Save the last dance for me

More than half a century ago, the Rodrigues introduced Mumbaikars to the Waltz and the Foxtrot. And theirs is an affair that is still going strong

The parquet floor is ready, the music system is in place, and a serene Dorothy Rodrigues, wife of Mumbai's oldest dance teacher, JJ Rodrigues, tiptoes onto the dance floor in her ballet shoes.

Armed with more than 50 albums of their glorious dancing years in the city, the couple's eyes sparkle with pride each time they reminisced about their good old dancing days.

Way back in 1951, when the country was still enjoying its early independence, Joao Jaoquim Rodrigues, fondly called JJ Rodrigues, set up Mumbai's first certified Ballroom and Latin American dancing institute - the JJ Rodrigues cours de danse.  In an age where international dances were usually to the upper echelons of society, Rodrigues opened his doors to anyone who was interested. And it wasn't long before Mumbaikars from all strata of society started flocking to his apartment-cum-studio in a tree-lined Colaba lane.

Generations of family members have been trained under the Rodrigues. Marie Gonsalves, a student of their dance class in the 1980s, says, "JJ has always been very strict about techniques and footwork. His love for the art reflects through each of his moves."  And though he only supervises the class, the septuagenarian is still a stickler when it comes to achieving perfection on the dance floor.

And while newer and funkier dance institutions have sprung up all over the city, the JJ Rodrigues cours de danse is still going strong after 58 years. Dorothy recalls, "People took dancing much more seriously 30 years ago than they do today. Dancing at that time was more of a social asset than anything else." This was especially true in the 80s. Rodrigues's students ranged from students, professionals and housewives to the rich and the famous like Ravi Shastri and Madhu Sapre.  

When Shankar joined the class 18 years ago, he could barely shake a leg, and even in his wildest dreams he never thought that dancing would become an integral part of his life. But under the tutelage of JJ, he took to it like fish to water. Even an accident that left him with 13 fractured bones did not deter him, and he got back to the dance floor after a four-year break.

"Dancing was much more special after that. I even got a gold medal from Mr Rodrigues," he smiles proudly. With most Mumbaikars looking for a quick fix, it's not uncommon to find classes offering 10-day crash courses in Salsa, Hip Hop or whatever the flavour of the season is. But for those enrolling with JJ, one thing is assured, the dance will not end in a hurry.

Individual training, reasonably priced fees and getting to learn from the master, keeps hundreds of dance lovers in the city yearning to learn more of the Waltz, the Tango and the Foxtrot.

And it's not only Mumbaikars who are learning these stately dance forms. Many American and Spanish consulate generals as well as their families have learned the finer techniques of Ballroom as well as Latin American dancing at this very institute.

"A few years ago, we had a Swiss couple who learned their wedding dance from us and danced their way back to Switzerland," Marie recalls announces. Though the Goan couple is satisfied with this rhythmic, expressive and beautiful journey of theirs, there is just one thing they are complaining about: the reality shows which are portraying a false image of dance.  "How can some random student become a teacher overnight, as shown in these shows?" they ask in bewilderment.

For them, a dance is a never-ending journey, devoid of any commercial inclination. "It's not about how many students we have, but about how many want to learn," says Dorothy.

"I miss our days at the Taj where there were ballrooms and competitions. It was all so different at that time," she says wistfully. She flips through her black and white album, and is transported to a different world.