Meet the Newcastle dance group gripped by Strictly Come Dancing fervour

It's a baltic Monday night on Tyneside, but at Newcastle Dance Centre a group of keen Strictly Come Dancing fans are heating up the dancefloor.

NewcastleWorld has come along to watch the centre's Strictly Come Dancing themed class in the week before the 2021 series' hotly anticipated final.

In a buoyant festive mood, participants have travelled to the class from across the North East, all sporting seasonal dress for their Christmas lesson.

Over an hour long lesson, the group are taken through all of viewers' favourite Strictly dances from jive and cha-cha to rumba and a waltz.

This 'improvers' group has been honing their skills for varying amounts of times, some for months and others from years, but all know their stuff as they jump into position at teacher Rachel's beckoning call.

The Dance Centre's Strictly lessons are open to all and, whilst the improver group on Monday night certainly know what they are doing, there's a beginners session too.

What brings the dancers together is, of course, the successful BBC show.

David, from Throckley, said: "I'd wanted to come along for a couple of years before we started.

“Sue and the girls got me vouchers one year and it's the best Christmas present I've had.

"I've always watched the show, we were hooked from the second series.”

His wife, Sue added: "We've been here now for seven of eight years and we absolutely love it."

Others have only been doing the lessons for a number of months, but have already caught the bug... even joking about a stint on the show.

Alan, from Chester-le-Street, said: "We've been coming here for about six months and we're really pleased we have.

"We got back into dancing, everyone is really friendly and supportive... we don't practice enough but we're getting better!

"It's Strictly that had made me hear of the dances and give us a bit of a clue.

"We're not quite up for Strictly standard, but we're aiming for 2023!"

The charismatic leader Rachel, who has been dancing at Newcastle Dance Centre most of her life, is another pull to the dynamic sessions.

Cheryl, from Ryton, said: "I danced as a child and as a teenager.

"I had a break as I brought my own children up and always fancied coming back to it.

"Rachel made me keep coming back but it's a lovely group and a lot of fun.

"It's the glitz and the glamour of the show that makes it so special!"