It's the stuff fairy tales are made of:

boy sees girl across crowded room, boy makes his way over and asks girl to dance, boy and girl fall in love and live happily ever after. But as clichéd as it sounds, this is exactly the way that salsa fanatics Terry and Yolande Chandler Lewis

met, almost a decode ago.

Yolande, a strikingly beautiful,

curvaceous women with twinkling eyes and a warm smile, is more than happy to recount her initial meeting with Terry, back in 1995: "A friend dragged me to Bar Salsa in London 's Charing Cross . At first I just watched but lots of men were asking me lo dance and I couldn't - I'd never done salsa before," she explains. "Then this tall, handsome stranger came over and coaxed me onto the dance floor. He said don't worry, it's easy!' and it all started from there," her eyes lighting up at the memory.

That was a Thursday night. The very next morning, bursting with enthusiasm, she researched London salsa clubs and

found a class for every night of the week. I was so keen I went to six different lessons, so that by the following Thursday when I went back to Bar Salsa, I was able

to dance properly".

Terry, who's been dancing since 1992, recoils with equal excitement the moment he discovered salsa: "A friend kept asking me to go with her and I was hooked from the first time!"

He submerged himself into the London salsa scene and, in the mid 90's, began teaching'. By the late 90's, ready to escape the rat

race, The couple moved out to Canvey Island in Essex , a decision Terry is clearly delighted with. "My work in the city was dull and boring .

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and after a while it got  to much. I craved a better lifestyle and salsa offers me that. Salsa Chillout is now my full time job and I have absolutely no regrets, well actually I do have one - not leaving the city sooner!" he chuckles.

They now run five weekly and two monthly nights across south, east and west Essex including Wednesday's at the Belvedere in Billericay and monthly Saturday parties at Marconi in Chelmsford.

Terry attributes the growth of salsa clubs ont only to an increase in Latin interest but to a shift in society in general; "I think people get disillusioned with regular clubs, which can be too loud and impersonal. It's hard meeting people that way but with salsa, everyone is here for the same reason; to dance, listen to great music and have a good time.

Another difference is that ladies, who feel uncomfortable going to night clubs on their own, can turn up to salsa events unaccompanied and know they will be surrounded by like minded people."

Sarah Parez, an undergraduate student who has made a lot of good friends though salsa comments; "I've been dancing since I was five. I love the music, I love the people and I love the fact that you can let your inhibitions go. Salsa is so much fun - I'm definitely an addict!"

And Nikki Parker, who works for Business Link Essex, adds; "Terry and Yolande are popular because they're such nice people and their teaching style is great. I think they're fantastic."

"To me it's certainly clear why people flock to their classes; not only are they the most friendly

people you're likely to meet but they both spend the whole night dashing between DJ stand and dance floor, endeavoring to salsa and socilalise with as many patrons as possible".