Take a Bollywood Break

For those of us who love to travel and experience new things, one of our challenges is to keep up the spirit of adventure and discovery during the 95% of the year that we are not traveling.  I'm going to be focusing on things I can do right here in LA that allow me to "escape" to another place or culture.  This week, I want to share a dance class that truly transports me - Bollywood Bhangra Beats, a workout/dance class that incorporates Bollywood music and dance moves.

Find an hour to spare and you can escape to a world of wrist-twisting, shoulder-shaking, eye-popping, Bollywood exuberance.  From the moment the class starts I am transported by the music which ranges from soft and coy to loud and disco - but disco in an Indian way.  Somehow as soon as I hear the music, my body suddenly wants to move in a more Bollywood style.  I might walk with heels first, toes flexed or exaggerate my shoulders with every step.  If you're thinking My body would NOT automatically move in Bollywood style, it doesn't even KNOW what Bollywood style IS... don't worry.  The classes range in levels and I've seen total newcomers have just as much fun as the regulars.  Achinta, the instructor, emphasizes that having fun and attitude is more important than mastering the dance moves.  She reminds her students that if they forget the footwork, just keep moving and fake it with your face.  If you look like you're having a good time and feeling the music, no one is going to notice the position of your right foot.

What makes this class so fun?  First there is the infectiously danceable music.  Then there is the animated choreography that you can't do without feeling *alive* (insert jazz hands), if not vivacious.  And finally, there is Achinta's teaching style which makes the dance seem like a fun and familiar narrative thanks to her creative analogies.  A slight transfer of weight to the foot is stepping on hot coals.  Spinning with both arms extended  is offering a platter of silver at an elaborate feast.  A pulling of the hand toward the body  is "come-here, come-here."  A counter-directional movement of the hands is the meat slicer.  A flicking of the wrist while extending your arm out is throwing flower petals.  No, I've never stepped on hot coals, offered a giant silver platter, or never even operated a meat slicer, but some part of my brain registers these as familiar motions and I can remember the moves and execute them with what feels like muscle memory.

The classes are predominately made up of women, but often there are a few brave men who show up and Achinta will kindly give them macho alternatives to the girly flower petal throwing moves.  So ALL are welcome, and I can assure you that, if even for just a few measures, you will forget you are in LA, and escape to another world.  A world of dance, a world of platters and petals, a world of Bollywood!

For more information about class go to:
Achinta McDaniels's dance company site,  Blue 13
http://www.blue13dance.com