Garba makes way for quirky spin-offs in Mumbai

The city is gearing up for Navratri. However, they are not just prepping up their festive wardrobe for the nine-nights revelry, but also bringing out their dancing shoes to rehearse for it. Dance instructors often get innovative with the traditional raas-garba, this year being no different. With Mumbaikars making a beeline for classes to keep pace with the latest in garba dance, here’s what’s catching their fancy this year...
Game for ghaghra garba?
Ladies (and gentlemen, too), you need to use your most colourful dupattas, scarves and handkerchiefs as props to amplify your moves with dupatta garba.Here, the piece of cloth is pinned to the crown as revellers keeping moving ahead. Giving details on this garba spin-off, Arpita Ranadive Sathaye, who runs a dance academy in Vile Parle, informs, “Many are opting for this as the props are a part of the attire and there’s no need to carry anything extra. The movements are also fluid. The steps for men, however, are similar to the bhangra.” It’s people-friendly as the steps are so simple that everyone, from three to 75, can do it. Another style topping the list, and this one, only for girls, is the ghaghra garba. Women here wear live lights or battery-lit ghaghras (long ethnic skirts) for the swirls. Besides this special attire, women tend to stand out when they carry a decorative ghat (a clay pot) in hand or their head.

Baithak style of garba is particularly famous among men. Says chartered accountant Chirag Mehta (41), who’s learning this form, “Though it looks easy, it’s challenging. One has to be on the toes literally, and match steps to the beats. It took me close to five days to perfect it with a day-off in between; it’s worth it as it is a great stress-buster too. But I’m doing this to stand out in the crowd.” Girls are taking to this form too.
Getting fit with garba workouts
A fun way to lose weight, many have started doing garba all-year round. Jigar Soni, who along with his brother, conducts traditional garba classes in various part of the city. He says that their members have enrolled for annual memberships. “Only because it is popular during Navratri does not mean that one can’t do it throughout the year. After all, it’s a type of dance that many get hooked to. Several students from our classes have discontinued their membership with gyms.” Fifteen-year-old Parthavi Mehta being a case in point. “I joined garba classes in April this year. I only have to go for it thrice in a week. Besides being my passion, I find it a lot better to workout with garba than going to the gym,” she says.
Zumba garba continues to reign five years since its introduction. Choreographer Piyush Sen, says, “We have step-up boards in our class as a prop, which is equally a hit among both, girls and boys. Pari Hoon Main and Sanedo are all-time favourite songs for these sessions.”