Dancing dads take to stage to help 'leaky' school

The dads have been working hard under the tutelage of Julie Lovewell

Dancing dads are taking to the stage for the first time to raise money for a performing arts school.

The 12 men all have children at the Northern Academy of Performing Arts (NAPA), in Hull, which is raising £3m for urgent building repairs.

Chris Blenkarn, from Brough, said his son Joey, 15, had "found his safe space" at the school and he wanted to give something back.

And despite feeling a bit of "trepidation", Mr Blenkarn said the dads were "looking forward" to two sold-out performances in Hull on 7 July.

He had embraced the challenge, despite some initial struggles with the routine, including making sure he was going left and not right.

The dads are keeping the content of their performance under wraps for now

The dads will be making their debut on stage at the Northern Stars 2024 dance show, at the University of Hull's Middleton Hall.

"The dancing will be all right, as we've learnt the routine, but doing it in front of so many people – we're not sure how that will be," said Mr Blenkarn, who is the chairman of a NAPA fundraising group.

The dads will also be donning costumes, though their exact nature is being kept under wraps. "Luckily it's not a tutu – and it's not Lycra either," he added.

'Iconic' building

The listed, 120-year-old NAPA building, in Anlaby Road, is in need of restoration and structural work, including roof repairs.

Mr Blenkarn said the building was "beautiful and iconic", but "leaks like a sieve" during rainy weather.

The school is trying to raise £3m for the repairs, while money would also go towards smaller projects, such as new sound systems for the rehearsal spaces.

The dads have set up a JustGiving page to help.

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