DANCE is an activity which crosses all ages, from the very young to those in their prime. And it appears equally as popular with men as it is with women.

"But," advises Sandra La Espuelita, "you shouldn't stamp your feet too hard simply to make a noise, as this can detract from away the magnificence of the dance."

Sandra, from Abridge is a professional Flamenco dancer, dance teacher and she trained a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing.

The popularity of Flamenco, ballroom and Latin has increased during the last few years, due in part to shows such as Strictly Come Dancing.

Sandra La Espuelita trained extensively in both England and in Spain, studying in Jerez, Seville and Córdoba, but she describes herself as "a big Norfolk girl with large arms and shoulders".

Which is not something you would expect from the woman who taught Darren Gough the basics of flamenco in the 2005 series of Strictly Come Dancing.

Sandra explained: "I wanted to be a dancer when I was young but I didn't find anything that was right for my size. The minute I saw Flamenco at Sadlers Wells I fell in love with it. It is a very sensory dance. I went to Spain to learn how to do it and on one of my trips to Cordoba, I met my husband.

"The Flamenco is lovely and it can be done at all levels and at any age. In Spain the older the woman is, the better as the Flamenco is about expression and emotion and feeling. Little old ladies shaped like potatoes can do it, you don't have to be built like a ballerina and under the age of 30 to it well.

"Flamenco dancing is a great way of keeping fit. Every muscle gets used. It is almost like pilates, it's a fabulous workout, and it is very good for the weight."

But Sandra said it does have one minor drawback: "I have legs like Arnold Schwarzenneger, but luckily they can be hidden under a long skirt. It is great for your boobs and helps stops you developing bat wing arms.

"When you stamp you don't actually stamp hard, you learn a technique - you have to address the floor - hit the floor at a particular time which doesn't mean the harder you stamp the more noise you make."

Sandra gave up her job as a HR director for a US company eight years ago to teach full time.

She added: "It was a bit of a scary step but I have no regrets, the Flamenco is my passion and a pleasure."

As well as dancing and teaching in the UK, Dubai, France, Spain and Turkey, Sandra holds classes for children with special needs in parts of Essex.

The Flamenco has plenty of colour and movement and even those not physically able to get up and dance can clap to the rhythm and do arm movements.

Anne Lingard, chairman of the nationwide Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD) said: "Strictly Come Dancing has made a colossal difference to all dance classes and dance school. I would say the number of people social dancing has increased by over 100 per cent, however there has only been a 0.05 per cent in the amount of people who are going in for competitive dancing.

"The interest comes from children who take classes and this results in adults taking an interest and wanting to dance.

"Strictly has encouraged more men to dance, where once they wanted to but felt it was not really masculine enough, they are encouraged by the male celebrities and sports in the TV show. Ballroom and Latin dance is no longer seen as something strictly done by older people, more and more people are having a go."

Mrs Lingard has been teaching dancing for more than 50 years and now trains dance teachers.

Eva Allen of Dancesport UK - an online resource on competitive Ballroom Dancing, says no other sporting activity has been so successful in winning championships for Britain as competitive dancing.

When Her Majesty the Queen held a special Garden Party to celebrate the 40th anniversary of her accession to the Throne in July 1992, a total of 55 British Ballroom Dance World Champions turned up.