Bollywood Dance: Hand Gestures and Routine
Students learn signature Bollywood moves, such as screwing in the light bulb, the peacock gesture, and wrist circles, and link them into an expressive routine with fabric pieces. Students work on facial and hand expression, rhythm, and learning about Indian culture.
How to play
- Spend 2 minutes explaining that Bollywood dance comes from Indian films and blends classical dance, folk, and pop, and that the hands and face tell the story.
- Hand gestures (5 minutes): teach four gestures, such as the peacock (thumb and index finger together), the flower, the opening lotus, and the light bulb, with wrist circles on the beat.
- Base steps (5 minutes): screw in the light bulb with one hand up and one down, a side step with hips, and a jump with a clap overhead.
- Guided routine (6 minutes): link gestures and steps into a 32-count sequence, with colored fabric pieces in the hands for the ending.
- In groups of 5, each group adds 8 original counts with a strong facial expression and rehearses it (4 minutes).
- Final showcase (3 minutes): the class dances the full routine and each group takes turns doing its part in the middle.
Rules
- Respect the dance as part of a culture: no mocking or caricatures.
- Move the fabric above your own body without hitting classmates.
- Keep an arm and a half of space because of the big arm movements.
- Everyone dances; anyone who gets lost keeps going with the hand gestures.
Variations
Easier
Only hand gestures and the side step, no jumps.
Standard
A 32-count routine with gestures, steps, and fabric, plus 8 counts created by each group.
Harder
Add full turns and a formation change from rows to a circle.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: hand gestures and facial expression are the core of the dance and work perfectly seated.
- Hearing impairment: the teacher cues changes with big, clearly visible gestures from the front.
- Lower fitness: replace jumps with heel raises.
Learning goals
- Use hand gestures and facial expression to communicate through dance.
- Follow a 32-count routine to the beat of the music.
- Learn about the origins and features of Bollywood dance.
Equipment for a class of 25
- music
- speakers: 1
- colored fabric pieces: 25
Teacher tip
Big smiles and expressive eyes are part of the style, so encourage students to exaggerate their faces. Choose an instrumental track or one with appropriate lyrics and briefly explain its film or context.
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