Noblesse Oblige

LEARNING CURVE:Ballroom dancing might not be the pastime choice of all young men, but what if the girlfriend is a big fan of 'Strictly Come Dancing'?

WHEN JOHN LAWLOR'S girlfriend Eimear became "mesmerised" by ITV's Strictly Come Dancing, he agreed to go along with her fantasies, and enrolled the pair in a beginners' ballroom dancing class. He wasn't expecting to enjoy the classes, which he describes as "total beginners – move left leg now, move right leg now, try not to step on anyone's toes." For him, this was a random act of kindness – a sacrifice for the sake of his relationship. So he was surprised when the first lesson was nothing like he had imagined.

“The classes are great fun,” he says. “There are seven other people, and one of the best things about the lessons is that everyone has to mix, so the nerves and terrible dancing are evenly shared out among the group.”

Nerves are something most people would worry about when undertaking such a class, one that relies on co-ordination and the ability to keep one’s cool.

“The first class was more nerve-racking in theory than in practice. Beforehand, I had images of me, clumsily fumbling around the dancefloor, being overtaken by couples as I trod all over my partner. But everyone in the class is at the same level – that’s really reassuring – and you pick up the steps fairly quickly with a little practice.”

What about the steps? Are we talking full-on foxtrot in class number one, or do they start you off slowly?

“Well, the classes are an hour long, but the steps are broken down and you develop at your own pace. So far, we have learned the foxtrot – it was difficult at first, but got easier with the passing weeks – and we’re currently learning the tango, which is way more difficult than it looks, but really good craic as you can really ham it up,” he says. “With the tango, everything is stepped up a gear, so you’re almost compelled to shove a rose between your teeth and grab the nearest woman.”

Lawlor admits that having his girlfriend as a buffer was essential. Any class is, after all, easier if you have a partner with you to take the heat off your own failures. But singles go too – you don’t stay with the same person for more than five minutes.

He recommends the classes. "They're such good fun, and you learn loads from them. It's a chance to do something different. I'm never going to be Anton Du Beke ( Strictly Come Dancingstar) , but I'll definitely feel the benefit of it at the next wedding I go to."

John Lawlor took ballroom dancing classes with Just Dance (justdance.ie) in Tallaght Athletics Club, Co Dublin. Just Dance runs classes in ballroom dancing and salsa at venues countrywide. See the website or call 01-8273040 for details. A six-week course of ballroom dancing classes costs €75