Get fit the Strictly way with new classes created by one of the show's stars. As Jaine Blackman discovers, sequins really aren't necessary...

While Strictly Come Dancing may have helped some of Britain’s best-known TV stars lose weight and shape up, it’s probably done the opposite for us viewers sat on the sofa with a box of Maltesers.

And although the series may be a good advertisement for the benefits of ballroom, not all of us are cut out for glitter balls, sequins and strictly serious dance classes.

But now there’s an alternative. Strictly Come Dancing professional Natalie Lowe along with fellow show star Ian Waite and former contestant and world champion swimmer Mark Foster have come up with an exercise class – FitSteps – based on ballroom steps. Without the need for previous experience or a partner, it’s proving to be one of the fitness hits of 2014.

“I’ve had a great reaction, and the people who keep coming back to the classes do so because it is such good fun, and suitable for everyone, no matter your level of fitness or dance experience,” says instructor Claire Waite Brown, who has been leading several classes in Oxford since September 2013.

“I was one of the first instructors to be trained by Ian Waite and Natalie Lowe in June 2013, then spent the summer working on the first dances and putting them together into a class.

“People initially tell me they have no coordination, but that really doesn’t matter, we dance in lines and don’t do any fancy turns or flourishes.”

Strictly helped former EastEnders actor Ricky Groves, 41, shed more than two stone, while 65-year-old presenter John Sergeant lost the same amount.

Actress Lisa Riley, 37, went down from a dress size 26 to an 18 and countless other celebrities experienced positive benefits to their health and shape, thanks to the rigours of dance.

But the celebrities and professionals on Strictly have a very tough regime – can people really expect to get as toned doing one class a week?

“Simple answer is yes,” says Natalie, 33.

“People can expect to learn fast, smile lots and get fit without realising it. In a 45 minute class you can learn up to eight different dances incorporating four to five different steps per dance and burn a lot of calories.

“It’s quite extraordinary... it’s the best way to get started for any male or female who loves watching Strictly on a Saturday night or for anyone that’s always wanted to try without going into an intimidating dance lesson.

“After three sessions I honestly believe you will be well on your way to being more confident on and off the dance floor, especially once you start seeing the fitness benefits you will feel better about yourself, look better, have a spring in your step and in the process you are meeting likeminded people.”

Natalie plays a big role with the choreography of FitSteps and in finding the right tunes to work out to.

“One of my favourite responsibilities is researching the music,” she says. “It’s important that the music makes you naturally want to get up and dance and make dancing and fitness easier to learn, smile and relate to.”

Fans of the Australian dance star were disappointed that she didn’t appear in last year’s show but there’s good news on that score.

“My injury is fully healed so I am hoping to be back on the floor this season, although being temporarily forced by my injury to stop dancing, time off has actually been nothing but a positive thing mentally and physically,” says Natalie.

Dancers certainly need to be fit and healthy for the Strictly regime.

“It depends on your celeb’s schedule but it starts at four hours a day and can end up with us teaching up to eight to10 closer to the top end of the show,” says Natalie.

“For us choreographers it’s a longer process as we have to research music, develop routines, fix or change anything that didn’t work that day in rehearsals when we get home, research music and ideas for weeks ahead and travel.

“It’s important not to burn out too early. Pace, patience and quality practice are the keys to a good season.”

Natalie says career highlights have included: “Closing Wembley with Vaughny [cricketer Michael Vaughn] to New York New York; solo dance with Ian Waite to Shirley Bassey; making the finals with Ricky Whittle and winning Dancing With The Stars in Oz, the equivalent to Strictly in the UK.”

And another was at the New Theatre.

“I performed at Oxford last year with Strictly Confidential when the Duchess of Cornwall was in the audience,” she says. “It was a very special event.”

For more information about FitSteps see fan.fitsteps.co.uk/