It is not often that you meet a health researcher (pursuing nothing less than a PhD) who also happens to be a trained dancer, but Abigail Bentley is just that. Having worn her ballet shoes at the age of three and with 20 years of experience in ballet, tap, jazz and contemporary behind her, London-based Bentley is now eager to introduce audiences to her newfound love — blues.

Learn to dance to the blues with Abigail Bentley. Pics/Carter Holloran

"I had tried various partner dances in the past, but none gripped me as the blues did. The connection with your partner and to the music is different," says Bentley. While she shies away from drawing comparisons to the salsa — known to be steamy and sexy —Bentley admits that the blues allow more play between partners.