taking part in a question-and-answer session with young dance hopefuls. Afterwards he said: "It's a great event. It's wonderful to inspire people to dance in their own way. It shows people the wide range of dancing that's available, how easy it is and how accessible it is. It also keeps you fit, you're having a good time and it increases your social skills."

He said he knew nothing about rumours that royal Zara Phillips would be among the contestants on the next series of Strictly Come Dancing.

But he said: "It would be great to have her on the show. We've never had a royal before so I would have to watch my language."

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