DESCRIBED as 'the vertical expression of the horizontal desire', Salsamania looks set to sweep Ryedale. Salsa bars have sprung up in many cities across the UK, and professional dancer Lossie Holland has taken it upon herself to bring salsa to rural North Yorkshire.

Lossie is qualified in ballet, jazz and contemporary dance, having trained at the London Studio Centre. But the 27-year-old, who lives in Thirsk, has become particularly attracted to the Latin groove. Since March of last year, she has begun setting up classes in North Yorkshire. She currently holds weekly sessions in Pickering, York and Scarborough. This Saturday (June 9), Lossie is holding a salsa night at the Helmsley Arts Centre which will include performance and teaching.

She said: "It is a very beautiful form of dance with a tremendous sense of unity. Compared to the more traditional dance forms, salsa is more exotic with less rigidity."

Lossie has been pleased with the response to her classes, which average between ten and 15 in number and include people from a broad age range. But she believes there are more out there who would love the Latin dance, particularly men. The ratio of women to men for her sessions is currently ten to one, something which Lossie wants to change.

She said salsa had the traditional element of the male stranger asking the female stranger to dance. She said: "The man will always treat the woman with respect, but if you scratch the surface a little, it can get a bit saucy!"

Lossie added: "It's basically for people who just want to dance."

Tickets for the salsa evening on June 9 (7.30pm), held by Lossie and her Ukranian dance partner, Oleska, are available from Helmsley Tourist Information Centre or from the box office on (01439) 771700. Cost is £6 (under 16s, £5) and includes a free glass of tequila and Latin nibbles.

Beginners and improvers classes take place at Holgarth Hall, Pickering on Tuesdays at 7.30pm, and at the Dance Warehouse, Durham Street, Scarborough on Thursdays at 7pm. For details contact Lossie on (07811) 793116.

Updated: 11:28 Thursday, June 07, 2001