By Puja Gupta
New Delhi, June 11 (IANSlife) “Dance is not about reaching. It is about self-acceptance, allowing, and being,” says Bollywood choreographer Ashley Lobo who will now be taking online dance classes.
Lobo‘s dance academy Danceworx will run regular virtual dance courses in jazz, ballet, contemporary, funk, urban, and Groovefit (dance fitness) on Fitternity.
“With online classes, I am hoping I can get as many people interested in dance, not just from a point of view of learning but also having fun and enjoying it,” he says.
“The advantage of holding dance classes in a studio and conducting group classes is that people let go of their personal inhibitions of social dancing in a gentle way. Dancing is a great way to build personal confidence and allow free-expression and thinking.”
However, the choreographer is sure that remote dancing or ‘social-distance dancing’ can also let go of some reticence. “I’m pretty sure that people, who have never braved enrolling in a dance class will love to learn a step or two in the confines of their homes,” he adds.
For Lobo, who has choreographed for a number of movies, including “Dhoom 3”, “Jab We Met”, “Namastey London”, “Cocktail”, dance has always been a “spiritual experience”, and starting online classes is about further spreading that joy.
“Dance is not about reaching. It is about self-acceptance, allowing, and being. With online classes, I am hoping I can get as many people interested in dance, not just from a point of view of learning but also having fun and enjoying it.”
While he enjoys choreographing for Bollywood, contemporary dance is his first love and that is what will be primarily taught in the online classes. The classes will be tailor-made for different expertise levels – those with two left feet can also join, quips the dance master.
“There won’t be real life interaction like there is in a studio but we have worked out a way in the online system to be as personal if not more through personal interaction and coaching to ensure everyone feels even more personalised. With individual correction. Be that to help them with their technique or with their steps. Availability of spaces of course will be limited as we want to connect more deeply. Let’s see how it pans out,” Lobo adds.
He says that the more people dance, the more balanced will be their thoughts. “Dance is when the body and soul work in union and the whole existence seems in rhythm. And in these trying times, we need to keep our minds and body in harmony and be contended,” he signs off.
(Puja Gupta can be contacted at [email protected])
–IANS
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