Students participated in the Bollywood and Bhangra dance in the Performing Arts building as one of the presentations at Multicultural Day on April 9.

Komal Tejwani, the dance instructor for the presentation, is classically trained in BharataNatyam or Indian classical dance. She created her own Bhangra dance team in Santa Clarita called SCV Power Bhangra.

Tejwani said that she brought her presentation to multicultural day since she wanted to raise more awareness for Indian dances since it is big in India.

“Educate others to bring cultural awareness to Indian dances,” said Tejwani. “Interact with the students and give them exposure to something different.”

Bollywood and Bhangra Dance is one of 67 presentations at Multicultural Day.

Bollywood is based on the Indian Hollywood. The Bollywood and Bhangra dance is modeled on Indian dance, folk dancing and sometimes an Arabic and Latino influence. Dialogues for the dance are written in Hindu with dialogue that invokes family, God, self-sacrifice, and the mother. 

Participants at the event danced to the high-energy drumbeats of Bollywood and Bhangra. Tejwani had students stretch during the presentation to get them warmed-up, flexible, and excited to dance along with her.

Lyndsey Gago, 21, Kinesiology major said that she loved learning about how to perform the Bollywood and Bhangra dance. 

“It was hard and challenging, I definitely worked up a sweat,” said Gago.