London is one of the most diverse and multicultural cities, not only in the United Kingdom, but in the entire world. It is home to a variety of ethnicities from all walks of life, and this is very much reflected in its culture and dance scene.

The UK already has a strong affinity to India, largely due to the popularity of Indian cuisine there. As the years have gone by, this has carried over into its culture. Bollywood movies and TV shows for example, are now far more popular in the UK than they were decades ago. This is gradually carrying over into other forms of modern entertainment as well, particularly dancing.

Bollywood dancing for example, has been embraced by the UK with open arms, with a number of dance schools across the nation now offering classes. In terms of popularity, the Bollywood dance scene in London is like nothing else anywhere in the UK. But why is this?

Here’s a look at the Bollywood dance scene in London and how it came to become so hugely popular.

What is Bollywood Dance?

Bollywood, which is a humorous play on ‘Hollywood’ is India’s film industry. This Hindi-language film industry is the ultimate in expressionism, freedom, culture, talent, and entertainment.

Bollywood’s origins can be traced back to 1913, through the release of a silent film by the name of ‘Raja Harishchandra’. Since then, the industry has evolved at a blistering pace and has accumulated a cult following all over the globe.

It was during the late 1940s and early 1950s that Bollywood began to change. Despite having its origins rooted in silent film, Bollywood movies were becoming increasingly vocal and expressive. Not only did they feature songs and music, they also began featuring elaborate dance routines blending a selection of different aspects of Indian culture. This was largely thanks to influential filmmakers such as Raj Kapoor and Guru Dutt.

Bollywood dancing is about telling a story through the medium of dance. It is renowned for its compelling narratives, combined with expressive, vibrant, energetic, and complex movements, while remaining true to its Indian film origins.

The Rise in Popularity of Bollywood Dancing

The period between 1950 and 1970 is widely referred to the ‘golden era of Bollywood dance’. Bollywood now had a global following and created a number of prominent Indian stars in the process. Whereas singing and dancing used to be rare in Bollywood, gradually it began featuring in more productions. Suddenly, both singing and dancing became key elements of a good Bollywood movie.

Thanks to the vibrant and colourful outfits of the performers, along with the music, energetic dance movements, expert choreography, and expressive routines, Bollywood dance gradually became its own unique artform. Suddenly, you could enjoy Bollywood dance without actually viewing a Bollywood production.

Bollywood performer Helen Ann Richardson Khan for example, is widely credited with helping to introduce Bollywood dance to the West. Helen, as she was also known, was also affectionately referred to as the ‘Queen of Cabaret’ and would merge common Bollywood dance movements with elements of popular western culture such as rock and roll, jazz, Latin dance, and of course, cabaret.

The Bollywood Dance Scene in London

As the years ticked by, Bollywood’s star continued to shine and if anything, it only became more popular. The same could also be said for Bollywood dance.

As Bollywood cinema began to evolve, we began seeing more western-inspired themes in the productions released. Bollywood genres ranged from romance and comedy to drama, action, and everything in between. Western pop-culture’s influence was more obvious than ever, and audiences couldn’t get enough.

Again, this carried over into the dance routines, with the most notable changes taking place during the 80s and 90s. Suddenly, Bollywood dancing began appealing towards younger audiences. Popular elements of western pop culture like hip hop, disco, rap, and R&B began creeping in. Bollywood dancing became more rhythmic, sexy, expressive, and energetic. Performers would dress trendier and sexier and routines would incorporate more of a freestyle element, almost like you’d find with breakdancing.

By combining key elements of popular western pop culture with traditional Bollywood dance and performances, all with a modern twist while staying true to its origins, Bollywood dancing took off in a big way, particularly across Europe. London in particular, had a large Indian population and audiences were becoming increasingly interested in Indian cinema. This in turn helped introduce them to Bollywood dancing.

One of the best things about Bollywood dance was its inclusivity. London was a melting pot of different cultures from all walks of life. This helped people to broaden their horizons, try different cuisines, and learn more about different cultures. Bollywood dance was a key example of this, and the people of London couldn’t get enough. Not only was it fun and expressive, it was also a great way to get fit and healthy. Even during that period, people were becoming fed up of mundane cardio workouts on treadmills and exercise bikes, and were looking for ways of making exercise fun and exciting. Bollywood dance most certainly did that.

As the decades passed by, more and more dance schools across London began offering Bollywood dance classes. Some schools even catered exclusively for people looking to learn this specific style of dance. Thanks to touring shows such as Frankie Goes to Bollywood, Bombay Superstars, and The Merchants of Bollywood, London’s Bollywood dance scene continued to grow, and has showed little signs of slowing.

For those interested in Bollywood dancing, London is now host to countless dance schools both offering and specialising in Bollywood dance. Just a few popular examples include: Absolute Bollywood, City Academy, Bollywood Dance School UK, and The Bollywood Co.