Lesley Foulkes and her daughter Steffi Foulkes-Ward have turned from strictly ballroom to the colourful costumes and swirling movements of gypsy tribal belly dancing, writes Alan Cookman .

Lesley Foulkes, who is 58 and works in the catering business, lives with her husband Alan, a retired physiotherapist, in Gower Road, Newcastle. She and her daughter Steffi, a 32-year-old university student who lives in Uttoxeter with her husband Nick and their three children, have found happiness and exhilaration practising traditional gypsy tribal dance with a troupe called Zazu.

Were you dancers before embracing this exotic tradition?

Lesley: I've danced all my life – ballroom, Latin American etc. Then in 2000 a friend introduced me to belly dancing, and through that I became aware of gypsy tribal belly dancing. I went to a workshop, and learned more about the tradition and its origins. One thing I liked about it was that you get to wear beautiful traditional costumes without having to show your body, as you do in modern belly dancing.

Steffi: I love music and I love to dance, whether it's salsa, jazz, flamenco or Latin American. I joined mum about 18 months after she started belly dancing, and we gradually moved from the Egyptian style to gypsy tribal dancing.

What's the difference?

Lesley: Egyptian, Turkish or Lebanese belly dancing, popularised by Hollywood in the 1920s, involves one dancer performing in a costume which exposes the tummy. Gypsy tribal dancing is more earthy, drawing on a mix of cultures, including African, Middle Eastern and Spanish.

Steffi: Tribal dancing is performed by a group, or tribe, at weddings and christenings. It pre-dates belly dancing as we know it, and involves traditional vocal calling or ululation.

What style of costume do you wear?

Lesley: Distinctive, gypsy tribal costumes include harem pants under skirts, with elaborately jewelled and embroidered bras and traditional gypsy tops, shawls, belts, jewellery etc. Some we make ourselves, but my own costume includes pieces from India and Afghanistan. One of the attractions for the audience is being able to see dancers in these lovely, colourful costumes.

Steffi: The costumes are part of the aesthetic tone of the dances, which are a life-affirming marriage of improvised and choreographed dancing reflecting the multi-cultural influences that shaped the western belly dance.

How do you feel you have benefited?

Lesley: I feel more self-confident and physically fitter than I've been for years.

Steffi: One of the reasons I joined the group was the massive difference it had made to mum's confidence and outlook. I wanted it to have the same effect on me, and it has. I'm a much more confident, happier person.

Isn't it exhausting, though?

Lesley: There are 11 of us in Zazu and we practice twice a week, as well as giving charity performances all over Staffordshire.

A performance usually lasts from 20 to 30 minutes, with either live or recorded music, although we do give longer performances. It's very physical, but not so much exhausting as exhilarating. When the whole tribe is dancing it can be really empowering.

Steffi: Gypsy tribal dance is colourful, flamboyant, energetic and a fabulous way of keeping in shape. It's a great cardiovascular workout and we have a lot of fun.

What do your husbands think?

Lesley: Alan is happy because I'm happy and fitter. He's been really supportive.

Steffi: Nick has been very, very supportive. He comes to our performances and videos them for us. And the children love it.

Where did the name Zazu come from?

Lesley: From the musical The Lion King. I saw the show on Broadway when I was on holiday in New York, and the bird is called Zazu. I found out that it translates as 'crazy' and thought that would be the perfect name for our troupe.

Steffi: No-one disagreed.

You can see Zazu when they perform in aid of PHAB, the charity that brings physically disabled and able-bodied people together, at Fenton Community Centre on December 4. Call 01782 633759 for more details.