ON a nippy Tuesday evening the last thing you would expect to see in the Longfield Centre car park is an exotic-looking lady with bangles and beads, dressed in a turban and showing her midriff beneath swathes of colourful material.

But belly dancing tutor, Katy Carmichael, likes to look the part.

"It is easier to dance in than trousers," she explained, "and it captures the ambience. The students feel more comfortable if I am dressed up."

If there's one thing Katy is very good at it is making her class feel at ease as, believe it or not, the prospect of gyrating to strange music in public can fill some people with dread.

And her cheery banter together with the warm and friendly atmosphere seems to be working wonders as the women start arriving in droves for her weekly class at the Longfield Suite.

The sounds of Arabic and Turkish pop music waft out of Katy's sound system and the women of all ages come dressed in long flowing skirts, kicking off their shoes and reaching for a vivid silk scarf to tie around their hips.

Katy, who is a trained barrister but currently works for Manchester Social Services, first took up belly dancing around four years ago when she was looking for something new to do.

What started off as a fun hobby became a second career for the 38-year-old, who is one of the founder members of a touring performance belly dancing troop, the Urban Gypsies, and has been teaching the skill for the past 12 months.

Katy, who is pictured (left) taking her students through one of the dances, said: "It increases your confidence and more often than not it is a ladies activity. It is good exercise but it is mainly about having fun. We don't take the dancing particularly seriously. I know people who have suffered from depression think that belly dancing has helped them. We enjoy ourselves!"

And they certainly do.

From children to grandmothers, the packed class of more than 50 females completely lost their inhibitions and allowed their bodies to move to the music.

The students were all shapes and sizes and it was evident that there were no pre-requisites to taking part, such as a slim figure, youthfulness and the latest fitness gear!

Thirty-year-old Ruth Wood, who attended the class with a friend, said: "We've got the equipment, the belly, so we decided to come along. It is a good laugh. I can't believe how popular it is. It is exercise but good fun. I mean, where does one go of a certain age without going to the gym?"

Ros Fox (26), of Heys Road, enjoyed the classes so much her mother, Sylvia Pilkington (58) decided to join her.

Ros said: "I just saw a leaflet and decided to try it out. I have been coming a few weeks now and really enjoy it."

Grandmother, Gladys Warwick (57) loves the fact that she can take along her granddaughter, Corrin Hargreaves (8), who also joins in.

Gladys, of Sherbourne Court, said: "It's not just for young ones. This is a good group as there is a mixture of ages. We have a giggle."

Margaret Donohue, who is in her forties, felt slightly apprehensive at first but overcame her nerves to return a second time.

She said: "I just fancied doing something a bit different. I have done line dancing before but felt a bit nervous when I first came here. But it was good fun and I didn't feel self-conscious at all."

Belly dancing classes are held at the Longfield Suite every Tuesday evening from 7pm to 8pm for beginners and from 8.15pm to 9.15pm for the more advanced. Contact Zehara on 0161 487 4134 for details.