FACE OF Plymouth 2009 winners Hayley Morse and Paul Nicholson are put through their ‘Strictly’ paces with local ballroom expert Bob Gibson. Hilary Vivian watched...

TALK about a glittering

occasion... there’s Hayley

in a ruby red halter-neck ballgown, strewn

with sequinned leaves.

Her sleek, chic hairstyle is peppered

with sparkly bits and woven

with diamante clips.

And

look at Paul, hair all slick, cutting

a dapper, dashing figure

from top to toe in his classic

dress suit and crystal-motif tie.

Hey – we must have wandered

on to the set of Strictly Come

Dancing.

Well, sort of. It’s actually

a training room at The

Herald’s HQ, and the winners of

The Face of Plymouth 2009 are

being put through their paces on

the improvised dance floor.

Calling the tune, and giving the

pair an introduction to the

Cuban rumba is local dance expert

Bob Gibson.

“You can’t

teach anyone to dance in an

hour,” admits Bob, who’s out

teaching seven days a week in

the city.

But he’s going to have a

good go, assisted by Ridgeway

School pupil Lauren Carr, already

a trainee instructor herself

with Bob’s dance school

Puttin’ On The Ritz.

Hayley’s got a head start – she’s

into tap and ballet – and it shows

in her poise, her hand movements.

Paul’s picking the steps

up in no time, too.

The gentle rumba rhythm rumbles

on…Take My Breath

Away… How Deep Is Your

Love?… Wonderful Life…

Bob speaks through the music…

“Slow, slow, quick-quick slow...

Cut that step in half… Imagine

you’re looking in a mirror… eye

contact will make you

smile… put your weight on the

right foot, rock on to the

left… cool with that? Cool.”

This

is looking good.

There’s a yelp. Paul has caught

his toes under Hayley’s six-inch

killer heels. “I’ve been speared

with a tent peg,” he cries.

Any pain has paid off, though.

The hour’s up, too soon. Hayley’s

off to a rehearsal for 42nd Street

at Devonport, but she likes the

sound of Bob’s dance classes. “I

love dancing and this has been

really good fun,” she says.

Paul’s

off to Marjons for basketball.

Erm, he’s a bit too busy just at

the moment to take up dance

lessons…

And the expert’s verdict on the

pair? “Brilliant,” says Bob. “10

out of 10.”

THANKS TO:

Photographer: John Allen

Models: Hayley Morse and Paul Nicholson

Dance instructor: Bob Gibson of Puttin’ On The Ritz Dance Classes & Events 01752 335030/ 07706 506862 www.puttinontheritzdance.co.uk

Outfits: PB Gowns, 65 Christian Mill, Crownhill, Plymouth 01752 766516 www.pbgowns.com

Jon Saberton, Mayflower Street, Plymouth 01752 664488 www.jonsaberton.co.uk

Hair: No4 Hair Boutique 01752 222687

Make-up: Josie Lock 07722 358425 www.josielockmakeup.co.uk