The First Garstang Burlesque Class: “We have all sorts of dancers. Everything from grandmothers in their seventies to young ones in their twenties."

Emma Tyrell a Burlesque dance instructor, 32 from Pontefract, was shocked when she first moved to the area to see her Burlesque class would be the first of its kind in her new home of Garstang, but the positive response she has received since inviting people to dance has been remarkable.

The Garstang mum said: “It’s definitely a first up here. It’s not common at all. I have dancers coming from Blackburn, Blackpool and Preston because there’s not much up here so people come from everywhere. At the moment I am the only person in Lancashire that is doing it, in Yorkshire there’s hundreds.”

An experienced dancer of seven years and instructor for four, Emma recalled how she first began Burlesque the cardio class she now describes as ‘addictive’.

Emma said: “I came out of a really horrific relationship and my sister said I needed something to bring my confidence back. Burlesque is very addictive, once you walk through those doors, you’ve had it. It’s confidence building too. It’s a really good ego boost.

“We are very much about building confidence, loving the skin you’re in and getting women to love themselves again.”

But the Burlesque class isn’t just about getting dressed up and putting on a show, the Garstang resident described how she wants her class to be inclusive and all women to feel welcome. She said: “The hardest part is walking through the doors for the first time. But when you walk through those doors you’re one of us.

"We say it’s a family, we do everything together, we go out together, we go to the pub together. We do all sorts. It’s not just dancing, you become friends."

With 30-40 dancers attending over four evening classes a week, she said: “We have all sorts of dancers. Everything from grandmothers in their seventies to young ones in their twenties. They're all best of friends and love each other.

"It’s never the older ladies that need encouragement; they always jump in with both feet. It’s something for them. Their kids have grown up, so it’s something to give them their identity back.”

Only living in Garstang for a year, Emma and her family have loved watching the growth in popularity of Burlesque as more women get involved. However not everyone is quite as welcome as Emma said: “I’ve not had any negative responses from anyone, we get the odd comment from men saying ‘I’ll come to that’ but my response is ‘no you chuffing won’t!’.”

Burlesque classes run Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday across Catterall Village Hall and Cloughton Hall, at £6.00 for the hour session. Emma says the class isn’t about dressing in ‘sexy clothing’ as her dancers will wear clothing allowing them to move comfortably. She said: “It’s an intense workout and you get sweaty because it’s great cardio.”

The class are putting on a show at St Michael’s Village Hall on August 20 from 7pm. Tickets to the show are £7.00 each, for over 18’s only.

If you would like to find out more about getting involved with the Burlesque club or attending the fundraiser, email Emma at [email protected].