Want to show off your moves this Navaratri season? Twirl your way into these classes
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The Gujarati festival of dance is back on ground after two years. If you want to learn authentic garba and dandiya moves or improve your basic game, these classes are here to help. If nothing, these will ensure your dandiya don’t become weapons. Hurry, you’ve got only a week to circle time…
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Sagar Kotak Performing Arts Studio
Mother-son duo Meena and Sagar Kotak have been running their studio for three years. Sagar who is a musician also has a career in dance and choreography spanning more than 10 years. Meena has been a dancer, choreographer, and actress for more than 15 years, and has been part of the dance show Boogie Woogie. They combine their expertise and experience in their garba-exclusive workshops, where you learn something new every day.
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WHERE: Studio No. 2, Moti Mahal, Sion
WHEN: September 20, 22, and 24, 5 PM to 7 PM
PRICE: Rs 750
CALL: 9987296250
Omkar Gujarati folk dance classes
Prior to teaching authentic dandiya and garba through workshops, Sumitra Mehta taught the Gujarati dance form in Kolkata. A teacher for 40 years, her class continued even throughout the pandemic, thanks to Zoom. If you are wondering how that works, she divides each step into three easy-to-pick-up parts. Multiple crash courses teaching basic and advanced techniques run simultaneously at the Omkar school, taking in students aged six to 60. Mehta is open to customised and private sessions, but for a minimum of eight people. She also has a YouTube channel which hosts her tutorials.
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WHERE: Zoom
WHEN: Daily 6.15 PM to 7.15 PM
PRICE: Rs 200 onwards per session
CALL: 9082421230
Also read: Navratri colours 2022: Here is the list of nine colours and its significance
Sonis School of Garba Dance
Pioneers in the field, brothers Jigar and Surhad Soni are the first to have their dance school affiliated with the World Dance Council, UNESCO. National-level gold medallists in folk dancing, the duo began in Kandivli, but are currently present in nine countries and 30 cities, and have legit certificate courses with set syllabus. Their new crash courses start this Monday.
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WHERE: Multiple locations
WHEN: Monday onwards, 8 PM to 9 PM
PRICE: Rs 2,850
CALL: 9920187776
Rangtaali garba classes
Anchor, choreographer and dancer Chirag Vithalani and his partner, choreographer Preksha Sanghvi, run Rangtaali garba classes. Their focus is on two to three-day long workshops which offer basic and advanced techniques. This year, besides popular moves, they will also teach 30-second Bollywood garba choreography, and set aside practise sessions for all the other garba and dandiya techniques.
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WHERE: 301-E, Recreate Spaces, New Link road, RTO Lane, Andheri West
WHEN: September 24, 25, 4 PM to 6 PM
PRICE: Rs 1,100 per workshop
CALL: 8879831584
Jhoom Barabar
Twenty-three year old Priyanshi Jain has been dancing since she was in Class X. Apart from conducting garba classes, the Kalyan-based choreographer who runs the Jhoom Barabar dance class does wedding and sangeet choreography. Registration for advanced classes starts today, so hurry—but you must know the basics of garba.
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WHERE: TS Public School Hall, Beturkar Pada, Kalyan West
WHEN: September 18 to 23, 5.45 PM to 6.45 PM
PRICE: Rs 1,200
CALL: 9833567130
Vishrut Doshi’s advanced garba classes
A trained contemporary and jazz dancer, Vishrut Doshi turned to choreography in 2019. He has choreographed garba sequences for Kinjal Dave, a folk singer and actor from Gujarat; and Darshan Raval, a Gujarat-based musician. He conducts garba classes and choreography workshops. His advanced workshops run for days, and he personally teaches only the advanced classes. He encourages walk-ins and prior registration isn’t mandatory; you can also choose to attend just one session to learn a particular step or technique.
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WHERE: Sumeet Nagdev Dance Arts Studio, Vile Parle
WHEN: Monday-Wednesday-Friday, 8 PM to 9 PM
PRICE: Rs 550 per class
CALL: 8850803706
Gurudev Natraj Studios
Hardik Sampat and Charmi Shah started Gurudev Natraj Studios about six years ago. Although they teach various dance forms like Bollywood, hip-hop, jazz and kathak, dandiya-garba are their specialities. The duo also conducts exclusive one-on-one sessions.
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WHERE: Patel Chowk, Ghatkopar
WHEN: September 20 onwards, 8 PM to 11 PM (one-hour batches)
PRICE: Rs 300 onwards
CALL: 9664706339
Also read: When is Shardiya Navratri 2022? Date, significance, history and all you need to know