FROM the joyful jive to the sensual samba, through the quickstep, foxtrot and waltz, the world of ballroom has danced its way on to the Malvern stage for a week of glitz, glamour ... and Lionel Blair.

Fans of BBC TV's Strictly Come Dancing will need no urging to marvel first hand at the faultless intricacy, speed and spins of the dances that have become so familiar - and they're all here. The elegance of the Viennese waltz, the passion of the tango and the paso doble, the energy and enthusiasm of the cha cha and the jive, all expertly performed by a cast of international dance champions and choreographed by Strictly's own Anton Du Beke and Erin Boag.

Hosted by dance legend Lionel Blair, with as many costume changes as the cast and still able to impress with his tapdancing, and more than able, with a bit of judicious choreography, to keep up with the astonishing young cast in the jive, Simply Ballroom is an evening of frothy fun.

What it lacked though, at least for me, was an emotional element, something with which to connect and send me dancing off into the night. But, judging from the rapturous applause, I have little doubt that there were plenty in the audience who are dancing still.

Simply Ballroom is at Malvern Theatres until Saturday. To book, call the box office on 01684 892277.

Philippa May