With a shower of sequins and sparkle and a beat in the air, a unique dance class is celebrating its first successful year in the city.

Bollywood Sparkles was started by Julie Brown, 32, from Cringleford, last year.

The Bollywood dance class has proved successful, despite classes only being held for 12 months.

Miss Brown said: 'I have always had quite an interest in Bollywood films. I wanted to bring it to the people of Norwich and started teaching classes last September. I don't think there's anywhere else in Norwich which offers Bollywood dancing.' She teaches people from beginners upwards and believes that if you can walk, you can dance.

'Some of the people in the dance class have been with me since I started last year. They have gone from being beginners to being able to perform routines,' Miss Brown added.

She teaches one class a week from 7pm-8pm at the Vauxhall Centre in Norwich.

Miss Brown thinks the growing popularity of Bollywood dancing is down to the fact that it is a traditional dance, whereas other popular dances, such as zumba, are more of an aerobic workout.

The class has done eight public performances in its first year, including the Norfolk Eating Disorder charity evening and Hingham and Little Plumstead fetes.

Miss Brown said: 'The highlight of the year was performing on the Forum stage for the Lord Mayor's Celebrations. It's the biggest event we have done. We also performed at the Bollywood Ball in Suffolk.

'We use songs that come straight out of Bollywood films. Everyone likes the music, I always see people tapping their feet. The songs are in Hindi.

'The costumes we wear are Indian themed. We wear brightly coloured scarves with sequins and Indian jewellery and tikkas which are worn on the parting and the forehead. I provide the costumes, but we only wear them for performances.'

Miss Brown would like to see more men join the class in the future. She added: 'There are some really good tracks in Bollywood where men do their bit too. I would like us to do more performances next year.'

Miss Brown is running a four-week beginners course starting on September 8. If you are interested in joining, log on to bollywoodsparkles.co.uk

Have you brought a unique club to Norwich? Contact Lucy Wright on 01603 772495 or email lucy.wright@archant.co.uk