In the world of dance, the term “Bollywood” generally evokes thoughts of colorfully shiny costumes coupled with dancers grinning from ear to ear. It is no coincidence that the word “Bollywood” is derived from combining the word “Hollywood” and “Bombay,” which is now known as Mumbai (the movie-making capital of India). Like the movies created in these cities, this cultural dance style is defined by energetic movements articulating an entertaining story line.
The Bollywood dance style utilizes simple movements derived from local Indian tribes such as Kathak and Bharata Natyam. Kathak and Bharata Natyam utilize large, circular movements of the hips, and the performers take up the vast majority of the stage space. There are rarely moments of stillness. Additionally, the importance of choreographing movements to the perfect timing of the music is critical in giving Bollywood dance its signature look. It is critical that every move has its own beat.
The presence of dancers such as Geetanjali, Sandhya, Helen & Mahipal in the 1970s gave Bollywood dancing a face to the movements. These dancers were able to take the already vibrant artform and use their facial expressions to make the dances into art pieces. Therefore, Bollywood began to be implemented into movie settings in order to enhance the film industry’s storytelling abilities. Movies such as Disco Dancer, Slumdog Millionaire, and Dile Se all feature Bollywood dancing in order to successfully engage their audience. As Bollywood dance proved to enraptured audience members from across the globe, it became more and more prevelant across all cultures and countries.
The 70’s saw dance as an artform rapidly evolve. While this global evolution was taking place, the genre of Bollywood began to evolve as well. It was at this point that Bollywood began to take on a cabaret vibe and gain a strong influence on the disco movement. It helped bring more energy to an already lively style. One person in particular that added a new spin to this style was Govinda; he developed what is now known as Bollywood freestyle. Govinda’s style was heavily influenced by his “B-boy” background, so it strongly resembled the style of hip hop with an Indian flare.
Since the 1970s, Bollywood’s popularity is no longer confined to the borders of India. It has now become an artform that is enjoyed around the world. It is enjoyed by people in the United States, Canada, South America, China, and numerous other countries around the world. Shows such as So You Think You Can Dance and World of Dance continually feature traditional Bollywood dancing in order to keep the Indian roots alive. Although modern day Bollywood dancing is heavily influenced by hip hop, it is extremely important to remember why and how this genre of dance came to be.
What appears to be glittery costumes lined in rainbow fabric and huge stage smiles is actually a result of days, weeks, months, or even years of hardwood and attention to detail. In a world where we are continually trying to differentiate ourselves from others in order to stand out, the modern day genre of Bollywood dance is a prime example of how conforming to different cultures can result in something beautifully intricate and admirable from all regions of the globe.