Knaresborough businesswoman says burlesque dancing changed her life

Sarah Lowe attended her first burlesque dancing lessons six years ago and now teaches

A North Yorkshire businesswoman who took up burlesque dancing six years ago says her life has been "completely transformed" by the art form.

Sarah Lowe, 45, from Knaresborough, goes by the stage name Foxie Gingerella.

Since learning the glamorous routines, Ms Lowe has also become an instructor.

She said dancing helped her through divorce and gave her body-confidence, adding it has "totally changed how I feel about myself".

Ms Lowe, who owns a beauty salon in Knaresborough, told BBC Radio York: "It took six-and-a-half years so it's been a long journey."

Ms Lowe said dancing had "totally changed how I feel about myself"

She said growing older had helped her to become less self-conscious.

"I think when you get to your 40s you grow to accept your own body more, but it has to come from within, you have to teach yourself."

She said women were too often criticised about their bodies and instead should "learn to love them".

"Showgirl dancing is an expression of femininity, it's watching someone fall in love with their own body, its about being unapologetically yourself and feeling good," she said.

'It's rebuilt me'

Ms Lowe believes attitudes and preconceptions about the female form in dancing still have a long way to go.

"Burlesque is sexy and racy, but we have an outdated view of it and there's nothing wrong with expressing yourself through dance," she said.

Six months after taking up dancing, Ms Lowe went through a divorce which she said had left her "broken".

However, at the age of 39 she took up pole fitness and later, during the first Covid lockdown, started practising pole and chair dancing at home every day.

She has since become a chair dance performer and instructor.

Learning a variety of dance forms has "rebuilt me and now I do things I'd never have done before", she said.

"It's changed my life 100%."