SEVEN years ago Salma Zaman organised the UK’s first South Asian History Month.

Every June since 2011 Salma has brought together the worlds of education, dance, drama and storytelling through events celebrating Indian and Pakistani arts, culture and heritage.

She also runs workshops throughout the year looking at the contributions made by South Asian people from the past and present. Delivered in schools, the workshops include a profile of Indian ‘secret spy princess’ Noor Inayat Khan,

Partition told through history and dance, and the Bollywood dance through the years.

A qualified dance and drama teacher and fitness instructor, Salma set up Yorkshire’s first Bollywood dance academy, and she holds lessons in Bradford and across the region. The focus is on Bollywood and Lollywood dance, and also the cultural and social history of dance. Salma teaches a range of dance styles, including Bhangra, ‘street Bollywood’, khatak, modern dance, jazz, bharatnatyam, salsa and hip-hop. She also holds fitness sessions promoting healthy lifestyles and wellbeing for children and adults with a range of conditions, such as autism and dementia.

Now the mother-of-four has written a children’s book about a little boy with autism who dreams of winning a trophy at a dance contest.

In Help! I Can’t Dance Without My Bhangra Pants, Amaan enjoys his Bhangra dance class, but is frustrated at his constant tripping up. When he discovers a pair of Bhangra dance pants, he discovers that magical things begin to happen. But his rival, Roberta, also wants to win the dance trophy and comes up with a nasty plan to defeat him. Can Amaan hold onto his moves and grooves without his magic Bhangra pants?

Beautifully illustrated by Iranian artist Sahar Ajami, the book is a funny, touching story for young children - perfect for a lively storytelling session for both boys and girls.

Salma, whose first children’s book was Bollywood Princess, hopes to inspire children of all abilities to dance and lead healthy lives. “The books are aimed at children from different cultural backgrounds and faiths, and encourage integration,” she says. "They promote cultural dances with a positive message and themes such as working in a team, believing in yourself, looking out for each other, working hard to achieve your goals - and the idea that anything is possible when you believe in your own magic. Sahar Ajami illustrations are bright and attractive, and meet the needs of readers who work best with visual resources."

Adds Salma: "I offer interactive storytelling workshops, using dance movements taken from the books, and use key words from the story, allowing readers to create their own stories. The aim is to encourage them to have a go."

Salma, from Huddersfield, has been fascinated by Bollywood dance since she was a child, and taught herself by watching films. She studied dance and theatre at university before setting up Salma's Dance Academy. As well as delivering dance and fitness sessions in schools, she runs fun reading groups for families.

She has worked with Bollywood stars Ashwairya Rai and Waheeda Rehman, and singer Donny Osmond, and has choreographed for TV shows including Coronation Street.

* For more about Help! I Can’t Dance Without My Bhangra Pants visit salmasbollywoodacademy.com