Wendy's Blog

IOWA DANCE FEST IN IOWA CITY!
Friday, April 23, 2010

7:00pm – 10:00pm

Robert A. Lee Community Recreation Center: 220 S. Gilbert St IC

220 S Gilbert St

Iowa City, IA

ART IN MOTION – April Artwalk is dance month and bollywood dancing will be part of the fun.  Wendy and Sankari and the Wednesday night Level II  students will dance Mauja Hi Mauja from Jab We Met.  Wendy will also perform Aja Nachle!  That’s Friday April 2nd 8 pm at the Soundheim.  Admission is $3 if they do it like last year.

April 23rd we are invited … Continue Reading

I believe that the most sacred dance, the dance that could awaken someone’s whole Being to come alive, that dance would be perfect in its geometry, spontaneous in it’s rendering, unpredictable yet organic and flowing yet precise, free yet intelligent.  I have been pondering what makes a dance “sacred” for years.  I believe in learning a discipline, yet reaching a point where there is freedom to create something entirely new, a new combination or a new move, but I think it’s important that dance obey natural laws.  Beauty of line should be there. Why? because geometry has a positive influence … Continue Reading

My first passion, that I recall, was for dressing up.  I remember being “mad” for the Candy Fashion doll and for a long green silk skirt my aunt gave me that went in my “dressup trunk.”  (I seem to remember her bringing me something from India as well, maybe a saree even.) When watching TV I’d go put on an outfit and do what the people in the show were doing.  I couldn’t watch; I had to do.  So I guess the impulse to move and the impulse to be in costume are tied together.  And now, at 53, it … Continue Reading

Sankari Wegman and I are forming a troupe of dancers.  The vision for the dance group is to create and perform dances that embrace classical Indian, bollywood and a fusion of styles, which in addition to the variety of styles within bollywood would also include, Middle Eastern (bellydance),  Ballet, Modern, Jazz.

The Elements

We are therefore seeking dancers with training in any major dance style and are also willing to train as part of the company practices.  Our mission … Continue Reading

Maar Dala from Devdaas

yet another Madhuri Dixit!  Has the upbeat liveliness of bollywood but the mime is almost as refined as pure Kathak.  That’s due to Madhuri’s perfection.  The costumes are so grand.  I seem to favor both the highly classical on one end of the spectrum and the strongly hip-hop flavored on the other.  And right now, Radhika’s picking both kinds!   thanks R!

PS – longing for the glamor of bollywood and I want my classes to make people feel that glamor and that they’re at an event!  – w

… Continue Reading

Badi Mushkil with Madhuri Dixit

Enjoy this dance by the Queen of Bollywood dance – you can see her Kathak training in this.

Namaste!

Slower-paced routines, detailed instructions on the basic moves.  Time given for individual needs and questions.  These are popular enough we will keep holding them weekly through February and March.  But sign up on he bw info list so you’ll be sure and get reminders/confirmations for each class. See Class Schedule for more details.

Wendy

Certain friends of mine (won’t mention any names) say they can’t make dahl as good-tasting as they claim mine is.  Here is one of my many impromptu recipes:  Let me know how it goes!

Soak about  a cup and a half of chanas in a crock pot (it’s so easy that way) overnight and cook on low the next day, all day. When they’re done (about 8 hours) spice them as follows: fry in ghee  some fresh ginger (or cook it in with the dahl) – add:

1 T cumin seeds, red chilis (1-2), 1/2 t mustard seeds, 1 t kolonji.  When … Continue Reading

We Twist from Love Aaj Kal

Saif Ali Khan is the main guy.  We gotta dance this on Monday nights.  C’mon, you guys can add some videos too!

Audiences have always been mesmerized by the Kathak, but Bollywood dance gets people involved. It’s not so intimidating.  Very few people are going to learn a classical Indian dance, but bollywood dancing is contagious, so it’s fun for me to bring dance to people who might not come to dance at all otherwise.  I love having a wider palette of moves now – the Kathak is such a good base for my education in the intoxicating world of bw dancing.