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The name Bollywood comes from combining the name of 'Hollywood' with 'Bombay' - the older name for the Indian city of Mumbai where the Hindi-language film industry is based.
With its strong emphasis on dance, it's not surprising that Bollywood training is also heavily dance-orientated and recent years have seen a world-wide increase in the popularity of Bollywood films.
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Lavish costumes, amazing dance routines and exotic locations have helped Bollywood become the largest film market in the world in terms of both films released and box office ticket sales. With help from Salma of Salma's Bollywood Academy (SBA) - the first British Asian Bollywood Dance Academy for the North of England - UKP-Arts looks closer at this unique genre.
SBA was launched in April 2005 (although Salma has been teaching since 1984), and has schools in Huddersfield, Bradford, Leeds and Manchester. Salma herself has many years' experience and knowledge - teaching Bollywood dance and acting, Bhangra, Lollywood and keep-fit activity programmes as well as choreographing work for television, Bollywood stars, pop videos, wedding exhibitions and much more. Her students have appeared on Coronation Street, Dragons Den, Freaky Eaters, Identity, BBC3, ITV1, Channel 4, ZEE, B4U as well as choreographing for British films and TV.
During a typical session at SBA, students participate in a teacher-led warm-up which also introduces Bollywood/Bhangra/Lollywood movements. Students then learn the latest modern and traditional Bollywood movements to Indian music, with the main emphasis on:
1. What is Bollywood?
2. Learning a Bollywood dance piece
3. Bollywood technique
4. Facial expressions, classical hand gestures, telling stories through the art of body language and travelling steps
5. Bollywood dance and fitness.
Salma is constantly searching and talent-spotting during her sessions. A good student, in her mind, is "always punctual, holds pride in what they are doing and goes that extra mile. Students that achieve well and go on to greater things will need to be dedicated and take on board responsibility for their work and have respect for everyone in the class."
Dance companies in the UK and beyond are also now beginning to see the results of the scheme too as the first wave of CAT students move into their professional careers. The first centres were established six years ago and graduates are now working with Scottish Dance Theatre, Hofesh Shechter Company, Motionhouse Dance Theatre as well as in the West End.
Bollywood dance (Modern Hindi)
Bollywood dancing consists of Arabic arms, Egyptian heads, hip sways and jerks, intricate travelling steps and movements expressed with fusions of classical with Western themes.
Bhangra dance (Indian Folk Dance)
Bhangra is a traditional Indian folk dance which has been modernised and updated throughout the years. Movements range from traditional Bhangra shoulders, Bhangra arms, gidda, travelling steps, stomping and many others. Salma describes it as "a sincere cocktail of Indian culture and history waiting to be explored through the art of movement". Bhangra can be both traditional and modern, and can be performed to traditional Bhangra music or to funky up-beat rhythms and the Dhol (Indian drum).
Lollywood dance (Pakistani Film Dance)
Lollywood dance is the sister to Bollywood dance - similar principles, methods and techniques yet with its own identity and merits. Lollywood has made its own mark within the dance culture and is derived from the Pakistani film industry known as Lollywood, based in Lahore. A fun and exciting dance style with movements ranging from hip circles, shoulder movements, wavy arms and classical steps, generally combined with both Arabic and Western influences.
Dancing and acting
As with any musical film/theatre training, being taught acting techniques alongside dance (and singing) is also important. In Bollywood and Lollywood training, these techniques are very much interwoven. Salma describes how her classes allow you "to experience both dancing and acting alongside each other - as you are learning a dance piece you will also be learning the basic techniques and principles of acting within the Indian or Pakistani cinema, depending on the one you opt for". This very physical training includes miming, emotion, performance improvisation, acting the song through the language of dance, grace, facial expressions, body language and hand gestures.
Bollywood and beyond
The career opportunities at SBA are many. Exceptional students can take part in the SBA Teacher Training Bollywood Dance course - once taken, this allows students to work closely with SBA on a regular basis and deliver their Bollywood dance sessions. SBA can also prepare and train students in order for them to teach in mainstream schools and offer a variety of different educational programmes. The sessions can be interlinked with the relevant subject in order to achieve and deliver cross-curricular activities such as in physical education, dance, religious education, history and 'artist into school' projects.
For some students there is also the opportunity to be part of the SBA professional dance troupe and tour around the UK. The troupe performs at a variety of different venues and settings such as in television programmes, pop videos, at fashion shows, weddings and hen parties.
Further information:
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