Belly dancing nights at an Ipswich Turkish restaurant

There is something extra special on the menu at the Alaturka Restaurant in Ipswich - belly dancing nights.

Restaurant manager Semra Avcikaya introduced the special nights, with entertainment from professional dancer Cielo Avila.

“They are great nights, and proving very popular,” explained Semra.

“Cielo is Argentinian, she is a very experienced dancer and has been dancing all her life. She has a very supportive husband.

“It is something a bit different for us.

“She dances for abut 12 minutes at the beginning of the evening, and then again between the main course and the dessert.

“Then the guests can join in.

“Nobody wants to be the first... but it can be quite infectous.

“We have already got parties booked for the next one.

“I always get up and dance, people want to dance with me - and everyone from my team gets around to dancing.

“It is a really good evening and we have lots of lovely comments aftewards.

“It is good to do something different.”

In addition to restaurant dance nights Cielo runs belly dancing classes, for women. in premises at the Goals Soccer Centre at Suffolk New College.

She said: “I am really grateful for Semra for giving me the chance.

“I love dancing. I started when I was 13, my sister convinced me to join her and I really liked it.”

Cielo,26, was travelling in Europe and the UK, when she met her husband, and settled here.

“It was only going to be three weeks, but I met him, now I have been here five years.

“I missed the dancing when I was travelling and wanted to get back into it.

“I absolutely love it. I love the buzz from performing and I am pleased to be teaching again.

“Here, Semra helps me get people up and dancing.”

Semra, at the award-winning restaurant in Great Colman Street, Ipswich was recently presented with a Trading For Good award for her community involvement.