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Journalism of Courage
Sisters Puja and Reema Gudwani8217;s dance school for salsa has Delhiites queing up
For those looking to learn salsa, the opening of Danzamor is good news. Founded by sisters Puja and Reema Gudwani, the dance school promises some genuine moves. 8220;Though Salsa is taught in India, what people don8217;t know is that there are so many styles of the dance8212;LA, Cuban, New York and Columbian8212;that there8217;s still a lot left to learn,8221; says Puja, 29, who along with Reema introduced the San Francisco Bay Area SFBA Style Salsa in the city for the first time three months ago.
The Gudwanis, who began dancing over a decade ago, started with Bharatnatyam that was soon followed by jazz, ballroom, cha-cha, jive and waltz before they were finally introduced to the popular Latin dance craze called salsa. 8220;We began our salsa training at the Salsa India Dance Company with Kaytee Namgyal five years ago and within few months of joining we turned instructors as well,8221; says Reema, as she continues greeting her students, who are now pouring in. While Puja takes on the guys teaching them how to lead, Reema instructs the women on how to follow. 8220;It8217;s strange because there are more men coming to learn salsa than women,8221; chuckles Puja, whose transition from a student to a teacher and finally starting a school, with her sister, came earlier this year.
8220;It was in May that both of us decided to learn this dance form further and went to the US where we completed a two-year course in two months,8221; says Puja on her training with the famous Salsamania Dance Company. 8220;The course also focussed on styling, something that considered secondary in India. But we really wanted to bring the entire package of dancing, styling and grooming to the students,8221; adds Reema. While the dancing technique for salsa is more about the hip-movement, the styling makes it fuller.
8220;The general perception that people have had of salsa has really changed. Before there were inhibitions of sharing partners but now people are joining to meet new people and socialise as well,8221; says Puja, who says regular Salsa Nights in the city have caught on. With a total of 150 students spread across three centres, the school is doing well. The next step: introducing Hip-Hop starting December 3.
For more details contact infodanzamor.net or call 93111-DANCE 32623
