OCHO RIOS, St Ann — A group of journalists from the United Kingdom joined professional dancers Ola and James Jordan, also from the UK, for a four-day dance workshop at the Sandals Grande Riviera in Ocho Rios recently.

The popular dancers, who are also part of the popular UK dance show, Strictly Come Dancing, spent time teaching UK journalists as well as others who were interested in the art of ballroom dancing, as well as Latin dance.

They also learnt some of Jamaica’s popular dances.

While the workshop was for the journalists, guests and employees of the hotel too were enthused to learn.

“It’s mainly for the media but we have had a few guests who have been wandering around,” said Kathene Hilton, public relations executive UVI UK, the organiser behind the group’s visit to the island and the dance workshop.

“In early May of next year they are going to come back and do two weeks of workshop with guests,” she added.

Hilton said that she believes the dance workshops will work well for the hotel, which is a couples only resort.

“I think it will work quite well here because it is a couples resort and it’s great for couples because they want to learn new skills together. If they are on a honeymoon it would be nice for them to come and learn a new skill or if they are getting married they might want to learn the waltz so they can do a first dance together,” she explained.

Based on the experience at the workshop, Hilton said that persons were eager to learn.

“People are interested and want to learn more,” Hilton said, adding that next year’s workshop will be promoted in the UK.

Public Relations Manager at Sandals Grande Riviera Lyndsay Isaacs said that the team members from the hotel also got involved, as the journalists were all women and so several male team members joined in to assist.

“It’s amazing; they love it,” she said.

Professional ballroom dancers, James and Ola Jordan were also ecstatic to participate in the workshop.

“Our job is something that we love,” James Jordan said.

Ola Jordan added: “Not everyone can dance, so we love to show people what we have learnt over the years.”

The two who have been dancing for over 20 years, were not only happy to show others how to dance but said that they also enjoyed learning local dance moves.

Students from the Parry Town and Boscobel Primary schools were among those who showed the visitors these dances.