Making the world go I, 2, 3...

In a small village hundreds of miles from Tokyo, Japan, young Yoshuki Azami is gyrating, swirling, skipping, hopping and intermittently thrusting her chest forward. Her facial muscles contort in every fashion, grimacing at times, and looking forlorn on others. Following Yoshuki in rapt attention are a group of about 15 to 20 boys and girls. After a high energy session of dance they get together, sipping water and chatting animatedly; their faces are covered in beatific smiles. Yoshuki has been teaching these girls and boys a new dance form: Bollywood.

A few decades ago Bollywood was inconsequential, probably a misnomer for Hollywood, but no longer. Bollywood stands for the Indian film industry and much more; it stands for an industry that churns out the most number of films a year and whose audience follows nearly each one of these films with fervour and religious deference. Stars are not merely stars, but demi Gods. Temples are built to honour them and any insolence, even unintended, could spark the goriest of riots.

However, in helping Bollywood create a niche for itself, one aspect has played a near irreplaceable role, and that is: Bollywoood Dance.

For many of us uninitiated to the nuances of Bollywood, a lover grieving the loss of his beloved to suddenly start singing would make us feel weird, to say the least. To Bollywood, Indians and many other nations, it isn’t anymore. Bollywood song and dance has been seamlessly incorporated into the narrative. Scenes conveying complex emotions, heartfelt overtures or mundane messages are a part of storytelling and rendered with equal passion and distinctiveness. At times, the song and dance has revealed the character of an actor, at times it has taken the plot to the next level and at times it has simply served as an entertainment value (read item number) for front benchers to revel and producers to fill pockets.

Whatever it be, song and dance has been a part of Bollywood from day one. While it has received its share of flak from the country’s intelligentsia, being labeled as ‘running around trees’, Bollywood Dance has arrived now. And arrived big time. Its stars have a global fan following. From Germans, to Japanese and Londoners, Bollywood is a rage now. The reasons are myriad, Bollywood is essentially a mélange of all dance forms, it includes Indian traditional, Western Classical, Contemporary and Bollywood’s very own moves and shakes. Others include the rise of India in the world order and Bollywood's refreshing no-ideology or no-philosophy offering. Dance is simply dance, a true expression of your feeling, whatever it may be, thrusting your chest or batting your eyelids. If that's what you feel, then that's what you do. There is no deeper meaning, though the necklines could be deep ;

Bollywood Dance has pervaded Indian society, it is music for weddings, birthday parties and even an exercise form: Bollywood Dance to lose weight. Talk about a counter-culture!!!

A loyal partner to the story, moulding and adjusting itself to the socio-political climate of the country, Bollywood Dance has stood with the story through thick and thin. From the innocence and the enthusiasm of the 40s, the feel good Kashmir shoots of the 60s, the rebellious 70s or the promising and optimistic 90s, the song and dance has upheld its allegiance in an unwavering and unflagging fashion. Though the new breed of 'serious cinema' may look down upon the song and dance as kitsch, Bollywood Dance is here to stay. It's mainstream popularity, slightly escapistic nature (sometimes needed to counter the killing stress) and avant garde form have cemented its place in the annals of Indian, and probably, global cinematic history. Join in folks, the party has just begun.