so clearly my big Bollywood break will have to be as a playback singer

I just giggled my way through a Bollywood workout DVD. I am a bad dancer. That's about all there is to say. At one point, trying to do some kind of hip-roll move that I'm sure is supposed to be alluring, an image of Main Hoon Na's Ms. Kakkad flashed in front of my eyes and I had to pause the DVD for a mo to collect myself. The nice instructor on the video said not to worry if at first you find some of the moves difficult, as practice makes perfect; she did not, however, say what to do if you remind yourself of a ridiculous comic side character. I've always assumed I was one of life's sidekicks, and usually I'm perfectly okay with that. It's just that one would like to be able to muster the teensiest bit of dance-based allure should one find oneself in a situation that called for it. That must be one of the things I like about Bollywood - generally, people fare very well in dance-based situations, and if they don't, it's often becuase they deserve it, or if they don't deserve it, they do much better in a subsequent situation. Another strike against "real life" in the ongoing "real life vs. Bollywood" question.

Comments

ggop said…
"Teensiest bit of dance-based allure" made me laugh Beth :-)

Last year I went to the local India community center to try a Bollywood dance class. The instructor clearly gave up on me and a friend. She promptly made us move to the back row and replaced us with more graceful chicas.

gg
Anonymous said…
Which workout DVD are you using, Beth? I've got Honey Kalaria's Bollywood Workout, but since I'm lazy I have yet to even pop it in the player.
Anonymous said…
That's the one I have!!!!!! It's fun! She reminds me of the older sister's friends in Bend It like Beckham. I think some of her "classical" moves are probably a smidge on the watered-down side, but I enjoyed them, and they did remind me of lots of the classical dance I saw this summer, although I by no means claim any Indian dance knowledge and wouldn't know "authentic" if it did a "woof-woof" on my head (you'll understand "woof-woof" when you watch the DVD). I need to review the basics a few more times;
apparently it's harder to do hands AND feet at the same time than I
anticipated. I can do each separately.

Once you try it, write back and tell me which part you think is where I turned into Ms. Kaker. I'll send you a prize if you're right.
Anonymous said…
Oh and ggop, I totally empathize. I would have been right there with you. We all get an A for effort, though, right?
Anonymous said…
Bollywood dance workout video? That sounds awesome! I think I've seen that somewhere. Which video? I am generally dubious of video-based work out routines, though. There's no variety. I took a class in Bollywood dance and my belly dance studio once. It was so much fun. Tell you what. I can dance, but I can't sing for crap, so here's what we'll do: We'll go on the road, you sing, I'll do the dancing and we'll call it something cheesy, like, oh, I don't know, "Cheese!"

I love BW dance. I imitate it all the time. I think I could do the whole of "Maahie Ve" just from memory.

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