A TROUPE of dancing divas are using their moves to raise money for charitable causes.

Led by fitness instructor Alyson Moules, who runs various dance classes at Haverfordwest Leisure Centre, the group is known as Va Va Jhoom!.

“Va Va Jhoom! (VVJ) are some of my class members who go that extra mile, come to extra classes and are prepared to dance for charity,” Alyson explained. “Anyone who enjoys dancing and is willing to help with the charity aspect is welcome to join in.”

Alyson works at Sir Thomas Picton School as a behaviour support teacher, but has been tutoring various forms of fitness since the 1970s. The loss of her mother in 2008 sparked the idea of fund-raising through dance performances.

“Paul Sartori were wonderful when my mother died, so we got together and raised about £1,700 for them last year. This year we are supporting Shalom House. Shalom’s been in the news a lot, and really needs a helping hand, so we’re busy trying to help them. We’re determined to try and get up to £2,000.”

VVJ perform at all sorts of events. This summer the group will entertain visitors to St Davids’ Oriel y Parc, they boogied at Haverfordwest’s traditional Beating of the Bounds Ceremony last week, and at the end of June they led the warm-up at the Race For Life.

“At one point there were three of us on stage, with a combined age of 180!,” laughed Alyson. “It’s all about enthusiasm. Anyone can come to my classes, and they can interpret them in their own way. Dance is great exercise, and it’s not a competitive form of fitness - no-one is judging people. It’s about having some fun with the benefit of getting fitter. We’re not going to stop until we have reached our target, and then it’s on to the next cause!”

If you want to release your inner diva, pop along to one of Alyson’s classes - Dance Fiesta, Strictly Fit Steps or Just Jhoom – at Haverfordwest Leisure Centre, get fitter and have some fun!