THERE seems to be a bit of hiatus when it comes to men and salsa but - as teacher Joe Lantelli rightly says - what is more macho than holding a woman in your arms?

Joe, who has been teaching salsa in Hereford for 18 months, met his championship partner Sinead Barker two years ago, having been gripped by the bug in the Dominican Republic.

"I saw it on holiday and fell in love with it. It was amazing to see strangers going wild on the dance floor, having fun," he says.

"It's a sexy, beautiful dance. Think Dirty Dancing."

It's a long way from Dominica to Hereford, but when the music plays the temperature rises and it's easy to lose yourself.

Joe's class moved to TGS Bowling this month, and the venue is spot on. A sprung dance floor, partial floor to ceiling mirrors, plenty of space and a bar.

Two classes run on Monday evenings - one for beginners, another for intermediates. Which means you can fix your eye on the future and aspire to mamba, side-step and spin with the fluidity of a panther.

There is a slight shortage of men, but the class moves on apace, so you are never without a partner for long.

First thing to note is that you don't have to be John Travolta to be a winner at salsa. It's an exercise that is within reach of even the most flat-footed, gumboot wearer.

Your hips may not swing with the double time finesse of some members of the group, but it doesn't matter. It's not competitive, it's fun. The second thing to note is that it's pretty difficult to salsa without a smile on your face.

Joe, who has a martial arts background and is a qualified weight lifting and boxercise instructor, defies all expectations of what a salsa teacher may look like - which should only act as an incentive to macho men out there.

"I was scared to death at first," he says. "The first time I went to a lesson I was shaking, sweating and I had two left feet. I thought 'never again'. With practise I got better and was hooked."

He's come a long way since then, getting through to the final six in the first two big pro competitions he and Sinead entered last year.

"It's just going for it and not worrying what everyone else says. It's all about using that nervous energy and losing it on the dance floor."

I had the pleasure of dancing with two older gentlemen, who had learned ballroom dancing in their younger days. With some similar disciplines - good posture, firm grip, male lead - it's proof that age and experience do count.

I especially appreciated the men that said 'hello', 'goodbye' and 'thank you' when exchanging partners. It's quite an intimate experience, and it helps to lessen the tension.

At one point in the class, Joe makes first the women - then the men - close their eyes while they dance, which feels even more intimate but is a proven short-cut to feeling the rhythm and visualising the moves.

With an obvious passion for what they are doing, and a lot of humour in their method, Joe and Sinead's Monday night salsa sessions are going down a storm.

If someone would just combine salsa with speed dating we'd be sorted!

6 Salsa classes are held at TGS Bowling, Station Approach, Hereford, every Monday night from 7.30pm. For further details contact Joe on 07971-065750.