York Theatre Royal is to host a Dance-A-Thon on Sunday, April 3, involving as many as 1,000 sponsored dancers, to raise money towards fitting an accessible lift in the De Grey Rooms.

The lift will ensure that all three refurbished floors are accessible for wheelchair users, both those with physical impairment or anyone who uses pushchairs or trolleys, and the theatre needs £50,000 in total to make this happen.

From marathons to prop sales to an all-star reading of King Lear, the theatre is throwing its energy into making its facilities accessible for all, but it would welcome your involvement too.

“We’re asking you to put on your dancing shoes to help raise this massive amount of money through more than ten hours of continuous dancing,” says event organiser Polly Ingham.

“We need about 1,000 volunteers to sign up and be sponsored for either one 90-minute dance session or for the whole ten and a half hours.

“The people will change but the dancing will never stop.

“Whatever your age, whatever your talent, this is a great opportunity to have a go at dancing through the decades and support a local charity.”

Running from 10am to 8.30pm, the fundraising day will incorporate ceilidh dancing; salsa and Latin American; 1920s and 1930s jazz; 1940s’ ballroom; 1950s rock’n’roll; disco and 1990s hip-hop. Each class will be professionally instructed.

“This will also be the first opportunity for the people of York to attend an event in the superbly restored De Grey Rooms ballroom,” says Polly.

From March, the theatre’s education, stage management and costume hire departments, and its main rehearsal spaces for in-house productions, will operate within the De Grey Rooms.

In addition, the building will have space for youth theatre, adult classes, public events and community activities.

To take part in the Dance-A-Thon, register at yorktheatreroyal.co.uk or by phoning 01904 623568; a £5 registration fee will be required.

You can donate online at justgiving.com/danceathon

Prizes will be awarded throughout the day and the King and Queen of the Dance-A-Thon will be crowned for their commitment to the cause.