An important part of Bollywood films is dance, which has also become very popular all over the world. In a Bollywood dance number, a large group of backup dancers is normally there besides the hero and heroine. The dance performance involving high energy and proper synchronisation with each other is very interesting to watch. It adds a different level to the story of the film. There are hand movements, foot movements, facial expressions and head and neck movements during dancing. The dancers wear colourful and attractive costumes. Proper training is necessary to learn Bollywood dance. Many interested candidates get training in Bollywood dance in a reputed dance institute at Kolkata.

A brief history of Bollywood dance

From the 1940s and 50s, Bollywood films begin to include extravagant dance numbers beautifully choreographed. In most cases, the purpose of the dance numbers was to support the storyline. In the initial stage, the foundation of Bollywood dance was normally Indian classical and folk dance. However, the merging of these styles with popular dance forms of the world gave Bollywood dance a new style of its own.

Role of the choreographers

We see the hero and heroine dancing on the screen, but those who make this whole thing happen from behind the camera are the choreographers. There are many famous choreographers in the Bollywood industry. The names from the past era include B. Sohanlal, Lachhu Maharaj, Krishna Kumar and Chiman Seth. Saroj Khan, Ganesh Acharya, Shiamak Davar, Farah Khan, Geeta Kapoor, Vaibhavi Merchant, Prabhu Deva, Terrence Lewis, Ahmed Khan and Remo D’Souza are some names from the present era.

Importance of costume

The right choice of costume is very important in any Bollywood dance number. It helps in giving a colourful effect to the whole thing. Some costumes are of the traditional style whereas some are a mixture of traditional and modern styles. The costume often depends on the type of dance.

The attraction of Bollywood dance has inspired many youngsters to learn it. Due to its huge demand, a western dance institute in Kolkata has opened a separate section to teach this dance form.

Bollywood dance has absorbed many dance styles from different parts of the world such as Latin movements and Arabic belly dancing. Hip-hop elements have also become an integral part of Bollywood dance. Not only in India, but this dance form is also extremely popular across the globe. There is a huge demand for those trained in Bollywood dance form in various events and stage performances. A famous dance academy at Kolkata has experienced trainers to train eligible candidates in this dance form. After successful completion of the course, the candidates can pursue a successful dancing career. By their dedication and hard work, they can also get a chance in Bollywood films as backup dancers.