A TEENAGER who taught himself to tap dance will represent England in the World Tap Championships later this year.

Fifteen-year-old Matt Pidgeon, from Chiseldon, will join two more Swindon dancers, 19-year-old Adina Nyahwa and 10-year-old Kai Scanlan, as part of the 35-strong England team at the World Championships in Riesa, Germany, in early December.

Matt, who attends the Ridgeway School, has always been interested in the performing arts, but it was less than two years ago when he finally discovered his biggest talent.

The teen said: “It was about 18 months ago when I started dancing.

“I was bored of just acting and wanted to do something a bit different. Before I got into tap dancing I just made up some steps on my own in the garage.”

He then took part in a talent competition which won him a place at Swindon theatre arts company Stagecoach, where he began to train more formally.

A few months later he saw a performance from dancing company Tap Attack, and knew exactly where he wanted to be.

“I just saw them and I thought ‘I want to be a part of this’,” he said.

“After I did the auditions they said they really liked what I did and said I could join. I was so shocked because I had only been tapping a few months.”

Matt, Adina and Kai, who all took part in three rounds of countrywide auditions earlier this year before being selected to join the Tap Attack Company, have now been training each Sunday for nine hours since May.

Matt also keeps up the practice at home, dancing for three hours after school every day.

Matt said: “I feel ready but I don’t feel as experienced as the other dancers.

“I’m looking forward to the week a lot. There will be so many dancers there all from different countries and it’ll be great to meet them all. To be selected to represent your country at anything is a massive honour.”

England head coach and record- breaking tap dancer Jo Scanlan said “Hundreds of dancers aged from 10 to 27 auditioned this year and competition for places was tough but Adina, Matt and Kai have worked extremely hard and shown huge commitment and we were thrilled to be able to offer them a place in the final 35.”

Since the England tap dancing team are completely self-funded, Matt, Adina and Kai are now fundraising for their share of the £25,000 it costs for the team to be able to compete.

Tap Attack’s main fundraiser will take place when they hold their annual dinner dance at the MECA, in Regent’s Circus, next month.

To help Matt, Adina or Kai fundraise or to sponsor them contact Jo Scanlan on 07880 790004 or email Tim Pidgeon on TimPidgeon@youniqueltd.com.