LONDON — Students have been taught how to walk in stilettos as part of a government-funded course, a south London college said on Wednesday.

The six-week “Sexy Heels in the City” course was offered as an extra-curricular activity at South Thames College and finished in May.

The college said five students aged between 16 and 50-plus took part in the classes, and said the reactions were overwhelmingly positive.

“The course improved students’ confidence, it was a fun, sociable activity for them to do in their free time,” a college spokeswoman told AFP.

“They practiced the Alexander Technique and learned how to walk responsibly and carefully in high heels.” The Alexander Technique is a method that helps to improve a person’s posture and balance.

Professional singer China Whyne — who has worked with Eric Clapton, Seal and Peter Gabriel — was paid 750 pounds (1,000 dollars, 900 euros) to teach the six-week course.

On her website, the tutor promises to teach women teetering in high heels how to improve their posture, reduce back pain and “achieve that gliding feeling when walking”.

One of the college students who completed the course said she now “felt more comfortable in my heels.”

“I no longer feel pain on a night out because I know what exercises to do beforehand,” said 16-year-old Celina Mystery. “Now I can finally rock my heels.”

South Thames College said it was still evaluating whether to run the course again.

Meanwhile, the TaxPayers’ Alliance campaign group dismissed the course as a waste of money.

“This is a silly gimmick that’s most likely diverting money away from more needy parts of the college,” chief executive Matthew Elliott told the Daily Mirror website.

Source: AFP