History of Bollywood Dance –

Bollywood Dance is the most famous dance form in India & many countries, Bollywood Dance is usually called a filmy dance that we can easily see in Bollywood Hindi Movies. In the beginning of Indian Cinema, all the dance choreographies were based on Indian Classical Dances or Indian folk Dances.

Indian Classical & Folk Dances in Bollywood Dance –

Most popular Classical Dance forms were Kathak, Bharatanatyam, Odissi etc & the folk dances were Bhangra, Rajasthani Folk, Garba, Dandiya, Bihu etc. Most of the choreographers were professionally trained in their respective dance forms.

Most Famous Actresses of Bollywood Dance –

Many heroines came out with their own styles, based on Classical Dance with the classical outfits and jewellery, few well known classical dancers of that era are –

1. vyjayanthimala (Honthon Mein Aisi Baat, Kaise Samjhaoon Badi Nasamajh Ho),

2. Ragini  (Tu hai mera prem devta),

3. Padmini (Aaja to aaja – Raj Tilak)

4. Sandhya & Gopi Krishna (jhanak jhanak payal baje)

5. Geetanjali & Mahipal (Hansta hua Noorani Chehra – Parasmani) etc.

FIRST MALE BOLLYWOOD DANCER

At that time when Indian Classical, Semi Classical & Folk Dance were dominating Indian Cinema. The male actors like Raj Kapoor, Sunil Dutt were not much expected from the audience to dance in the movies. The bollywood was filled with female dancers only. At that era Bhagwan Dada (1951) was the one who came into limelight with his own unique style of dancing with latka, jhatka & soft hand movements. Bhagwan Dada style of dancing became so popular & Amitabh bachchan still follow his moves.

GROUP DANCE

In the late 50’s & 60’s group dances began to evolve in Bollywood films & choreographers started managing larger groups of dancers, with influences from folk dances.

WESTERN DANCE AND SHAMMI KAPOOR

At same era many western dance styles like rock and roll, Western Pop, Twist etc. came into Bollywood Cinema with the no. of catchy  songs.

Shammi Kapoor entered the bollywood industry in 1953, he adopted twist & rock roll dance forms but he put his own  madness & craziness that was inspired by Hollywood’s Elvis Presley, The King of Rock and Roll, in those dance forms which came out as his own unique dance style. The audience got mesmerised by Shammi Style Dancing. The Shammi Style Dancing was later followed by many actors like Jeetendra, Rishi Kapoor, Mithun Chakraborty, Govinda & so forth.

CABARET AND BELLY DANCE

1958 was the year when ‘Queen of the Nautch girls’ Helen spiced up the entire Indian audience with her sensual dance moves. Helen’s dance was a unique blend of Belly, Twist, Rock n Roll. In 70’s she became a cabaret icon in Bollywood Industry. Her most famous dancing songs are….Mera naam chin chin chu, Piya tu ab to aaja, Mabooba so forth.

DISCO DANCE AND MITHUN CHARABORTY

Mithun Chakraborty stepped into bollywood in 1976, but with the release of his super hit movie Disco Dancer (1982), Mithun gave an absolutely fresh dance form ‘Disco’ to the Indian Cinema lovers & the audience was mesmerized by  Mithun Chakraborty’s performance on the song ‘I am a Disco Dancer’.

RETRO DANCERS

Many good bollywood actors also came into limelight at that era because of their dancing skills like Hema Malini (Meri payaliya tere geet), Rekha (In aankhon ki masti mein), Sridevi (Chandni, Lamhe etc.) Minaxi Sheshadri (Damini), Jayaprada (Dafali wale), Mumtaz (Bindiya Chamkegi) etc. These all heroins were well trained in Indian Classical Dance forms like Kathak, Bharatnatyam, Odissi etc.

Rekha given a classic touch to Mujra Dancing, though many heroins did Mujra Dance in Bollywood movies but Rekha’s adayein were so killing that she became the icon dancer in Bollywood Mujra.

With the touch of western style dance forms, Bollywood Heroes and Heroines started developing their own styles of Dance and Expressions which led to introduction of   FREESTYLE DANCING like Govinda developed with his own style and signature steps.

BOLLYWOOD CLASSICAL

In the late 80s and beginning of 90s, Bollywood Music was coming out with the  mix touch of Hip hop and semi-classical. It was the time when Madhuri Dixit Style became very famous with her blockbuster performances on songs like Ek Do teen, Choli ke peeche kya hai, Humko aaj kal, Dhak dhak karne laga, Chane ke khet mein, O ram ji, Aaja nach le, Hamari atariya, O re piya, many songs from Devdas etc. Madhuri Dixit has become extremely popular in many countries.  Aishwarya Rai also followed madhuri style. Saroj Khan was the main Choreographer to make Madhuri & Aishwarya to became bollywood Super Dancing Divas. Saroj Khan’s Choreography was very much successful to attract audience.

Comedy and Romance also took a major place in the heart of audience which introduced Couple Dance Forms done usually on slow and romantic songs.

HIP HOP DANCE –

Bollywood Dance in 2014  – Today’s Bollywood Dance is influenced by many western dance style like Hip Hop, Jazz, B-Boying, Locking Popping, Salsa, disco and many more or I can say its a mixture of all Indian & western Dance. Now the choreographers has become more smart. Today producers & Directors spend a lot of money on costumes, locations, sets & on a bigger group of dancer.

ITEM DANCERS

Item Dancers are also become a part of Hindi Movies. Most super hit Item Dances are – Babuji zara dheere chalo, Munni Badnaam, Sheila  ki Jawani, Aa re pritam pyare, Fevicol  & many more to be named. The most hit Item Dance numbers are performed by Katrina Kaif, Malaika Arora Khan, Rakhi Sawant, Kareena Kapoor, Yana Gupta, Priyanka Chopra, Bipasha Basu, Mallika Sherawat so forth.

DANCE WITH NEW TECHNOLOGIES

Bollywood dance reached next level with introduction of its first 3D dancing movie ABCD. Hope Bollywood dance sees such more innovations through years now.