An East Lancashire woman is encouraging new faces to “discover the fun of belly dance” at her classes.

Katy Carmichael, from Pendle, runs weekly women’s only belly dance sessions at her club, "Learn Belly Dance Bury", which caters for beginners and professionals.

Katy, 60, a professional family celebrant, “wishes to gather a group of women together to enjoy dancing, to work with the natural movement of their bodies, release stress and have fun".

The sessions take place at Polish Social Centre on Back East Street in Bury.

Katy said: “I started belly dance around 25 years ago.

“I loved it, especially because it works with the natural movement of a woman's body.

"In time, my own teacher trained me to teach belly dancing, and I started my own class in 2002.

“Since then, I have taught belly dancing in Whitefield, Prestwich, Radcliffe, Ramsbottom and Bury East.

"In August of this year, I moved to the Polish club in Bury, and so it would be great to see some of the women I have taught again.”

Katy’s classes teach dance routines choreographed to North African and Middle Eastern music, and she teaches new routines every few weeks.

Alongside running classes, Katy also posts tutorials on her Facebook page demonstrating the basics of belly dance.

Katy said: “Dancing is a great exercise for the mind, as well as the body.

“Many studies have shown that dancing helps to stave off mental slowdown in older age - very handy now I'm over 60!”

“I love that my classes bring together women of different ages and backgrounds too. My youngest regular student is 18 and my oldest is 86.

“I have made some great friends through dance, and I love the supportive community of women across the country, even the world, that the dance has created.”

Katy’s classes are hosted on Thursday evenings at 8pm for beginners, and 9pm for non-beginners.

Those interested in joining Learn Belly Dance Bury can contact Katy at katycarmichael@icloud.com, and her Facebook page can be found at "Learn Belly Dance Bury".