OLDER people in Oxford will be cutting a dash on the dance floor thanks to a programme of new classes.

The sessions will give people a taste of different styles each week from salsa and jive to line dancing and rock and roll.

One of the first dancers to take to the floor at Cutteslowe Community Centre was Yadz Strand, a 52-year-old carer from Headington.

She said: “It was great fun. I have never danced in a class before and this was my first time learning the moves.

“It is more of a social thing. I don’t think we will all end up championship dancers.

“I like the latin dances, so the salsa will be fun next week."”

The weekly hour-long sessions, for anyone aged over 50, are led by a trained teacher and suitable for all abilities.

Liz Edwards, senior community worker at the centre, said there was a large community of older people in the area and the idea of classes had come from them.

She said: “We had an information and awareness day back in March and we had more than 80 people involved.

“The outcome was people wanted more exercise classes here.

“Dancing helps with physical exercise and it is a social thing as well.

“The idea is people come down and try all the different dances and whatever is the most popular we will carry on with.”

The sessions are part funded by the charity Age UK.

The dance sessions, which cost £1.50, are at Cutteslowe Community Centre, Wren Road, Cutteslowe, on Wednesday mornings from 11am.

cburatta@oxfordmail.co.uk Free Samba dance sessions for the over 50s are being held at Blackbird Leys Leisure Centre. Oxford City Council has received funding from Age UK to run the classes on Tuesdays from 10-11am during the autumn. For more information, contact Miranda Laurence on 01865 252820