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Organisers make the right moves for dandia season
Indo-Asian News Service

Jaipur, Oct 8 (IANS) It's the time to dandia again in Jaipur. Only this time, revellers in the Rajasthan capital have celebrities and even some Bollywood stars adding a touch of glamour.

"This time it is more fun. Apart from the celebrities most organisers have also added competitions," said Depesh Jain, a participant.

To attract more people like Depesh to their dandia dance evenings during the nine-night Navratri festival, organisers are innovating like never before. Several have announced competitions for the best dancing couple and the best-dressed couple. Prizes range from DVD players and 21-inch colour TVs to mobile phones and refrigerators.

Many organisers have added game shows like tambola to their event.

Former Miss India Tanushree Datta and TV actor Rajeev Khandelwal attended events here. Bollywood actresses Bipasha Basu, Meghna Naidu, Malaika Arora Khan, Lara Dutta and Raima Sen are also likely to be part of some dandia events.

Organisers and dance buffs have been preparing for days before the dandia season.

"I ordered my dresses from Gujarat and also joined coaching classes for learning dandia," said Priyanka Sharma, a dandia enthusiast.

Several dance schools in the city are also offering exclusive dance lessons to make sure participants don't make a false move while pirouetting with dandia sticks in their hands.

"We generally take classes one month before Navratri to equip our students with all choreographic technicalities of the dance. We also guide students about the dress code and body language, which helps them emerge as winners in various dandia competitions," said Meera Sexana, a director at the Buskers dance school.

Dance schools offer month-long classes for Rs.700-1,000.

But the money is of little consequence to youth queuing up to learn the right moves before the dandia season begins.

"We are here to learn the technicalities of traditional dance. After all you have to be in tune with changing trends," says Shilpa Agarwal, a city girl, unconsciously verbalising the irony of a traditional festival acquiring overtones of a modern day dance event.

Clearly, from being the preserve of the religious and traditional, dandia evenings have evolved into a month-long industry aiming at youth who have their pockets well lined -- and are ready to have a ball.