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Dancing
into their hearts
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Multi
talented Honey Kalaria has single-handedly popularised the
Bollywood genre of dance in Britain. Thanks to her dance workout
routine, Mumbai's gift to contemporary popular culture has
also found favour with health freaks abroad, reports TWF correspondent
Jonathan Dyson
Countless cultural movements have had a visionary
figure who inspired change by acting ahead of their time.
In the case of Britain's cultural embrace of all things Indian
at present, that person could be Honey Kalaria.
Dubbed "Britain's unofficial Bollywood
ambassador," Honey, through a mixture of visionary thinking,
outstanding talent, tireless hard work and boundless enthusiasm,
has helped take India's popular culture from the background
of Britain's culture to its mainstream, probably more than
anyone else.
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Born into a Gujarati family in Malawi, Honey came to Britain
with her parents as a young girl. She started dancing at the
age of four, and mastered rock & roll, Latin American, classical,
disco and belly dance. As a teenager she gained the title of
Professional International Performing Artist and went on to
perform throughout the world at several leading shows and events.The
multi-talented Honey has also tried her hand at singing, choreography,
acting, modelling and teaching. However, it has been the way
she has spread the gospel of modern Indian dance across Britain
that has proved her most significant project. This she has achieved
through her dance academy, her tours of schools, and her hugely
popular videos.
Honey set up the first British-Asian dance academy in 1997,
and there are now 12 of her dance schools in London and the
surrounding area, with more than 10,000 members, and 1,200 students
attending every week. Students can choose from a unique selection
of modern and classical Indian dance, Bhangra and acting, and
many pupils have performed at several prestigious events, and
in films, musicals, TV programmes and commercials.
A group of the academy's students performed at the recent Air
India party celebrating the start of the direct London-Ahmedabad
flights. They have also completed a promotional tour for the
hit musical Bombay Dreams. Honey clearly takes great pride in
what her dance schools have achieved: "I was on a mission
to teach the UK about Bollywood," she explained. "Many
people tried to hinder me, but I had carried out research among
British Asians in schools and saw a niche in the market for
my academy. I worked relentlessly for the first three years,
sometimes working for up to sixteen hours, seven days a week.
I trained high quality teachers, and generated a market for
my services. I have not looked back since."
"There are plans to open up two new schools in the near
future and some more by next year," she went on. "I
believe growing steadily helps to maintain training quality.
I find that to be very important and I take pride in the high
standard of training that we offer. We offer many opportunities
to British Asians and those from other cultural backgrounds,
who benefit by gaining performing arts experience, building
their confidence, becoming fitter, learning about Indian arts
and culture, and also earning from professional work."
Honey has enjoyed similar success on her tours of schools throughout
Britain. She and her teachers provide dance workshops, and arrange
performances in Indian costume. They also teach pupils about
Indian jewellery, Bollywood, and the history of Indian dance.
As Honey explained, "They absolutely love it. Asian children
love it because they recognise star names such as Shah Rukh
Khan and Aishwarya Rai and are familiar with popular Bollywood
tracks. Those from non-Asian backgrounds enjoy the sessions
because they are amazed by the sparkling jewellery, vibrant
costumes and enjoy the modern Indian Bollywood tracks."
Lorraine Hastings, who owns her own dancing school, and is
also an examiner for the International Dance Teachers Association,
used Honey to teach Indian dance to her students, and described
Honey as "absolutely brilliant". She inspired my
students through her dynamic personality and her very interesting
and lovely routines, said Lorraine.
"She worked very well with the students (none of whom
were of Asian background or origin) with very clear directions
and a very enthusiastic approach. A couple of girls weren't
sure about doing Indian dance, but within a couple of minutes
they were hooked. I've now been inspired to design a routine
of my own, based on what Honey has taught me. We always include
Indian dancing in our show now. I'd love to work with Honey
again."
Honey and her team have also sent several schools her Teach
Yourself Bollywood and Teach Yourself Bhangra dance programme
videos, with a resource pack and workbook. Her most popular
video has been her Bollywood Workout video. The British public
loved the idea of getting fit while learning Indian dance
routines, and on its release in September 2002, it shot to
number one in the exercise category.
Honey also released a lively dance-funk album, Time 2 Dance,
featuring the tracks used on her Bollywood work-out video.
This was accompanied by the Time 2 Dance video, which was
voted as the number one pop video on Zee Music.
Kapil Dudakia, an Indian dance enthusiast and a former schools
inspector in Britain, is in an excellent position to assess
Honey's contribution to Indian dance in Britain, having both
worked with her and observed her teaching. "Many talented
artists perform, and then leave the stage," he said,
"Honey performs, and then teaches. She connects with
youngsters exceptionally well. She has made Indian dance appealing
to youngsters by combining four or five traditional Indian
routines into an attractive package. Thanks to Honey, Britain
now has a far more structured modern Indian dance system."
Honey has definitely added sweetness to the multi-cultured
platter of Britain today.
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