Ten on Ten

Belly-dancing. Hip-hop. Ballet. The first image that comes to mind is a group of youngsters executing pirouettes on a stage,or popping and locking their way across a dance floor. But Pune today is witnessing a dramatic change in the kind of audience that takes up these types of dance classes – children from the ages of five to fifteen are discovering the allure of new dance styles. All over the city are a host of dance classes that cater specifically to the dance needs and desires of this age group. And they revel in it.

These,somewhat advanced,dance styles were initially targeted toward a much older audience,but now children as young as four years are beginning their dance training in these forms. The instructors at these institutes have a lot to say about the reasons behind this influx of younger students. “Media exposure is a very important factor in the children’s interest in these dance forms. Earlier,no one knew a lot about hip-hop and ballet. But now,with reality shows on television and choreographed dances in movies,a lot of children want to emulate the actors that they take to be their role models”,says Pooja Vora,founding director of Ballerina Dance Institute at Swargate. Jhalak Dikhlaja and Just Dance are a few examples of the kinds of shows that spur the kids to take up dance classes. Some even dream of one day appearing as dancers on reality shows. According to a lot of teachers,the lure of the fame and glamour associated with television is a leading cause for heightened interest in new dance forms.

Weight loss is another important reason for the dance classes. Essa Duhaime,founder and creative director of Diva Belly Dance Academy in Koregaon Park,has been teaching in Pune for the last three years,and she credits belly dancing with a lot of health benefits. “With regular belly-dancing,my students remain fit and lose extra inches,which is important to young girls today. More importantly,this is a growing process and gives the girls a lot of confidence in their bodies. Children today dance because it’s trendy,it’s cool and all their friends are doing it.” Young kids,especially girls,are very conscious of their bodies at a younger age,but belly-dancing makes them feel good about themselves,without being risque. Annual dance shows held by most studios also give these students the opportunity to showcase their talent in front of a large audience,which boosts their confidence.

Terence Anthony,of Trinity Dance Academy on MG road, says that dancing ballet or hip-hop helps to open a lot of doors for students. “I get so many students who say that they want to pursue choreography or become dancers. But along with that,we also have students who are interested in costumes or in sound and lighting. These children don’t necessarily have to become dancers. They can become designers,sound and lighting engineers and even event managers,” he smiles. The career opportunities are many.

Pulse Studio’s Shraddha Ganeriwala credits dance with being a fantastic stress-buster for young children. “All these children have so much energy,but during exams,it is all drained out of them. Just an hour or two of dancing leaves them feeling refreshed and energsed. Dance doesn’t have to be a career decision. Most kids dance just as a hobby,for enjoyment.”