Step Into Bollywood

We’ve all seen them, perhaps on television, in a movie theater, or via viral online video: the Bollywood production number. Exotic music, bright costumes, and waves upon waves of synchronized dancers evoke the mysteries of the Indian subcontinent. It’s an art form as unique to the Indian culture as tap dance or jazz is to American culture.

Sure you’ve seen one. But can you perform in one?

On Thursday, Sept. 15, at 7 p.m., the will give you a chance to find out. East Brunswick residents Manju Lulla and Devyani Beltangdi, both members of the , will host a Bollywood Dance Workshop. The 90-minute event is open to all ages and experience levels, and is free to attend.

Lulla, who serves as the Vice President of Indian Cultural Society of East Brunswick, is an employee at Johnson & Johnson who has resided in the township since 1999. She has volunteered for the Indian Cultural Society since 2005. Beltangdi, a homemaker, has lived in East Brunswick since 1994.

“These workshops are something that we coordinate with the library and collaborate volunteers through the Indian Cultural Society,” Lulla said. “This is not the first, we do one almost every year at the library.”

Lulla adds that individuals of any culture are more than welcome at the event. “We expect the workshop to identify the various different dance styles in India, along with trying to get people from all communities to come to our workshops and learn something about our culture,” she said. “All ages and experience levels are welcome. Last year, we had many seniors attend the workshop, and they had a great time learning our dance steps.

“People can learn something new about India, learn a new type of dance, our clothes and most important, our culture.”

For more information about this event contact the East Brunswick Public Library at 732-390-6767 or visit www.ebpl.org.

For more information about the Indian Cultural Society of East Brunswick, visit www.indianculturalsociety.com.