Ministry of Dance

In its fourth year,Pune International Dance Congress comes with a treasure trove of performers

If the intricacies of Kizomba and the happy moves of Pachanga are still unknown forms to the dancers in the city,they no longer will be. In a celebration of dance in entirety,the Pune International Dance Congress (PIDC) will bring together over 25 dance-forms,ranging from ball-room and Latin to Bollywood,Hip-Hop,B-boying and Bachata,all in three days. Rocky Poonawala,who came across the concept of the dance congress during his stay in the UK and later the US,sees it as Punes opportunity to learn from the best in the business from around the world without having to travel to other countries.

He shares that the dance congress,which is in its fourth year,will include workshops by a group called Salsa Pattaya from Thailand which will teach participants the intricacies of Kizomba. Its a dance form of Angolan origins and boasts of sensuality and romance, says Poonawala. He will also be giving level 1 workshops in Pachanga,the fun-filled dance form of Cuban origin. Advanced level workshops on Pachanga will be delivered by dancing duo Vito and Steffania,who are being flown in from Italy, he adds.

Another dance form that will take centre stage at the congress is Bachata,described by Australian World Bachata Champions Nestor and Katrina as a dance form which originated in Dominican Republic with Cuban hip movements. The duo,which was a part of the congress in 2012 and is again taking part this year,says they are looking forward to enjoying the energy of Indian dancers. India is one of our favourite places to travel. We have taken Bachata to all of Australia,Europe and Asia and it is fun dancing Bachata with Indian dancers,who are so filled with energy, says Nestor.

Instrumental in the dances evolution over the past 10 years,Nestor and Katrina focus on learning through fun and energy. Our workshop formula has been successful wherever we travel. We believe the best way to learn and retain information is by enjoying as you learn, says Nestor,who is looking forward to the PIDC parties which,he says,are a mix of Latin and Bollywood.

Apart from the workshops,teams from all over the country,headed by their instructors,shall perform at the performance nights on Friday and Sunday. Poonawala shares that his team will recreate their award-winning Kathak-salsa fusion piece which they performed at the Abu Dhabi Salsa festival.

Each day ends with a party. Pointing out that the USP of the parties is that they ban alcohol and tobacco,Poonawala says that DJ Mauri from Amsterdam and DJ Josef,who have been playing at the biggest salsa parties across the world,will be performing. The dance floor is always right. My job is to make the audience dance, says Mauri.

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