A small dance charity that has helped disabled children perform on stage at Sadler’s Wells has been shortlisted for a national ‘unsung heroes’ award.

The ‘icandance’ school in East Finchley competed with 90,000 nominees up and down the country and is one of just 125 shortlisted for next month’s National Diversity Awards.

The charity school, which runs sessions at the Green Man community centre at Strawberry Vale, near the North Circular flyover, is being recognised for the awards that aim to unite people of any race, faith, religion, gender, age, disability or culture.

This year’s event is being hosted for the second year by broadcaster, author and journalist Clare Balding.

“It’s important to recognise charities going above and beyond to unite their communities,” Clare said. “The awards celebrate all that’s good in an inclusive society to bring attention to community heroes whose work might otherwise go unnoticed.”

Icandance founder and chief executive Juliet Diener has been invited to the awards on October 4 in Liverpool’s Anglican Cathedral.