by MARITES CARINO

"Dress in comfortable ballet-type clothing, bring a towel, water bottle and high-heels," directs the woman's voice on the phone. "And dress in layers - oh wait, we don't usually start taking off layers in the first lesson."

What am I getting myself into? I've signed up for Danse Ero Teknique, in the reassuring words of instructor Heather Downe, "a fun-filled exercise class that teaches erotic dance."

Now in her 50s, Downe has over 30 years experience teaching dance. Although she retired six years ago, her love for teaching was re-ignited one day last spring when her teenage children beckoned her to watch a TV show in which someone was learning to pole dance. Downe wondered if erotic dance was offered in Montreal, and came up empty-handed: "I figured if no one is offering the class, I would."

During her research phase, an Oprah episode aired, called "Releasing Your Inner Sexpot." In it, dowdy housewife types got a chance at an attitude overhaul complete with pole-dance lesson, learning the stripper strut and makeovers galore. Delighted with the timing, Downe continued to pitch her class to various venues, initially meeting with resistance, but her persistence paid off. She now offers classes in Montreal, Laval and the West Island to a wide mix of women, though, she says, "I've received as many calls from men," and is considering classes for gay men as the next step.

Awkward entry

When I arrive, a gaggle of women of different sizes, shapes and ages cluster around a woman who turns out to be Heather. She stands about six feet tall, dressed in a black leotard with running shoes and a slouchy black duffle bag slumped at her feet.

We trickle into the glaring, fluorescent-lit, mirrored studio. Cloaked in our layers, everyone seems tentative, clutching at their water bottles and unsure of where this hour-long class will lead. It's an eclectic mix, something Downe reinforces by telling us that her oldest student is 75 and that she has several mother-daughter pairs.

We change into our workout wear and begin a generic warm-up to snappy techno tunes. But things take an unexpected slide when we get a taste of pelvic-centric pole-dance moves - sans pole. That will come in later lessons; for $800 (U.S.), Downe purchased a pole-dancing unit, complete with a four-by-four foot stage, which will give students a hands-on experience.

"Girls, get out your dance shoes!" Heather says. Luckily I had just bought my first pair of high-heels for a wedding so I wasn't caught empty-handed like some of the others. We start off with teetering baby steps, slowly wriggling our hips in a tight circle.

Next thing I know, Heather is tossing skirts, tops and sarongs at the now scantily clad souls, and pulls out three desk lamps with bulbs as red as the studio's sortie signs. Overhead lights flick off, and under a concealing glow we practise the routine she's taught us, which involves languorously peeling off a shirt, flinging it at a private spectator, and teasing off bra straps - all to Alannah Myles' throaty "Black Velvet." For the record, you'll never have to strip down to your birthday suit here.

Foreplay foundation

After the dance, the room is abuzz, and the wired participants discuss their newly acquired mini-choreographies. Melanie, a 22-year-old human resources graduate, is excited with the prospects of what she's learned. "It was hot," she says. "I'm definitely trying these new techniques this weekend."

A chatty pair of women brazenly announce to me they are over 55. "It doesn't matter how old you are," a woman named Nancy tells me. "It makes you feel in tune with your body. We go to the gym every day - this is a terrific way to keep in shape and have some fun and feel motivated." Her friend Cheryl chimes in: "We gave up on aerobics. We got bored of jumping around."

A few days later, I send out an

e-mail inquiring about classmates' nocturnal experiments with their new moves. Only Melanie responds. "I tested my moves out on my boyfriend the weekend after and he got so turned on!" she wrote. "He especially loved the way we were taught to take off our bra. He enjoyed having all my clothes piled up on him! And inevitably, we had sex afterwards - great sex, might I add."

Danse Ero Teknique offers free trial lessons during the month of December. For schedules and locations, visit www.danse-eroteknique.com or call Heather Downe at 952-0298