Dancing is an effortless skill for some, while for others it is practice that makes perfect. Knowing a few simple tricks can, however, add an extra flourish that will make it difficult to ignore you on the dance floor.

Have you ever stood in front of your mirror wishing you could be a dancer like Baby Houseman of Dirty Dancing? If you thought all it took for Baby to dance dirty were just a pair of comfortable high heels and the right attitude, it is time to think again. Learning a few basic moves, and knowing how to match the count in your head with your feet, is a good place to start. It also won't hurt to have Patrick Swayze as your trainer.

Tango is a great dance form to begin your lessons with. Remember it takes two to tango - find a partner who doesn't have two left feet, and the battle is half won.

Learning to tango can magically transform an awkward gait into a dream strut. After all, it is a dance that is dominated by walking moves. Don't move like you are taking a leisurely stroll in Hyde Park, instead focus on matching steps to the rhythm of quick-quick-slow to the count of one to three. Practise this as often as possible to get the hang of mixing fast steps with the little slow teasers. The most graceful move in the tango is the slow and slithery movement across the dance floor, which makes it look as if a dramatic stalking is in progress. Learning to duck, slide and move away, one step ahead of your partner is the secret tip to graceful dancing and avoiding having your toes trampled.

Confidence in your struts is guaranteed to impress. More importantly, remember to pepper your dance with a quick flick of your foot or a sharp snap of the head. Though the flick and snap can be totally wasted if you forget to catch the right beat for the right step.

There is another dirty trick to improve your style. Personally, watching professionals at work rarely fails to inspire me. If you are in London, try to see Dirty Dancing performed on stage. It doesn't matter if you couldn't book well in advance. If luck is on your side, you could bag one of the few cheap theatre tickets left unclaimed before most shows. However, there is no spectacle like watching Baby and Johnny perform 'The Time of My Life' at the famous O2 Arena. The feeling of euphoria that begins when you see your O2 tickets arrive usually lasts until two or three months after the show. It is guaranteed to make a believer out of a novice dancer.

You can bet your last pound that you will be coaxed into trying out a strut or snap of the head discreetly as you head back home!