Strictly Come Dancing: the phenomenon

With Strictly Come Dancing now a staple of Saturday Night TV everyone is talking about Ballroom Dancing. But for a sport that was once the refuge of the blue rinse brigade what is it about Strictly Come Dancing that has made it so popular in recent years?

by Julia Williams

Ever since John Travolta took to the floor in Grease and Saturday Night Fever, dance films have been popular. But it's not just watching the likes of John Travolta and Patrick Swayze getting down and dirty that's the draw here, the actual dancing has as much to offer as the thought of being swept off your feet by a Hollywood hunk.

Most dance films are aspirational - in Dirty Dancing Baby wants to grow up, in Grease Sandy needs to find her man, and in Strictly Ballroom Fran wants people to notice her. Just as these films suggest, dancing is a great way to tap into your inner self and bring out that hidden confidence. Fran's journey from ugly duckling to swan is one of the most touching things about Strictly Ballroom - who hasn't wanted to dance with the sexiest boy on the dancefloor? Fran not only gets to do that, but also confounds her critics and proves to herself and the rest of the world that she has what it takes to go the distance. And wear a fabulous dress to boot.

Movies with dancing in also have so much energy. The sheer brilliance and effervescence of the dancing in The Blues Brothers was what made me fall in love with it. While not strictly a dance movie, the scene in the gospel church has to rate as one of the most brilliantly staged dance scenes ever. Fame is another film with a wonderful scene where the characters literally take to the New York streets - wouldn't we all love it if we could do that in real life?

Now OK, we're not all living on a film set with a director shouting, "Cut!" as we step out our front door, but dancing is something that is within the grasp of us all. Thanks to the popularity of Strictly Come Dancing there are now more dance classes then ever to choose from. Websites like www.uk-ballroom.co.uk and www.dancesport.uk.com are a good place to start, but your local council might run classes (ours does salsa and ceroc), or you could look in your local paper or newsagents. The first salsa class I went to took place in a local nightclub! you could have drinks before or after the class, though I quickly learnt alcohol was best avoided 'til afterwards.

It can be daunting taking that first step, so if you're nervous try taking a friend. If you're both rubbish, at least you can have a laugh together. In my experience most dance teachers focus on having fun and enjoying yourself, so it doesn't matter too much if you make a mistake as everyone else is learning too.

One of the first thing new dancers want to know is what they should wear. It's not (you might be relieved to know) all about wearing frilly mini skirts and tight tops like they do on Strictly. My dancing teacher, Izabela Hannah, herself a former professional on Strictly, advised me to wear loose fitting clothing that I was comfortable with, and shoes with a slight heel. Once you're more confident, you can go for clothes to fit the dance - I used to wear cocktail dresses to do salsa and it felt great in the evening. If you're looking for the right clothes a quick sweep online will give you an idea of what's out there, and either of these two websites offer a comprehensive choice of both dresses and shoes: www.latindancewear.co.uk and www.danceenterprise.co.uk.

So how do you decide which dance to try first? And what you'll enjoy? The best thing I find is to think of your favourite dance film. If you like Saturday Night Fever, it's obviously disco that suits, but fans of Grease might like to try and jive. If getting down and dirty like Baby in Dirty Dancing is your thing, then Latin classes are a must, which includes Mambo, Rumba and Salsa, while fans of Strictly Ballroom will find the tango essential.

If you're still looking for inspiration, how about checking out one of the top five dance movies of all time:
Strictly Ballroom  - Tara Morice turns from ugly duckling to beautiful swan
Saturday Night Fever - John Travolta struts his funky stuff
Grease - Olivia Newton John dances her way to true love
Dirty Dancing - Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze get up close and personal
And for the absolute dancing classic you must watch Top Hat - Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire show 'em all how it's done!
I guarantee you'll be hooked!

Julia Williams is the author of Strictly Love a brilliantly funny romantic comedy about finding love in the most unlikely of places - the ballroom dance floor.

Strictly Love by Julia Williams is published by Avon on the 29 September RRP £6.99

Click to buy.