A DISPUTE over Shakti dance being taught at a town's community centre has been heard across the world – and left a Hindu statesman appalled.

President of the Universal Society of Hinduism, Rajan Zed addressed Whitehaven Parish Rector Robert Jackson and Bishop of Carlisle James Newcome in a statement released in Nevada, USA, urging them to “show some maturity” and reconsider their decision.

The complaint comes four months after Shakti dance teacher, Tamzin Nav Anada, was told she couldn’t hold her Shakti dance classes in St James’s Community Centre, Whitehaven.

The newly-qualified teacher relocated her classes to Campus Whitehaven, but felt “uncomfortable and hurt by the situation” when she was first asked to move her lessons for religious reasons, saying: “I’m not teaching a religion, I just want to teach yoga.”

Mr Zed also addressed Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby in his statement, believing he should intervene as the Whitehaven community has been deprived of the “valuable opportunities” that yoga offers.

He added: “By barring yoga classes, [Rev] Jackson was clearly doing a disservice to the residents of Whitehaven and neighbouring communities.”

Mr Zed added an invite to Rev Jackson, asking him to “study a treatise on yoga and attend a few yoga classes to have firsthand experience”.

The parish initially asked for the Shakti classes to be moved as the centre is church-owned, and so “the activities taking place there must fit in with Christian teaching”, Rev Jackson said at the time.

Also included in Mr Zed’s statement was; Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Cumbria County Council chairman Christine Bowditch, Mayor of Copeland Mike Starkie and Mayor of Whitehaven Brian O’Kane.

Ms Anada was surprised but “grateful” for Mr Zed’s statement, and said: “I still believe there is no place for such outdated, discriminating behaviour regarding who hires the churches ‘community’ halls – especially when community well-being is concerned.

“I have come to realise so many Spiritual teachings and stories cross over, such as Jesus and Mary Magdalene or Shiva and Shakti energies, and the sooner those running the churches and those hiring out the community halls realise this, the better.”

Rev Jackson and Rev Newcome were approached about Mr Zed’s statement, but declined to comment due to having received "no direct communication" from Mr Zed.