As the city gears up for Navratri, dance studios are already alive with the beats of the dhol and the swirl of colourful dupattas. Garba workshops, held weeks in advance, have become the go-to spaces where seasoned dancers polish their moves and newcomers take their first twirl. More than just about learning steps, these sessions capture the essence of community, joy and anticipation, giving Mumbaikars a head start to celebrate one of the most awaited festivals.‘Garba workshops happen all year long’Founder of a garba dance studio, Kirit Helia, who has been conducting workshops since 2001, says, “Garba workshops are not just limited to a few months before Navratri; they go on for the entire year. Earlier, when we started off, people used to join these workshops four months prior to Navratri to learn and brush up their skills, but now the craze forgarba is such that people come all year long. We have people from all age groups joining our classes.”‘We focus on traditional folk Garba’Choreographers and founders of a graba studio, Kalpesh Chavda and Nirav Chavda, who specialise in teaching dodhiya steps, share, “We started conducting garba workshops in 2014, and it’s nice to see the number of people enrolling go up. While people are moving towards Bollywood songs and dance, we like to focus on traditional folk garba.”
‘These workshops are good for community bonding’Jay Patel, an engineer from Gujarat who now lives in Mumbai, says, “It’s not just about the dance, it’s about the people you meet here. I have been living in Mumbai for two years now, and I enjoy Navratri here. It all started with me joining a workshop where I made friends. Now I celebrate the festival with them. These workshops are a good place for community bonding.”
These workshops don’t just stick to the usual steps. They introduce us to various forms—be it traditional garba, dodhiya or fusion moves. It keeps the dance exciting every year— Sneha Joshi, a graphic designer from GhatkoparMy friends and I sign up for these classes every year. We enjoy picking up new steps and polishing our moves together. It’s become our pre-Navratri ritual— Harshad Desai, businessman from Malad
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/o-haalo-re-workshops-set-the-beat-for-mumbais-garba-nights/articleshow/123993423.cms