IT'S murder on the dance floor without a man... Organisers of a weekly tea dance in Moordown have put out a call for more male partners to help make up the numbers.

In years gone by, afternoon tea dances were hugely popular, offering an ideal opportunity for men and women to meet up for tea and cakes and a twirl or two around the floor.

But now, some gatherings are suffering because of a lack of men turning up to dance.

Mary McRobie set up the weekly tea dance at Moordown Community Centre around five years ago, but it's had to survive some rough patches when men were very thin on the ground.

"Some women did stop coming because they couldn't get a

dance with a man and had to sit out most of the afternoon," she said.

Men now make up about a third of the weekly dancers, but a few women still have to pair up for a waltz or two.

"We have quite a few couples now, but we definitely need a few more men," said Mary.

"If a man is retired and likes a dance, he should come along, as he would enjoy himself.

"We have some quite elderly gentlemen but once they get a woman in their arms, they're away."

For just £1 a week, keen dancers can practise their footwork to a selection of modern ballroom and sequence music, with waltzes and quicksteps popular with the regulars.

"But we're very flexible," said Mary. "If anyone wants a particular dance, all they have to do is ask, whether it's a tango or a samba. It's a very informal group."

And to help persuade the more reluctant wallflowers to have a go, Moordown Community Centre is offering a free starter session to any man who hasn't been to the tea dance before.

Just pop along to the centre on a Monday afternoon between 2.30pm and 4.30pm, and try out your dance steps with some willing female partners.

First published: October 19