Participants perform on the final day of the workshop. Picture by Saradindu Chaudhury

Salsa and jazz dance are passe, if the turnout at a recent belly-dancing workshop is any indication. A multi-activity group, Black Kats, had organised one at EE Block’s Natya Sodh Sansthan and almost 30 women had enrolled to learn the belly roll. Many had in fact, come in the hope of losing a few tyres around their bellies.

Forty-three-year-old Sunita Kedia had come all the way from Howrah for the workshop. “Belly dance is a pleasant excuse. What I’ve really come for is to reduce my belly,” laughed an embarrassed Kedia. “Only my husband and daughter know I’ve come here. My in-laws think I’m in office.”

Even AE Block’s Anju Agarwal, who has been married for 20 years, had informed only her husband about the workshop. “I’ll tell my son later. He’ll be shocked and say dance workshops are for people of his age,” she smiled.

Conducting the workshop was choreographer Sorbani Sen, who teaches belly dancing at Park Street. “Belly dancing is one form of art that does not discriminate between the slim and not-so-slim. Those with unflattering bellies too look sensuous performing this dance.” Sen added that this dance form originated in Egypt where it was passed down from mother to daughter as a method of fertilising the womb.

And so the women hit their hips out and curled in and out their arms like Shakira. Their outfit — black vests with tights — was invested with a touch of glamour by the shimmering belly belts, traditionally worn by belly dancers. The week-long workshop culminated in the performance of the song Maiya Maiya from the film Guru where Malika Sherawat had done a belly dance.

Cheering on the women from the sidelines were husbands, mothers and mothers-in-law. Said Sanjana Sadani, mother of the youngest participant Shreyasi: “We had seen this dance during our holiday in Dubai and loved it. So when we came to know of these classes, I encouraged my 13-year-old daughter to give it a try. I hope she enjoys it and loses a few inches from her tummy,” smiled the mother.

Said Naina Maheshwari, director of Black Kats: “Dances like salsa are taught around every corner now. But I wanted to bring a dance form that is new to Salt Lake. The workshop has been so successful that we must hold an advanced workshop soon.”