Bollywood dance comes to a village fest

Subject: Bollywood dance comes to a village fest
From: Will Fly
Date: 12 Sep 16 - 07:06 AM

I was running the PA/music stage at a local event in my village last Saturday - a "street food festival" in the library car park. There were several food stands, beer tent, etc., and some live music as well as background stuff from an iPod.

One of the events was a 30-minute Bollywood dance session, run by a Hindi lady, complete with silks for attaching to wrists, and with suitable music from her smartphone run through the PA. The weather - not to put too fine a point on it - was shite: grey, close to rain, threatening, but not cold.

Anyway, the session was announced and several children and mums turned up, donned wrist silks, got instructions - and were off. It was great. The grey afternoon was lit up with colour and movement as the dancers did their stuff with very little help from Waffa, the instructor. All to the sound of A.H. Rahman's "Jai Ho!" (Rahman did the music for stuff like Slumdog Millionaire). What was great about the music was the mix of traditional Hindi music with modern fusion - it really got the dancers twirling and moving.

And after that, the rain came down - but that's another story...

Subject: RE: Bollywood dance comes to a village fest
From: leeneia
Date: 22 Sep 16 - 01:51 PM

Sounds great, Will. Thanks for describing it.

Subject: RE: Bollywood dance comes to a village fest
From: Mr Red
Date: 23 Sep 16 - 04:39 AM

Lisa Heywood includes a Bollywood style action instead of a 6/8 person star in one of her ceilidh dances.
All part of the Folk Process, we will see if this particular pose makes it into the wider canon.

I don't think she will be using it in Contra dances. I will find out tonight at Bristol Contra.

Subject: RE: Bollywood dance comes to a village fest
From: Jack Campin
Date: 23 Sep 16 - 05:06 AM

And you can get people to sing along...

Benny Lava

Subject: RE: Bollywood dance comes to a village fest
From: GUEST,Pete from seven stars link
Date: 23 Sep 16 - 05:21 PM

Not long ago the primary school over the road, had a cultural event which included an Indian couple coming in to teach dance . At the conclusion parents were treated to a performance from the kids who had learnt the dancing. They done well and it was lovely to see.