Dance as a Family: How Kids Can Benefit from Bollywood Dance Training

1 Comments

Introduction

Bollywood dance, with its vivid blend of colours, music, and movement, is not just a dance form but a celebration of life itself. At Dance Expression, we believe in the power of this vibrant dance style to bring families together and offer a plethora of benefits for children. In this blog, we’ll delve into how Bollywood dance training at Dance Expression is more than just learning dance steps – it’s a holistic journey for your child’s growth and development.

The Joy of Movement: Bollywood Dance as a Fun Activity

At Dance Expression, Bollywood dance is a central and vibrant part of our curriculum, known for its energy and enthusiasm. Our classes are crafted to captivate and energize kids, offering a fun and active way to maintain fitness and health. Key aspects of our Bollywood dance classes include:

• A mix of various dance styles suitable for children of all ages
• Focus on enhancing flexibility and teaching basics of different dance genres
• Opportunities for children to express emotions through movement

Our sessions go beyond traditional dance classes, providing a lively platform for kids to creatively channel their energy. Through Bollywood dance, children can:

• Make new friends
• Build confidence in a supportive environment
• Engage in learning about Indian culture and traditions

Cultural Exposure and Diversity

At Dance Expression, our Bollywood dance classes are an immersive journey into Indian culture and traditions. Our students explore the rich heritage of India through dance, learning about:

• Traditional festivals like Diwali, Holi, and Lohri
• Various rituals and customs

Our curriculum beautifully blends traditional Indian dance with contemporary and modern styles, showcasing the cultural diversity in Bollywood dance. Through Bollywood songs’ language and lyrics, children gain a deeper understanding of Indian culture, while classical music in our classes helps them appreciate India’s artistic heritage. We also highlight modern, global influences on Bollywood dance, reflecting the diversity of today’s world.

Recognizing the importance of cultural diversity in education, our classes use Bollywood dance as a tool to foster this understanding. A prime example is Stephanie Persaud, who has been with us since a young age and has developed a deep love for this cultural blend. Her experience underscores how Bollywood dance promotes cultural understanding and fosters a lifelong connection to diverse traditions and customs.

“By doing Bollywood dance classes, it has made us appreciate our ancestors’ way of life through music, language, culture and celebrations. Different types of dances incorporate different cultures in India, said Diannia Persaud, Stephanie’s mother.

Stephanie has developed skills like facial expression, eyes, hands and foot coordination, confidence and self-awareness. Stephanie loves to learn about the new techniques, styles, and different cultures in Bollywood dance.”

Physical Health Benefits

Bollywood dance, especially at Dance Expression, is celebrated for its high energy and approachable nature. At Dance Expression studio, we introduce Bollywood dance in a less technical format but as our students grow, we begin to delve into specific styles portrayed in the Indian Film Industry, which offers a more technical education. One of the key aspects of Bollywood dance is its ability to provide a vigorous physical workout. It significantly improves children’s coordination, balance, and overall fitness, offering a more dynamic and energetic experience than many other dance forms.

The Canadian government advises that children and adolescents should engage in a minimum of 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity daily.

Children engaging in Bollywood dance at our studio enjoy an active routine that keeps them moving and healthy. The less technical nature of Bollywood dance doesn’t diminish its effectiveness as a physical activity; in fact, it makes the dance more inclusive and enjoyable, encouraging children to participate wholeheartedly. This fun and energetic approach to dance ensures that children not only learn new skills but also develop a love for movement and a foundation for a healthy, active lifestyle.

Cognitive and Educational Advantages

At Dance Expression, we recognize that the benefits of Bollywood dance extend far beyond physical activity, deeply impacting cognitive and educational development in children. Our training places a strong emphasis on the classical dance perspective, which includes a substantial mathematical component. We introduce children to various rhythmic patterns and beat counts, such as 8-beat and 5-beat counts, which are prevalent in classical Indian music and often integrated into Bollywood dance.

This exposure to different rhythm patterns not only enhances a child’s memory and concentration but also nurtures their mathematical understanding. The cognitive skills developed through decoding and executing these complex rhythms are invaluable in their broader educational journey. Our approach to dance training fosters an environment where children can grow intellectually while enjoying the artistic and creative aspects of Bollywood dance. This balanced focus on both cognitive and physical development is a hallmark of our dance training at Dance Expression, contributing to a well-rounded growth in our young learners.

Now more than ever, arts education, ranging from dance to drama, is crucial for children’s development.

Emotional and Social Growth

Participating in Bollywood dance at Dance Expression offers more than just an artistic outlet; it plays a crucial role in the emotional and social development of our students. Engaging in dance classes boosts children’s self-esteem and enhances their social skills, contributing to their overall mental health. We’ve observed significant improvements in students’ discipline, temper, concentration, and memory, showcasing the lifelong impact of dance.

Family involvement in our dance classes further enriches this experience. When families participate, it creates a shared, joyous environment, often extending to little dance parties at home that release endorphins and promote happiness. Children learn to channel their energy positively, leading to better emotional well-being.

Our students also learn vital social skills, such as teamwork, cooperation, and appreciation for others’ talents. They develop coordination and syncing abilities, which are essential for group performance. These skills are not only crucial for dance but are invaluable life lessons, teaching children the importance of working with and depending on others.

The emotional and social growth we witness in our students at Dance Expression is profound and far-reaching. The power of dance in improving mental health and social interactions is evident, as seen in various examples, such as the viral video of an elderly lady with dementia recalling her Swan Lake dance moves. Bollywood dance, therefore, is not just an activity; it’s a tool for nurturing well-rounded, emotionally balanced, and socially adept individuals.

Family Bonding Through Dance

At Dance Expression, we’re committed to using dance to strengthen family bonds, with our studio acting as a vibrant community center for shared experiences. A highlight is Aaryana Hallan’s story, showcasing Bollywood dance’s positive impact on her development, as noticed by both her instructor and her parents.

“Aaryana has gained more confidence to face audiences, more interest in Bollywood movies, songs and in learning the language and culture in a better way than before. She is able to express her feelings and emotions with the help of dance and songs,” said Anjalee Hallan.

Adding to the growth of Aaryana’s dance journey at Dance Expression, Artistic Director, Neha Khanna noted that she has seen her since day one at the studio.

“Aaryana was a timid girl when she first started, but I always saw that she had the desire to learn Bollywood. She always drew references from Bollywood movies and expressed interest in learning Hindi and Punjabi. She now attempts to lip sync while she dances and uses her understanding of lyrics to express her emotions while dancing.”

To welcome new families, we provide an informative enrollment package about our school, its mission, vision, and a Dance Expression T-shirt. Our trial classes allow parents to experience our studio, meet our team, and see our classes in action. Each enrolled child receives a dance buddy, fostering community and support, and regular family check-ins to ensure the child’s comfort and progress.

Our open-door policy and anonymous question box offer an approachable environment for queries and concerns. Dance Expression is more than a studio; it’s a community and a place for lifelong learning. We are a studio family, we organize events for our students and their families. Some events we have organized in the past are barbecues, Christmas and Halloween parties, private movie screenings at a movie theatre and more. With semi-annual progress reports, we keep families updated on their child’s journey, making each family an essential part of the Dance Expression family.

Conclusion

Bollywood dance training at Dance Expression is more than just dance lessons; it’s a comprehensive journey of holistic development for children. In this blog, we’ve highlighted the wide array of benefits Bollywood dance offers, encompassing physical, cognitive, emotional, and social growth. This captivating dance form not only boosts a child’s current abilities but also equips them for a future rich in opportunities, and brings families together.

Children engaged in Bollywood dance can look forward to diverse prospects in the dance community and beyond, including becoming:

• Professional performers
• Studio owners
• Dance instructors
• Mentors
• Actors
• Movement and dance therapists

Moreover, the soft skills developed through dance, such as communication, teamwork, trust, and confidence, are crucial and applicable across various life aspects.

Additionally, Bollywood dance fosters:

• Discipline
• A well-maintained appearance
• Healthy eating and body care habits from a young age
• Involvement in a community with shared interests, crucial for personal development
• Significant mental health benefits from a supportive and nurturing environment

We warmly invite families to explore Bollywood dance at Dance Expression, not just as an activity, but as a key developmental tool for their children. Join us on this journey to shape confident, skilled, and well-rounded individuals, ready to thrive in a world full of opportunities. Experience the transformative power of Bollywood dance with us at Dance Expression.

“It was our best decision to send our kids to Dance Expression Studio, Neha has created a home away from home for kids through Dance Expression. Kids look forward to going there and learning dance, culture and language. We were worried that most of the other dance studios are in the west but Dance Expression came as a blessing in disguise and it has worked wonders for us and our kids. We thank Neha for helping kids learn this beautiful art and boost their confidence, added Hallan.”