As Navratri closes in, dance schools in Mumbai go garba

Dance institutes across Mumbai have been brushing up dandiya and garba enthusiasts’ dancing skills as the countdown has begun for the upcoming Navratri festival through quick workshops

Dance institutes across the city have been brushing up dandiya and garba enthusiasts’ dancing skills as the countdown for the upcoming Navratri festival has begun. The institutes have been conducting workshops, a month prior to the festival.

The institutes charge between Rs 1,000 and Rs 2,500 a month depending upon the training and style the students opt for.(HT File Photo)

Rohit Poojary, a dance teacher at Rohit Poojary Dance Academy, Borivli, said, “We take 16 one-hour sessions in a month wherein we start with basic dance steps and conclude with variations and styles in garba. We have 15 students in our batch most of whom are non-dancers.”

Piyush’s Dance Academy in Kalyan also has been organizing crash courses and workshops for garba and dandiya. “We have 55 students divided into three batches dedicated to garba. We teach for 10 days at a stretch for an hour each day to brush up their dancing skills with a bit of western touch to it,” said choreographer Piyush Sen.

Purple Grape Dance and Fitness Academy in Matunga offers quick polish to garba enthusiasts. “We take around 8 to 12 one-and-a-half-hour sessions and demarcate the students into grades depending upon their interests and expertise in garba. We have a mixed crowd from different age groups in our 30-strong group of students,” said Jinal Gala, proprietor of the academy. S Art and Dance Academy in Parel offers a one-week practice session.

Students of Soni School of Garba Dance practise at Purple Grape Dance and Fitness Academy

Mayuri Chosaliya, a dance academy-goer and a regular at garba events, said, “It is good to take time off our busy schedules and bring out our dancing shoes and rehearse for a week or two. Classes and workshops help me polish my skills.”

Palak Desai, an MBA student, takes time off her studies and practises at one of the dance institutes. “I love dancing, especially garba. Now that my favourite singer is in town, I would not want to miss out on anything. I can even skip a day’s college to hone my dancing skills,” she said.

Navratri begins from October 1 and will conclude on October 10 followed by Dussehra on October 11.