I enter the dance floor nervously for obvious reasons. One: I’m in a Bollywood dance class. Two: there are only women in this session. Three: I’m the last person on the planet that my colleagues should send to attend a fitness routine in a dance workout. Voted out completely and forced to succumb to their pressure, I reluctantly give in and make my way to Xavier’s Dance Studio in Kalyan Nagar with fingers crossed and heart beating like I’m a convict making my last steps to the gallows. With the Bollywood beats getting louder, I try to calm myself by imagining church bells sounding the death knell in my head. It doesn’t do me any good.
I sheepishly make my way in and stand in the farthest corner, hoping I can pass off as invisible. But as fate would have it, and to the delight of my temporary batch mates, I am asked to step right in front and introduced as the guest for the session. I’m red with embarrassment. My instructor, however, quickly guides me to the side and runs through the routine and explains what’s in store for today. My feeble pleas of ‘I can’t dance’, ‘I can’t make my left foot from my right’, ‘Can’t I just stand and watch?’ are waved aside, leaving me weeping inside.
I admit defeat, put on a brave front and try my best to keep up with the warm up exercises. Five minutes in and I’m already panting for breath. I feel my back aching already, as I groan under my breath and try to keep my smile on, for fear of embarrassing myself further, all the time cursing my colleagues, who must be thrilled to bits. After more cardio and dance workouts, we finally head to the choreography, where I am, thankfully, asked to watch.
The well-rehearsed ladies take over the dance floor and the ‘Dance Basanti’ track from the movie Ungli kicks off the actual dance routine. Hips shake, feet swerve, arms groove and an array of complicated jhatkas and thumkas are thrown in. I’m instantly in awe of the group. Ranging from 15 to 50 in age, the dancers make it seem easy.
Dance instructor Aradhana Biswal tells me it’s all about energy in Bollywood dance. “We all love songs that make us move and that’s the heart of Bollywood. Some pick it up fast while others take time. Everything needs practice and as long as you have the energy level, it’s enough.”
Anvita Choudhury, a ninth grader dancing in front, tells me enthusiastically that though it looks exhausting, it’s fun.
Near me is Sandhya Shivkumar, a doctor by profession, says, “I love dancing. Bollywood is fun and I perform whenever I get a chance.” I ask her about the fitness factor and she says: “I recommend it to all my patients. Dance gives a sense of purpose, something to look forward to and once you complete a routine, you feel good about yourself.”
My instructor adds that while dance in itself is fitness, Bollywood dance has the maximum energy and it’s a full body workout. “It’s also a stress buster, so you are fit physically and mentally,” Aradhana affirms.
Founder Xavier Prasad sums it up: “Bollywood is an Indian style with the flavour of Indian cinema. This is a style that brings a lot of energy to the dancer. So when you choose to do Bollywood with that energy, weight is automatically lost in the process of dancing. If you are living the moment, enjoying Bollywood songs and dancing to it, your fitness is taken care of automatically.”
‘High Heels Te Nachche’ from Ki & Ka kicks off the next routine and the girls head back to formation and move on to ‘Ladki Kar Gayi Chull’ from Kapoor & Sons , all the while executing a fit and fun workout regimen. All I can do is stand and applaud.
Did I have fun and feel fitter? That’s for me to know and you to find out. Head to your nearest Bollywood dance class now!
