WHO DARES SEQUINS

BRITISH troops in Iraq are signing up for specialist training... in salsa dancing.

RAF firefighter Corporal Malcolm "Baz" Barrett launched dance classes to keep the troops entertained in the war-torn country. His squad of movers and shakers get together after heavy shifts to practise their routines.

Latino expert Baz, 35, said the squaddies don't have glitzy clothes or sequinned shoes - but they still dance the night away.

He said: "People turn up in combats, body armour and metal helmets. It's no easy feat, but it's good escapism."

Baz's sessions are full of women and the news spread like wildfire through the barracks. Male soldiers flocked to sign up, keen to get up close and personal.

Baz said: "Trying to convince male troops that dancing would not spoil their masculinity was a constant battle. But because women here are outnumbered four-to-one, men are constantly falling over themselves to be noticed.

"Salsa is a very sexy dance, and a sure-fire way to meet women. All of a sudden I had young, single men crawling out of the woodwork asking me about my classes."

A 30-strong squad meet up to four times a week to strut their stuff. Baz said: "Troops from Italy and Portugal have latched on to us too. They're real Casanovas and love trying to impress the ladies."

Baz said with no New Year party and a hard Christmas away from home, his classes were a real hit. He said: "I've got medics, pilots and police staff as well as soldiers. It's such a satisfying thing to put smiles on people's faces.

"A military police officer said he's got addicted to it, and I spotted another one practising his steps in a phone box as he called his wife."

Manchester-born Baz faced flak from macho who mocked him for "mincing" around the floor.

Unruffled, he said: "I couldn't give a damn about rugby types who say salsa's for sissies.

"They spend matches with their heads stuck between each other's legs, which isn't exactly masculine, either."

Military barracks are a far cry from glamorous BBC TV show Strictly Come Dancing, but Baz said the troops were cheered by news of cricketer Darren Gough's victory just before Christmas.

He said: "Goughie's a Northern lad like me, not a pansy at all. He proved real men can carry it off.""

After harrowing times in Croatia and the Falklands, Baz - who joined the RAF 18 years ago and leads a 12-man firecrew - packed upbeat CDs when he set off for four months in Basra last September.

He said: "I knew that when on these operational tours, the best thing to do is keep yourself busy."

Meanwhile, he said he misses fiance Nikki, 26, an office worker in Cyprus near RAF Akrotiri, his permanent military base.

She was smitten by his smooth moves when they met, and they're set to marry next year.

e.miller@mirror.co.uk

Copyright 2006 MGN LTD
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