I just finished seeing Slumdog Millionaire. For those of you who have not yet seen this film, it’s fantastic!!  But my very favorite thing about this film is not the film itself. It was the closing credits.  The cast busts out in a Bollywood-style dance sequence. Check it out>>

Photo Credit: Ezzz on Flickr

I consider myself a dancer.  Like many little girls, my parents threw me into dance classes when I was three.  Unfortunately for them, the hobby stuck, and I spent the next 15 years touring the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex dancing traditional tap, jazz and ballet.

It wasn’t until I went over the pond to London as a wee undergrad that I discovered the amazing genre that is Indian dance. I went to my first Bollywood musical, Bombay Dreams , and that started my obsession with Indian dance: the music, the bright colored costumes and energy.  I loved it all!  I figured I had what it takes to be in the Bolly Biz. I’m not Indian, but I had passion, right?  ;)

Well, turns out there is a little more to Indian dance than Bollywood musicals…

A brief history of Indian Dance:

Indian dance has been in existence for over 2000 years.  The original forms emerged as an illustration of Indian mythology and a way of worshiping God.  Over time, Indian dance has evolved into over 8 classical styles and many other “street” variations. In recent decades, Indian dance has started to make its way into U.S. popular culture.  With shows like So You Think You Can Dance (my favorite!), Indian dance choreographers are introducing American dancers and viewers to a huge piece of Indian culture.  Check out my favorite Indian dance routine from the last season of SYTYCD.

Last week, our World Traveler Interns got to experience Indian dance first hand and from the sounds of it, Chris and Lindsay may now be on the Bollywood bandwagon with me.

With this rise in popularity, I may not be able to hang with the rest of them and reach my dreams of being a Bollywood badass, but I’m happy to see Americans embracing India, and its amazing culture!

If you’ve experience Bollywood greatness, please do share in the comments below.