Work out to the Bollywood beat

Top Stories

Work out to the Bollywood beat

Dance instructor Eshan Maharishi of Shiamak UAE gives us the lowdown on the latest exercise creating waves in the city - the Bollywood workout

By Deepa Narwani

  • Follow us on
  • google-news
  • whatsapp
  • telegram

Published: Sun 3 Apr 2016, 11:00 AM

Last updated: Sun 3 Apr 2016, 1:17 PM

Move over Zumba, the Bollywood takeover is on! For those bored of going to the gym or attending spinning classes, the latest Bollywood dancercise is sure to spice things up. Bollywood tunes are known for their high-octane beats and make for a great high-energy cardio exercise that can improve muscle tone, increase stamina and is an excellent energy booster. One of the places offering these classes is Shiamak UAE - the initiative of ace choreographer Shiamak Davar, who has made the biggest stars dance to his beat, right from Amitabh Bachchan to Shah Rukh Khan, as well as Hollywood stars John Travolta and Kevin Spacey.
Dance instructor Eshan Maharishi at Shiamak UAE says, "One session of the Bollywood workout helps in burning in loads and loads of calories."
He says that the participants dance for one hour straight to the latest chartbusters such as Jabra Fan and Selfie Le Le, among others. In these sessions the attendees just have to follow the instructor's moves, who take them through a well-coordinated regimen. The vibe at these classes is truly infectious. The great music makes for a fun workout; whereas seeing others in the group activity makes sure that any inhibition is left at the door.
"It is intensive, and is a good workout for the abs, as we teach a routine in class and when they are done dancing, students would have already burned lots of calories. So it's a great combination of dancing as well as exercise," he adds.
Shiamak UAE came up with the concept almost two years ago and started offering classes in Abu Dhabi as well as Dubai. "We have never had to cancel a single class as people turn up to these regularly," says Maharishi. "Some of our students have been with us since the first class. They say that for them this routine has become a part of their lives."
For Maharishi, dance is his ultimate passion. A Mechanical Engineer by profession, he pursued a career in dance after graduation. After convincing his parents, he made his way to Mumbai and enrolled himself in OYP, a one-year dancing programme, affiliated to the renowned Debbie Allen Dance Academy (DADA). As part of the course, celebrity choreographer Davar himself trained Maharishi and that is where he learned the tricks of the trade.
"I started off as a student and any person who is inclined towards dancing can be a part of the classes. Shiamak's motto is 'Have feet, will dance' and we believe that anyone from the age of four to 84 can join these classes," he says.
Shiamak UAE is currently celebrating its ninth year in the country and offers a number of dance classes such as Indo Jazz and Shabop among others. They offer classes for different groups - Juniors, Juniors Advanced and Adults.
Maharishi highlights that during the classes instructors teach from the choreography bank Shiamak has trained them in. He says, "Of course we also use our own creativity and gauge the class to see their potential."
Their popular programmes include the Winter and Summer Funk, and for 15 classes participants learn a medley of songs and it culminates with a live stage performance.
"A lot of times parents come to us and say that because of you today my kid can go on stage and perform and the child's confidence level goes up. It's a very proud feeling to be a part of a child's development process," says Maharishi.
The classes attract a number of Indian and Pakistani students as well people from the GCC countries. Currently Shiamak UAE conducts classes in Wafi Mall, Emirates Hills, Bur Dubai, Discovery Gardens, and has two venues in Abu Dhabi and one in Sharjah. They are in the process of opening venues in Al Ghurair Centre and Silicon Oasis.
On a parting note Maharishi says that people always come back for more. He says, "People cannot get enough of dancing, it's a great stress buster!"
The Art of Dancing
A few students share their experience and passion for dance.
Vishal Lalwani: "These dance classes were the best thing that ever happened to me. The journey so far has been amazing and it gets more awesome with time. Its always great fun to be a part of the dance sessions."
Manal Harb: "When I first joined I was expecting to learn a few dance steps and do some exercise. However, what I got was far beyond my expectations. For about three years now I have been learning a new thing every single class, be it about art, life, respect, teamwork, dedication, creativity, fun, culture, health and well-being, and so many other things."
Malladi Balasubramanian: "It all started off on an impulsive decision to join the classes almost five years back just because I wanted to learn how to dance. Little did I know at that point that these classes would become a part of my daily routine. Through them I was able to rediscover my passion for dance and the classes also gave me the thrill of performing for live shows."
Helly Shah: "I love to dance and the classes teach you a variety of dance styles, names of which I hadn't even heard before. They even teach you with some basic theory and that helps in understanding why the particular style is done that way."
supplements@khaleejtimes.com


More news from