Dancing queens

As a teenager,she had wanted to learn kathak. However,an early marriage at the age of 19,interrupted her plans. “My dancing ambition is getting fulfilled now,” says Gujral,who,during a dull moment at a kitty party,broached the idea of dance classes. “Yoga and aerobics can be boring. Dance is more fun and helps in overcoming depression,” says Suman Singh,50,one of the women who attend classes.

With ten friends,Gujral got the weekly dancing lessons started in mid-2008. They are conducted by Madhav,a 25-year-old choreographer with KIPA. The women have done several stage shows—in their first show,the ladies donned black harem pants and bright red tops,dancing to Om Shanti Om. “It was the first song we learned to dance to,” says Anju Sidana,50,who took up dancing in 2008. “I thought I could never learn to dance. Now I don’t feel like missing a single class,” says Sidana.

Madhav choreographs simple pieces keeping in mind the women’s skills. “Obviously I have to make the steps simpler for them so that they can easily follow them. Most of them want to dance in their children’s weddings,” he says. Aarti Chowdhury,55,danced to a five-minute song,Bitiya Rani,at her daughter’s wedding last year. “My daughter was overjoyed,” says Chowdhury.

Prabha Bajaj,60,says the dance classes are liberating. “It helps in overcoming a lot of health problems. Initially,a lot of us complained of joint pain and knee ache. With practice,all that has improved,” says Bajaj. The initial awkwardness was harder to overcome. “I was so shy that I always stood in the last row. Now I am very confident,” says Gujral,who now shows off her moves at weddings in her family. “Even my daughter-in-law is impressed,” she adds.