February 1, 2023 3 Min Read
Express Yourself Through Bollywood Dance
Growing up, Megha Pradhwani danced to the colorful sights, stunning choreography, and enticing music of Bollywood music flashing from her TV—sparking her soon-to-be lifelong passion for dance. In this TaskHuman Talks Podcast episode, coaches Jamie Carroll and Megha Pradhwani discuss how Bollywood dance can be a powerful for fitness and self-expression.
An Introduction To Dance
At just 9 years old, Megha started with Kathak—one of the traditional Indian dance styles, which comes from the Sanskrit word “Katha,” meaning, “story”. Lesson after lesson, Megha learned how to convey culturally rich stories through this form. Using the positions of her hands, feet, and body—gracefully flowing from one pose to the next—she shared visually beautiful stories with her audiences.
From Kathak dance (which has rules and a stricter style) to Bollywood dance (which encompasses various styles from different regions of India), Megha continued to honor her cultural roots. In Indian culture, Bollywood is heavily ingrained in festivals, celebrations, and movies. The colors, music, and energy embodied by Bollywood are all-inclusive, inviting everyone to get up and dance.
After Megha’s second pregnancy, her passion for dance and desire to get back in shape led her to pursue additional certifications in Zumba and Pilates.
“Dance has always been my passion,” Megha affirms, “and I always learned to love new forms.”
Even with her additional certifications, Megha’s primary passion remains in teaching Bollywood dance as it allows more freedom to move the body, and typically enables you to burn more calories (while having fun!).
The Benefits Of Bollywood Dance
Burning calories and getting a great aerobic workout aren’t the only benefits of adding Bollywood dance to your routine—it’s also a culturally rich art form, a great stress buster, and a way to switch things up. Once the music starts, it’s hard not to leave everything else behind and embrace the moment. Plus, “it’s fun to express yourself!” Megha shares.
If you’re curious to give Bollywood dance a try, Megha outlines what you can expect in a first 1:1 session. It starts with an introduction to a famous and easy-to-follow song, followed by a demonstration of the 8-count measure, and finishes with basic movements to help you get comfortable with letting go and embracing the music. After all—Bollywood dance is about expressing yourself and having fun!
Head here to listen to Jamie and Megha’s full conversation to learn more about the origins and benefits of Bollywood dance and how it can benefit your physical and mental well-being. Ready to get out of your comfort zone explore this form of dance for yourself? Book a 1:1 session today!
Updated February 2025
