Happy feet!!!!

A nice and interesting phenomenon has swept Indians. We have finally come out of our shells and embraced dancing. From cities to towns, suburbs to villages grooving is coming of age, and people don’t think twice before shaking a leg in the public. Dance has captured our imagination and people in all shapes, from different walks of life and with varied motivations are learning to shake that leg, never mind the fact—they did not do this before.

Alok is going to be forty; is a successful IT professional and this year learning Salsa is the top item in his ‘to-do’ list. He has enrolled in a dancing school, with his wife, who unlike him has never danced before. Two classes later the realization dawned on them, that dance truly transforms the way you think. This conservative couple is learning to be out-going and gregarious. 25-year-old Natasha lives in the suburb of Delhi. She is taking dance classes with her fiancé so that they could be more than jumping jacks at parties. Giving her company is her sister, who has to make sure that mehandi and sangeet ceremonies are a rocking affair. And, no ceremony is a hit without a good dance. Forty-five year old Mina is learning Kathak. She confides that the time spent in the practice sessions is well spent. “Dance has helped me challenge depression as I was suffering from empty-nest syndrome. My dance-practice sessions have helped me lose weight. My body is more nimble and agile now, and it feels so good!” exclaims she. “Initially, I was intimidated to join a class where I would have children for company. Then, I found a teacher, who would give me lessons at home, and I have never been happier,” gushes she. No points to guess, dancing is doing them a lot of good, and their tribe is growing everyday.

Dance like they do on TV

In some ways, the reality TV shows have a role in making dance popular. When Boogie Woogie begun in 1998 it was the solo dance-based show, and today almost every channel has one. When we watch celebrity contestants trip and twirl, struggle with dancing steps and maneuvers, perform despite the fact that some have not done this all their lives and win at the end, overcoming the odds, somewhere the genie that was trapped in all of us unleashes itself. These shows give hope to all of us who dreamt of dancing but could not muster the courage to do so, making us feel that anyone can dance, even someone who has never danced all her life and has two left feet.

Ranjit Ahuja runs Passion Music and Dance school at South Delhi since 2003. He says, “Initially people learned dance as a hobby, but with changed times dancing has become a social lubricant. People do not wish to jump up and down in parties any more. Normally couples enroll for learning Salsa or Bollywood dance—a melting pot of different dance forms. People as old as 60 years come to my dance school.” Moreover, dance doubles up as an exercise. “For time-starved people it is a good way to tone bodies and refresh minds. Besides, grooving is in these days”, comments Ranjit.

Dance of well being!

When the image of dance conjures in our mind we think of able-bodied people swinging and twirling with abandon, expressing their emotions in one of the most powerful ways. Rarely, we think of a dance where wheelchair and crutches is the prop. Meet, maverick Guru Sayeed Sallauddin Pasha—trained kathak and bharatnatyam dancer, once and your so-called beliefs breathe its last.

With differently-abled children Guru Pasha weaves the magic of Ramayana—a magnificent epic, records the history of ‘Women of India—6000BC to 2000 AD, and does dance-dramas like Durga and Martial arts on wheels. He is the founder-director of Ability Unlimited, India’s first dance-theatre repertory for people with disabilities. He uses dance and theatre as a medium to reach out to disabled people. Ability Unlimited has 150 professional differently abled artistes. They have traveled widely in India and abroad. “Dance for the differently-abled is like medicine for them without side-effects. Moving to music is therapeutic for the body and uplifting for the spirit. Movements set in choreography to be performed before public view sets a challenge for them and the accomplishing it instills confidence in them”, says Guru Pasha.
The organisation, Guru Pasha says, has a three-fold agenda: first, it advocates and uses theatre and dance to heal. Second, it trains disabled people in all spheres of the two art forms, including the technical aspects; and third, it helps them become professional performers, “giving them a sense of dignity”.

“There are approximately 70 million disabled people in India but they remain an invisible minority. Through my dance-theatre productions I would like to show the world that differently-abled children are second to none if given an opportunity. Seeing them perform on the stage is a healing experience for the spectators too”, concludes Guru Pasha

A dance a day keeps doctor away

Dr. Sushila Kataria, internal-consultant, Apollo Clinic, Sector 56, says–

•  Dancing is like any other aerobic exercise. It helps you lose weight.
• Improves blood circulation because the activity pumps in more blood.
• Strengthens muscle tissues and improves joint mobility.
• The texture of your skin improves. As the pores in the skin open up and breathe.
• Just like any other weight bearing exercise, all this hopping and jumping is good for your bones.
• Dancing helps release stress. Less stress translates in less cholesterol, lower blood pressure and better diabetes control.

“However, for people who have joint, heart problems, and other health concerns get in touch with your doctor before you pull out your dancing shoes”, advises she.

So, all Cinderellas out there pull out your dancing shoes from the closets and enroll yourself in the nearest dancing school, and there are many in the neighbourhood. Cull out time for this activity and see your weight dive and confidence soar. You are surely going to love that.

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