An international dance champion is set to star at a "sizzling" South American Ball to launch Saltaire Festival.

Theo Awadzi won a 'Strictly Come Dancing'- style Salsa Dance Championship in Ghana in 2006 and has agreed to perform at the event at Victoria Hall on September 11.

Professional salsa-instructor Jean-Paul Essiam who has supported entrants in the Miss Universe Ghana competition will also perform on the night.

The ball, named ‘Strictly Saltaire’, will kick-start a two-week long festival in the village, with the theme of ‘Uniting Nations.’ Volunteer ball co-ordinator Louise Higgins said that the event had been organised by local residents for the people of Saltaire to celebrate the beginning of two weeks of fun, shows and activities in the World Heritage site.

She said: “This year's event marks an exciting move away from the more formal ball which Saltaire has seen in previous years.

“We’ve been really lucky to recruit Theo and Jean-Paul to perform a floor show for us and hope that it will inspire everyone to get up and show off their own dance moves.

“The ball is meant for everyone young or old, dancer or toe-tapper to enjoy, and guests are being asked to ‘dress to thrill’.”

Strictly Saltaire, which starts at 7pm, will also host 11-piece local band Salsa Como Loco, and ticket-holders will be served Yorkshire tapas courtesy of Sandinista in Leeds.

Theo, 26, from Ghana, said: “Salsa is about passion and energy and I am looking forward to the music and our performance will lift the Saltaire festival ball to the next level of world-class entertainment."

Jean-Paul, 28, added: "The entertainment is going to blow everybody’s minds -we are going to show ticket-holders something Yorkshire has never seen before."

The Co-Operative in Saltaire is sponsoring the ball, with support from Isis Goddesswear on Bingley Road.

Tickets are £20 and can be bought from Isis Goddesswear or Massarella’s, Saltaire Newsagents, House of Rose and Brown or Magic Number 3 on Victoria Road, or by visiting www.saltairefestival.co.uk.