A DANCE school is hosting a charity dance-athon to raise money to help tackle the Australian bushfires.

Mini Professionals Dance Academy, (MPDA) based in Oxford, is holding the event on Saturday at Cherwell School which involves back-to-back dance classes for anyone to join in with as much as they like.

Principal of the Academy, Bethany Gorton, decided to run the event as she has a strong connection with Australia having grown up there.

She said: "As I grew up in Australia and having visited Australia over Christmas, I personally know so many affected and I have witnessed the absolute devastation this is causing people.

ALSO READ: Oxfordshire dance school set to compete in World Cup

"I desperately want to host an event to raise money for the volunteers fighting around the clock. Most of whom fight the fire through the night and resume their normal working job in the day."

Mini Professionals Dance Academy will give all profits to the Australian Red Cross.

There will be four classes for students, parents and people who are not members of MPDA to attend.

A modern dance class is at 4pm and 7pm, a lyrical dance class is at 5pm and 7pm and there will be a class at 6pm run by Miss Emily.

It is £10 per class or £8 if you decide to go to them all.

MPDA teaches different style of dance such as contemporary, funk, ballet and hip-hop and holds classes in more than 20 locations in Oxford and Bicester.

You can also donate online at www.redcross.org.au.