Bollywood comes to the city

Kavita Rathod teaches classical Bollywood dance.

Max Fleet

BOLLYWOOD has come to Bundaberg with the opening of a dance studio that teaches classical Indian dancing.

Kavita Rathod, who moved to Bundaberg in November to join her husband, has been learning classical Indian dances since she was eight.

The Bollywood film industry, based in India, is the most productive in the world, beating even Hollywood in the number of films it churns out every year.

Mrs Rathod said few movies were made without at least one song-and-dance number.

“Indian audiences expect full value for their money,” she said.

“They want songs and dances, love interest, comedy and daredevil thrills, all mixed up in a three-hour-long extravaganza with intermission.”

Mrs Rathod said she was born and brought up in India in the state of Gujarat, and learnt the Gujarati folk dance known as garba.

“My family originated from a place called Rajasthan in India and I learnt the Rajasthani folk dance known as ghoomar,” she said.

Mrs Rathod said she started teaching dancing as a hobby while working in marketing in India.

“I thought of teaching dancing as my hobby,” she said.

Mrs Rathod said after moving to Bundaberg she started looking for work.

She also placed an online advertisement and was pleased to get some interest in learning Bollywood dancing from several people.

Classes are held every Thursday from 6.30pm to 7.30pm at the John Vianney Hall on the corner of Barolin and Boston streets.

Classes cost $10 each.