It is not just yoga any more, but Indian music and dance, particularly Bollywood steps, that are becoming equally popular in the West.
No doubt that our love for Bollywood isn’t restricted to films alone, as we love to take pride even in the characteristic desi dance moves, no matter how much we mock them otherwise.
Dance choreographer Vishal Kanoi, who had trained under Shamak Dawar for 10 years before he started his own dance company, agrees. “There is a popular demand for Bollywood around the globe. I wish to reach out to many more nations with our cultural heritage,” says Vishal who also conducts many dance classes and summer workshops in places like Chicago, New York, etc.
Tavishi Alexander, a fashion designing student in Melbourne claims that Bollywood dance has become a way of life for her. “I am soon going to open my own dance coaching institute. Indian classical dance has been in vogue for quite some time now.
However, Bollywood steps are easy and total fun — which explains their growing popularity amongst the youth,” she says.
Even at the recently held World Culture Festival in Berlin, people gathered in huge numbers to witness Indian music and dance performances.
In fact the function started with playing of nadaswaram, a south Indian musical instrument, by artists from India and Sri Lanka. The beats of the barrel-shaped drum filled the stadium with energy as people clapped along, forgetting the chilly winds. Even the Glastonbury festival last month saw for the first time, Indian artist Raghu Dixit strum his guitar to earthy Indian tunes.
