Jessica brings Bollywood back home

But one woman is bringing the exuberance and colour of the Indian film industry to the town after her own time working in the industry.

Jessica Bolton has launched the dance classes in Stockton Heath drawing on her experience of performing in films for two years.

The 24-year-old said: "I was selected by two famous Bollywood choreographers and assisted them on productions.

"They were taking some dance classes and asked me to take it up and they said I should concentrate on that so I started a dance school over there.

"I found a really talented dancer who lived in the slums and helped them out.

"The dance school was really popular but I started to miss home and thought when am I ever going to get back home.

"I wanted to start teaching when I came back and got in touch with my old dance school.

"So far we have had a good reaction and we had about 10 people for the first class."

Her foray into foreign film came after she finished her dance training and was approached to audition for Bollywood work.

Before she knew it she was heading to the country to work with around 30 other British and Australian dancers.

But Jessica proved very popular with choreographers.

She added: "I just picked up the the style of choreography, it was really natural to me.

"I was the first English girl to work with a choreographer."

Her time on set of films was far from that Jessica, from Appleton Thorn, was used to.

"Bollywood was crazy," she said "There were these huge movie sets like villages and there was no health and safety with guys holding lights with ropes on planks of wood.

"I didn't get startstruck because I didn't know them but after a while I got to recognise how big those people were.

"I'd like to go back and do it again but I would just end up being there rather than at home."

But her Bollywood cravings are being served by taking the classes which run on Thursdays from 7.15pm to 8.15pm at Bridgewater House, Sandy Lane.

To find out more call 07801 539125.