Shake a belly

An Egyptian track rings in my ears at the very mention of belly dance. To my amateur ears, the instrumental track, the name of which I still don't know, begins with a piano, followed by drums and a stringed-instrument, possibly the traditional kamanza. Introduced to it by one of Mumbai's best belly dance classes, I have never heard anything quite like it.

Two years on, I find myself in another studio, standing in front of mirror-covered walls from which 18 gorgeous women look back at me. Soon, they start moving to the beat of Aah W Noss by Lebanese singer Nancy Ajram while I fumble and freeze — I've managed to make it only for the last day of the Delhi-based Banjara School of Dance's seven-day intensive beginners' workshop in Andheri.

The others dance with energy and confidence, taking me by surprise given the workshop's short duration. The class progresses with a warm-up followed by instructions to split into three groups and choreograph a sequence each. Next comes the best part — when we form a semicircle and all students take turns to lead with steps of their choosing. I manage to shake some belly too. What a feeling. Only dancing can do this.

At the end of two hours, I'm reminded again of how misleading the term 'belly' dance is. In fact, you use every part of your body, from ankle and hips to chest and hair. I'm also convinced that most students in this batch have some kind of training in dance.

Grooving with the dancers

And I'm proved right. Given the location, the class has attracted many from the film and dance studios in the vicinity. So, there's Jahnavi Sheriff Saisuresh, Terrence Lewis Academy's dance hall instructor, whose graceful movements make her stand out. The 23-year-old says, "I was a Bharatnatyam dancer; it (the graceful movements) comes from there."

"Despite knowing I've done belly dancing earlier, Damini (Sahai, the instructor) gave me the same kind of attention as everyone else so I could get my basics right as I hadn't belly danced for two years," she says.

Also in the class was 22-year-old Shalini Sahuta, of Sasural Simar Ka fame, who trained in Kathak and Bharatnatyam in her childhood, joined Shiamak Davar and performed on stage through school and college.

Sound and science

Damini Sahai, the instructor, explains what belly dance is all about. "We cover the basics of raqs sharqi, explain belly dance, the body language required for belly dancing (if done wrong, can appear vulgar), introduce them to the culture and orient their bodies towards the dance to activate different muscle groups."

The students are impressed by the teaching. "The techniques at all classes are good, but Banjara breaks it down three times more than anyone else does. I came with huge expectations and they've been met," says Saisuresh.

Sahuta also liked that they were taught the fine nuances of Arabic music, the beats and rhythms. "It really helps… dancing after years of being out of touch, thanks to work, I was a little nervous. But by the fourth day, I felt like I'm back in the game!"

Sangeeta Sangi, who has a background in Bharatnatyam and Bollywood choreography and doesn't look at all like the 33-year-old mother of one that she is, has repeated the class after a year so her moves don't look rusty.

She gushes like a woman in love. "Belly dancing has made me so comfortable with my body. I never had that because I have a broad frame. But it has helped me find so many ways to explore new moves… my favourite is the chest shimmy—it makes me feel so free!"

Like many others, Shalini too likes belly dance for the "layers and layers it adds to one's sensuality, the great workout it is and how it makes you look tall, unlike other dance forms".

With just one class behind me, that too the last one, I can barely be a judge. But the passionate loyalty it has gained from these dynamic women, for whom dance gives them that extra professional edge, indicates that Banjara is probably doing something right.

(Banjara plans to bring their beginner's and improver's classes to Mumbai this July)