There are shoppers around, probably wondering what on earth would possess us to cha-cha round the Manchester Arndale at 9.30am.

But any embarrassment soon fades after 20 minutes of stepping and twirling. I feel like I was born to dance...well almost.

Latin American dance champion Richard Scott works here as a hairdresser – in between honing his moves.

“Strictly’s been great for ballroom and Latin dancing,” says Richard. “It used to have quite a fuddy-duddy image, but it’s become cool now.

“Perhaps more than anything, it’s become acceptable for blokes to like it because of the cricketers and rugby players who have been on the show.”

Richard, 25, a hairdresser by day, known as Tricki to his mates, began dancing at the age of six and competing a couple of years later. He and his dance partner Natalie Downes are currently competing in amateur competitions, but plan to turn semi-professional in a few months and fully professional next year.

“I just love it,” he says. “It’s who I am. It’s a natural part of me. There’s nothing better than dancing. It’s great exercise and makes you feel good mentally.”

Richard begins our lesson by telling me that in Latin dancing (which includes cha-cha, rumba, samba, paso doble and jive), sequences are counted as ‘two, three, four, one’. It sounds a little odd, but once I begin moving it makes sense.

After leaving school in Leeds, Richard trained as hairdresser and moved to Manchester six years ago. He is now the manager of Trade Secret hair salon.

Suitably emboldened by mastering the first steps, Richard teaches me cha-cha and rumba moves. We step away from each other to pause with our arms outstretched, in what is known as a ‘check’; and we ‘spin through’, which involves both of us twirling round and sideways in a mirror image.

I even spin round by myself which makes me feel very ladylike.

“You’re a natural!” says Richard. He’s flattering me, of course, but I’m a sucker for it.

Richard and Natalie train four times a week at a dance school in Oldham.

“It’s very tiring and I don’t have much of a social life,” laughs Richard. “I have to watch what I eat - I certainly couldn’t pig out over Christmas!

“And I don’t drink alcohol for a month before a competition.”

The cha-cha and rumba steps Richard teaches me are a good introduction to Latin dancing. Known as stationary dances because they take place in a small area rather than covering a whole ballroom floor, you can see why the Strictly Come Dancing celebrities need months of training to get to a level of perfect symmetry and timing with their partners as well as being able to execute acrobatic moves without breaking a leg.

And after a brief lesson, I felt like I’d had a mini-work out, so it’s also easy to see why many of them shed stones through the series.

Richard is the national male Latin champion through the International Dance Teachers’ Association – the governing body for amateur dancers; while, as a couple, he and Natalie are the north west champions.

He will be defending his title, and the couple hope to win as a pair, at a competition in Blackpool in April. They will turn semi-professional after that, and fully professional next year.

But reducing his hours in the hair salon, while also paying for travel, coaches’ fees, and competition outfits – which can cost £2,000 for he and Natalie – obviously takes a financial toll.

“It is very expensive, but I want to be the best I can be,” says Richard. “I want to look back in ten years’ time and think that I gave it everything I could.”

Richard and Natalie are looking for sponsorship. For more information, email tntdance@hotmail.co.uk

Susannah’s clothes and jewellery supplied by Coast: Purple strapless Juliet dress, £220; Silver sandals, £75; Necklace, £34; Bracelet, £25

Thanks to Manchester Arndale style advisor Debs Hatfield. For styling advice, call 0161 817 3699 or 07904 883 905, or email styleadvisor@manchesterarndale.com

Strictly Come Dancing Live! is at the Manchester Arena tonight and tomorrow. www.ticketzone.co.uk

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