Bombay beats on the stage
A Bollywood dance troupe is spicing things up with a performance like no other.
Bombay Beat: Bollywood Heat is Indiance dance school’s arena scale production where the audience sit in a circular stage giving them a 360 degree view.
Lead actor Akash Kumar says with 80 performers and no easy way to escape back stage there will certainly be challenges.
‘‘We haven’t seen this done anywhere else. We’ve done big theatre performances, but nothing like this,’’ he says.
Essentially the show is a love story brought to life through the costumes and toe-tapping music that make the Bollywood style what it is.
For Mr Kumar it’s a chance to connect with his heritage. The 19-year-old architecture student is of Indian descent but born here.
His mother, Puketapapa Local Board member Ella Kumar, was also born here while his father was born in India.
Mr Kumar has never been to the country but hopes to visit soon.
‘‘When I watch Bollywood it reminds me of what it would be like to be in India.
‘‘It’s a creative connection as well, it’s a way for me to express myself,’’ he says.
The Mt Roskill resident has his heart set on making his living as an architect after he graduates from Unitec but can also see a future in amateur theatre.
He has appeared in shows of The Sound Of Music and High School Musical.
He got involved with Indiance when he was nine.
Mr Kumar is still one of only a few males at his dance school despite Bollywood’s increasing popularity among Kiwis.
‘‘It’s all right because I get to be in a lot more dances whereas the girls have to fight for positions,’’ he says.
Bombay Beat: Bollywood Heat is on July 27 at Vodafone Events Centre.
Tickets from iticket.co.nz.