Half a million with dancing feet

Half a million people go ballroom dancing every week, according to the Dance Council.

They range from older couples waltzing at tea dances to growing numbers of young people learning to salsa at Latin American classes, attracted by the chart success of acts such as Ricky Martin and the benefits to fitness.

'A Latin American dancer needs as much stamina as a sportsman,' said a spokesman for the International Dance Teachers Association.

Dancing is not only good for physical fitness. It can also help stave off Alzheimer's according to one study.

And while few could name them, Britain currently boasts the ballroom world champions.

Chris Hawkins and Hazel Newberry, from London, won this year's international competition in November. They are among an estimated 3,000 couples who dance competitively in the UK.

Despite little TV coverage, support has remained strong, and last week more than 2,000 couples took part in an international event at the Albert Hall in London. A sell-out crowd of 5,000 watched.

Thousands more enjoy ballroom dancing socially. There are hundreds of colleges and private tutors offering lessons at up to £60 per hour. Experts say the average age of dancers has dropped. Eva Allen, creative director of dancesport UK, said most people coming into the sport are aged seven to 18.

She doubts whether a revival of Come Dancing will help.

'When the programme was on before, the quality of the dancing was not very good,' she said.

'That adds to the bad image of the sport, because people don't know how beautiful it can look.'