Film Industry: B-Boying, hip-hop popular at this year’s dandiya

B-Boying, hip-hop popular at this year’s dandiya

Traditional moves get a spin with many revellers including western dance in their routines

    There are a whole lot of new steps around this year, affirms Purvi Vadera, who loves to dance and teach her pals some moves in the run up to the season. She says, “Last year, it was Gangnam Style that was big. This year, Psy’s Gentleman and BBoying steps are big. Each group is also doing their own twist. My husband Ritesh and our friends also have a style. In garba, one usually does the clap, then goes forward and turns, but we clap and go forward, then do two spins, followed by two flips, all done just like B-Boying. It’s not easy though,” she says, adding, “The ghagra is about nine metres, so we have to catch the end part, then do the steps. But it’s fun too.”
    Samir and Arsh Tanna, the husband-wife duo who choreographed Dhol Baaje from Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, say while Bollywood is still big, international fusion is catching up as a fad. “The dress and look may be traditional, but some moves are clearly westernised. Lots of couples are doing the dandiya with Locking and Popping, which looks like the breakdance. It’s really energetic,” he says.
    A regular at dandiya nights in the city, Dev Kakkad predicts that the freestyle dandiya trend is going to be around for the next few years too. “People want something new. Earlier youngsters mostly did the traditional ‘hinch’ garba, which is performed to teen taal, as well as popat and dodiya steps. Now you have youngsters grooving to a mix of hip-hop and songs like Dhinka Chika or Hudd Hudd Dabangg. In Mumbai, you won’t really
see the authentic
dandiya,” he grins.