Suffolk Dirty Dancing Classes

29 March 2010, 00:00 | Updated: 25 August 2010, 04:53

A West End star who's recently moved to Suffolk is causing a stir.

Richard Lawrence was the lead in Dirty Dancing the musical; playing Johnny, the role made famous by Patrick Swayze in the cult film. Since moving to Suffolk with his girlfriend, he's launched Dirty Dancing classes at Leisure Centres in Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket.

An hour of dancing will burn off approximately 400 calories, and speaking to Heart, Richard said: "I get to see women kinda let themselves go a little, and then let themselves be at one with the music and sway. It's very liberating as much as it is for them, for me to watch to be honest."

Richard has always had a side-line of Dirty Dancing hen parties. He hosts them at a dance studio in Covent Garden, London; a space shared with other professionals including Cheryl Cole.

Classes which launched at the start of the month at Stowmarket's Mid Suffolk Leisure Centre are proving massively popular, but they're only able to run them once a fortnight at the moment due to restrictions on the class timetable. The classes also take place at Bury St Edmunds' Leisure Centre. You can call 01449 674980 or 01284 753496 for more information. The classes cost £5 a session.

Heart didn't want you to go to the classes without seeing what they're about, so we did the hard work for you and went to one ourselves! Make sure you watch our special video report on Dirty Dancing classes!