Bollywood grooves to salsa, latino beats

I wanna tell you ‘bout a dance that’s goin’ around, everybody’s doin’ it from the grownups down”. The famous Rolling Stones number holds good right now for Bollywood, which is completely smitten by salsa and tango.

Though Aisha was not a hit, it was a treat to watch Abhay Deol, Sonam Kapoor and Lisa Hayden in a salsa number in the romantic comedy.

Kangana Ranaut and Hrithik Roshan scorched the screen with their fast-paced sensuous salsa moves in Kites. In Guzaarish, Hrithik once again mesmerised with his adrenaline rushing performance, while Aishwarya Rai -Bachchan impressed with her flamenco moves.

“International dance formats have always been eye-catching and people make it a point to stop and watch them. With the repeated display of these techniques on the small screen through dance reality shows, the interest of the masses has grown in them,” said choreographer Sandip Soparrkar.

An expert in ballroom dance, Soparrkar was the man behind Hrithik-Kangana’s dream-like dance moves in Kites.

“People are surprised when they see Indians perform ballroom dancing. But Bollywood is becoming international. People need to know that our country is not just about buffaloes and snake charmers,” said the dancer who won the European Ballroom Champion for nine years with his partner Ewa Maria.
It’s true that the new lot of choreographers are not shying away from trying new dance forms in Hindi movies, but it was Shiamak Davar who introduced jazz-infused contemporary dance with the Shah Rukh Khan-Madhuri Dixit-Karishma Kapoor starrer Dil Toh Pagal Hai, telling the tale of a dance-drama troupe.
Soon after, these new forms replaced the jhatkas, matkas and pelvic thrusts. Beautifully choreographed jazz was hugely appreciated in Dhoom (2004), followed by the locking-and-popping in Lakshya (2004), contemporary in Naach (2004), salsa in Honeymoon Travels (2007), and Bollywood-style Broadway in Aaja Nachle (2007).

“While hip-hop has been making inroads into Hindi cinema for some time, other dance styles went unnoticed. Break dance got recognition because of pop legend Michael Jackson,” said choreographer duo Bosco-Cesar.

With films such as Dil To Bachcha Hai Ji, Saat Khoon Maaf and Patiala House, the trend will continue.
“I choreographed a sensuous tango piece for Priyanka Chopra in Vishal Bharadwaj’s Saat Khoon Maaf. I also did a salsa number for Ajay Devgan in Madhur Bhandarkar’s movie, ‘Dil To Bachcha Hai Ji’,” said Soparrkar.

“Reality dance shows and choreographers like Terrence, Remo and Shiamak have educated the masses about the various dance formats through television.” said Bosco.
But, has it overshadowed the typical Bollywood dancing?

Sandeepa Dhar, a trained dancer and debutante actor of Isi Life Mein, said Bollywood dance will never die, and the new dance forms have a long way to go.

“The typical Bollywood dance is a mix of jhatkas and matkas that will never die. But it’s amazing to see that the industry is giving space to these international dance forms. People have had enough of the same old style,” said Sandeepa.

“The international dance formats are at in their initial stages in our country right now while the typical masala dancing has been there for many years. They might co-exist but neither can take over the other’s place.”

Source IANS

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