Following a Passion

Bollywood (the Indian film industry) movies may repel some viewers, while other viewers simply sit in silence complaining about how cliche the movies are, but still sit through them in entirety. However, not many can say that the movies help fuel their passion. For freshman Eesha Moona, the songs from these movies have helped her progress into being a member of the club Andaaz, which has allowed her to follow her talent and passions.

“Dance is a really nice way to let out all your energy and emotions,” Moona said. “I do it whenever I’m frustrated.”

Because she was like her older cousin, her parents decided to have her practice the same hobby as her cousin — dance. Since the age of four, Moona has been in dance classes, giving her restless young body a chance to move around and acting as an outlet to express herself. Yet, even with all the experience under her wing, a few years ago, Moona could never have pictured herself dancing in front of the large audience that she does today.

At the time of a cousin’s wedding, Moona decided to choreograph her own dance to the high energy beat of bollywood songs. While choreographing, she first listens to the song and dances to it, without any restraints or thoughts on the moves and records this. She then edits herself to create a fluid dance routine; by performing in front of her family and many unfamiliar faces, she lost her timidity. As people came up to her to compliment her choreographed routine and dance ability, she began to fully understand her talent as a dancer.

But, Moona hasn’t restricted herself to just Bollywood. In the past years, she has also taken hip-hop, learning tricks from her Bollywood teacher. It was this combination of passions that made Andaaz the perfect choice for Moona, as it allows her to continue practicing both Bollywood songs and hip-hop. In fact, she sees Bollywood as basically a fluid hip hop with more rhythm and less emphasis on grace.

She loves the atmosphere of the club, where the team works together with officers to choreograph routines and the officers remain extremely open to team members’ suggestions. The club helps her on her continued mission for her life: keeping her talent polished.

A LEAP OF FAITH

Sophomore Dhruv Parikh joined Andaaz in his freshman year, when the club went by the name of Bollywood, with no prior experience with Bollywood dance — or any type of dance at all. With his little knowledge of Bollywood movies’ dances, Parikh went to the tryouts to learn all he needed to know to succeed in Bollywood dance. During his tryouts, Parikh explained how he though most of the girls seemed to know Bollywood dance; however, he believes most of the boys shared his lack of experience.

“[I chose dance because] it’s something different,” Parikh said.

Bollywood dance took him time and effort to master. During practices and the tryouts, Parikh would practice the moves during the allotted time provided and at home until he felt like he got them.

He chose Andaaz mostly because it was the dance he felt most comfortable with. He felt very unfamiliar with the moves of Bhangra, and Raas was an all girls team.

Now, Parikh feels experienced with Bollywood dance. Through Andaaz, he has gone to many shows and has undergone many practices that have helped him refine his skills. It has given him the confidence to be at the front of the show dancing.

CONTINUING THE DREAM

While weddings are a place for love, congratulations, and tears of happiness, for freshman Manasi Vats, weddings are the birthplace of an interest in Indian dance. Since the age of four, freshman Manasi Vats has been practicing Bollywood dance.

Vats recalls how when she was 12 in a dance performance on stage, she and her friends from her dance class experienced countless audio issues. It was a six minute dance. But every two minutes, the audio ended up restarting. And they’d keep restarting their dance. Although the prospect of disqualification lingered in the girls’ minds, this new experience was surprisingly very enjoyable to the girls. Eventually they were able to make it through to the end of the audio and actually won first place in the competition. From this, Vats learned that she should keep trying and not give up along the way.

Mostly, she and her dance teammates choreograph small routines together that complement the routines that her teacher choreographs. Although sometimes their styles clash, they can always work it out.

With her vast knowledge of and experience with Bollywood dance, it was an easy, yet obvious transition for her to continue her dancing through Andaaz. Now, Vats looks forward to the Friday afternoon practices of Andaaz every week.
“Dance is just something I do for fun,” Vats said. “It relieves my stress and it definitely gets competitive at many times, but it’s taught me so much and it’s my comfort place.”