Move it like Madhuri!
Simran is a 19-year-old undergrad student at University of Auckland. But she also runs a local Bollywood dance school in Glenfield and the Roskill area.
“Dance has always been my passion,” she says.
What kindled this passion?
“Indian children these days are losing touch with their culture, many grow up not understanding their mother tongue and feel shy when it comes to Indian festivities. I too was like this – my parents migrated to NZ when I was very young and I often felt embarrassed to be different,” says Simran, adding,“However I am fortunate to have been involved in Indian dance classes throughout my upbringing. Bollywood dance has been filtered throughout my life and through dance I have learnt to embrace my culture.”
The dance classes have helped Simranrefine her understanding of Hindi, and she has learned to love the Indian culture and find a way to “express herself as a Kiwi-Indian”.
Simranrecalls her earliest memory of dancing in front of the TV, trying to impersonate Madhuri at the age of four. Over the years,she devoted a significant amount of time and effort to learn to dance and loved performing self-taught moves in front of her family and friends.
“It was then when I realised that taking up dance professionally was something I was destined to do,” she says.
In 2009,she joined AajaNachleunder the tutelage of Jignal Patel and went on to win the Dancer of the Year award out of 20 contenders in 2010. Throughout 2010 to 2011,she performed with the AajaNachle troupe at Waitakere Diwali Competition.
“One of our biggest performances was at the Aotea Square Diwali in 2011. It was a great achievement to come first in the Intermediate Group Competition for Diwali and all our hard work paid off,” recounts Simran.
As a result of her hard work and rising talent,she was given the opportunity to teach students at AajaNachle in 2013. “It was a great challenge juggling between work, studies and karate where I received my black belt in 2013,” says the young achiever.
But how does she manage to rope in so much? “Dancing for me is therapeutic and it’s a joy teaching various age groups, ranging from 3 to 40+ year olds at my dance school,” she answers.
“Many of our kids are truly inspirational, our pre-schoolers (aged 3-4) were told at other dance schools that they are too young to dance.But here they are in our classes having lots of fun and picking up the same steps as primary school children,” says Simran.
“Our junior batch (primary and intermediate children) enter competitions and shows, performing against students who are 18+ and win major prizes,” claims the proud teacher.
The intermediate class,comprising of college students, are often seen discussing lyrics, googling the Hindi to English translations and asking the teachers deeper questions with regard to the cultural aspects of the choreography.
Does AajaNachle have anything to offer to the adults? “We also have an adult’s class that is fitness based.It’s great to see the kids pushing their parents along,” says Simran.
Often we feel intimidated to try a dance form from another culture. But Simran goes on to tell us about Sinead, who is of European decent and loves Bollywood dance.“She is often nabbing lead roles over the other girls,” says Simran.
In fact, this experience changed Simran’sperspective about Bollywood. “It’s not only focussed on the Indian community, but it is now universal. We see a diverse group of ethnicities enjoying this dance form, which is influenced by classical and western dance.”
Simran is a 19-year-old undergrad student at University of Auckland. But she also runs a local Bollywood dance school in Glenfield and the Roskill area.
“Dance has always been my passion,” she says.
What kindled this passion?
“Indian children these days are losing touch with their culture,...
Simran is a 19-year-old undergrad student at University of Auckland. But she also runs a local Bollywood dance school in Glenfield and the Roskill area.
“Dance has always been my passion,” she says.
What kindled this passion?
“Indian children these days are losing touch with their culture, many grow up not understanding their mother tongue and feel shy when it comes to Indian festivities. I too was like this – my parents migrated to NZ when I was very young and I often felt embarrassed to be different,” says Simran, adding,“However I am fortunate to have been involved in Indian dance classes throughout my upbringing. Bollywood dance has been filtered throughout my life and through dance I have learnt to embrace my culture.”
The dance classes have helped Simranrefine her understanding of Hindi, and she has learned to love the Indian culture and find a way to “express herself as a Kiwi-Indian”.
Simranrecalls her earliest memory of dancing in front of the TV, trying to impersonate Madhuri at the age of four. Over the years,she devoted a significant amount of time and effort to learn to dance and loved performing self-taught moves in front of her family and friends.
“It was then when I realised that taking up dance professionally was something I was destined to do,” she says.
In 2009,she joined AajaNachleunder the tutelage of Jignal Patel and went on to win the Dancer of the Year award out of 20 contenders in 2010. Throughout 2010 to 2011,she performed with the AajaNachle troupe at Waitakere Diwali Competition.
“One of our biggest performances was at the Aotea Square Diwali in 2011. It was a great achievement to come first in the Intermediate Group Competition for Diwali and all our hard work paid off,” recounts Simran.
As a result of her hard work and rising talent,she was given the opportunity to teach students at AajaNachle in 2013. “It was a great challenge juggling between work, studies and karate where I received my black belt in 2013,” says the young achiever.
But how does she manage to rope in so much? “Dancing for me is therapeutic and it’s a joy teaching various age groups, ranging from 3 to 40+ year olds at my dance school,” she answers.
“Many of our kids are truly inspirational, our pre-schoolers (aged 3-4) were told at other dance schools that they are too young to dance.But here they are in our classes having lots of fun and picking up the same steps as primary school children,” says Simran.
“Our junior batch (primary and intermediate children) enter competitions and shows, performing against students who are 18+ and win major prizes,” claims the proud teacher.
The intermediate class,comprising of college students, are often seen discussing lyrics, googling the Hindi to English translations and asking the teachers deeper questions with regard to the cultural aspects of the choreography.
Does AajaNachle have anything to offer to the adults? “We also have an adult’s class that is fitness based.It’s great to see the kids pushing their parents along,” says Simran.
Often we feel intimidated to try a dance form from another culture. But Simran goes on to tell us about Sinead, who is of European decent and loves Bollywood dance.“She is often nabbing lead roles over the other girls,” says Simran.
In fact, this experience changed Simran’sperspective about Bollywood. “It’s not only focussed on the Indian community, but it is now universal. We see a diverse group of ethnicities enjoying this dance form, which is influenced by classical and western dance.”
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