Meena Arts     Bollywood Va-Va-Voom!


Indian dance classes – Bollywood-inspired dancing

I have been fortunate to introduce Indian Bollywood dance to the Isle of Skye in 2010. I love teaching it, dancing it and creating the choreography. I teach to a vast range of groups. Age is not a barrier. Teaching to mixed abilities and special needs is a privilege. Dancing is a joy to be shared with all. It boosts health and well being. In true Bollywood style, it has been wonderful to include Scottish and international influences to new choreographies whilst maintaining the Va-Va-Voom! style of my dances.

I felt privileged to be Chair of SkyeDance for 2 years (2009 – 11) and feel happy to have made a contribution to its development as an organisation. In September 2016, I was delighted to be invited to be a Board Director for Aros Community Theatre. I love the Arts and am really enjoying helping to develop a diverse arts programme for our beautiful Aros theatre.

I am proud to say that over the years my ‘Bolly Babes’, all local participants, have performed in MeenaArts shows at various venues including Aros, and SEALL at Sabhal Mor Ostaig, An Crubh and others. We continue to showcase our skills at the annual SkyeDance shows and Eden Court’s Big Dance Shows in Inverness (audience up to 900), as well as popping up at other events. Snippets in the local media and BBC Alba TV have been motivating!

I am often asked to make presentations on the art and cultural aspects of Indian Dance. I am happy to give individual tuition.

My Bolly group continues to make a vibrant and colourful contribution into dance in Skye! We had a sell out show at Waternish Hall in February 2018, a show for the Good for You participants at the Aros theatre, and performed at Eden Court again in November 2018 at the Big Dance sellout Show at the beautiful Empire theatre in Inverness. Lots of other wee things in between!

More recently, I have contributed to the excellent Tha Seo Math Dhuibh – (Good For You) Project run by Cleas, the charity based at Aros Community Theatre. It has been extremely challenging and rewarding working with the elderly in care homes, intergenerational and special needs groups with my ‘Movement for Health Sessions’ for| Tha Seo Math Dhuibh.

Two MeenaArts shows planned for 2019 were hugely successful. The first on 5th July at An Crubh with a delicious Indian inspired meal provided by the cafe. The second on 12th July at Aros.  The shows were hugely popular local events. This year’s offerings showcased beautiful dancing by my Bolly Babes, and an Indian dance by young Staffin children, as well as Gaelic and Indian singing and a funky catwalk show featuring some of the best fashion on Skye from Ragamuffin, Skye Batik and Skye Weavers. The audience dressed up East/West Style and joined in for a Bolly bop after the finale of the shows!
WOW! I was delighted to have the opportunity to meet and bolly dance with the beautiful and gracious Darcey Bussell – world famous as a former Principal of the Royal Ballet and one of the leading dancers of her generation. Millions of TV viewers will recognise her as a former judge on Strictly Come Dancing. A hugely memorable moment! The programme, ‘Darcey Bussell’s Wild Coasts of Scotland’ was broadcast on More 4 in February 2021. It also featured our (my husband and myself) former Award winning Isle of Skye Sea Salt Company. A clip is available on www.isleofskyeseasalt.co.uk 
The pause for Covid has stopped! YAY!
My next show is at An Crubh on 18th August 2023. Delicious Indian food provided by An Crubh restaurant
followed by one of my Va-Va-Voom! shows with International fusions, Gaelic songs and a funky catwalk show exhibiting 3 of the best fashion businesses in Skye – Skyeskyns, SkyeBatiks and Ragamuffin. It is going to be a blaze of colour! The show is supported by Seall, Skye’s leading performing arts Company. To book tickets for the show go to www.seall.co.uk/event/meena-arts-bollywood-va-va-voom

Regular classes for all on Fridays. Contact me on my email below for more info.

 

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The classes enable the dancers to get an insight into modern Indian dance (Bollywood style) – fun, sensuous, rhythmic, expressive, skillful, soulful, graceful, uplifting combining classical, North Indian and folk dance techniques and international influences.

The class is open to all ages and to everyone.

! Dance for fun, for health, for excellence!

Visitors to Skye are welcomed to join the class!

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