Devi Bollywood Dance offers a diverse range of programs for colleges, schools, and communities. We focus on the arts and culture of India while inspiring participants to explore innovation within tradition. A variety of programs can be designed based on age, skill level, and interest, including: Performances, Lecture-demonstrations, Workshops, and Residencies.
Embrace the transformative power of the season as we gather together for 108 Sun Salutations in honor of the Winter Solstice. Led by the wonderful instructor Megan McClain and accompanied by live drumming from Griffin Brady! This will be an evening of reflection, renewal, and grounding as we honor the longest night of the year and welcome the return of light.
Live Drumming!
Friday, 12/21
Time: 7 – 8:30pm
Cost: $25
Chai and Samosas provided!
Friday, 11/22
Time: 7 – 8:30pm
Cost: $45
Join us for a day of incredible dance classess led by some of Buffalo’s finest instructors.
What to expect: Salsa, Bellydance, Modern, Garba and more!
10-11am Drumming Class with Griffin Brady
11:15-12:15 PM Salsa Class with Natasha
12:30-1:30 PM Indian Classical Dance with Nitya
2PM-3:15 PM Modern Contemporary dance w/ Holli Simme
3:30-4:30 PM Bellydance with Kenzie
5-6 PM Somatic Movement with Megan and Live Jazz by Alex McArthur (Equinox Special)
Sunday, 09/22/2024
10 – 6:00pm
Cost: $60/day, $20/class
Think you can’t wear a Saree? Think again, we are offering an opportunity for you to feel and look your best.
What to expect: We will learn how to drape a saree, we will learn some interesting history and facts about it and then have a short dance choreography to the song “Dole Re Dole” From the film Devdas
What to bring: Bring a saree that you have tucked away waiting for that special occasion or borrow one from us.
Bring a long skirt or leggings to wear underneath.
Friday, 09/13/2024
7 – 8:30pm
Cost: $35
Let’s get the wedding season ready! We are calling all guests, bridesmaids, bridal parties, aunties, uncles, and even the cameraman!
In this class, you will learn three upbeat, fun for your next Indian wedding, and you will receive the music track for your playlist (or share it with the DJ)!
Be ready to make some moves on the dance floor and party all night long with everyone.
Friday, 06/21
Time: 7 – 8:30pm
Cost: $35
As early as 4000 B.C., gongs have been used as spiritual tools to help guide meditation. A gong produces motions and vibrations that cause frequencies of difference ranges. Scientific studies have shown the therapeutic use of sound frequencies to benefit overall health and well-being. Immersion in a full gong bath takes the participant on a journey of meditation and self-healing.
A sound bath using gongs is a meditative sonic experience, where the participant is “bathed” in sound waves from various gongs. The practice finds it’s roots in ancient cultures and Kundalini yoga and is more recently used by sound healing practitioners.
The participant can expect to be taken on a meditation journey enhanced and assisted by the frequencies of these ancient instruments. The experience will last roughly 45 minutes and led by Liz Holland, MM Percussion Performance.
Liz Holland M.M., practitioner of Ancient Alloys, has been a percussionist for her entire life. She holds a M.M. in Percussion Performance, with a focus in exploratative techniques of percussive instruments for new music. She has been features in Drum! magazine, Modern Drummer, and has toured and performed around the country many times. A native of Buffalo, NY, she is now based in Seattle, Washington.
Thursday, May 23rd
Time: 7-8pm
Cost: $25
Adults Kathak Workshop w/ performance opportunity
Students will learn a Saraswati composition and a technical composition, which they will perform on Friday.
Wednesday 4/24 | Time: 6-8 pm
Thursday 4/25 | Time: 7-9 pm
Rate: $65 (includes 2 tickets to performance) – NON-PERFORMANCE RATE: $35
Please note: All classes are held at Devi Bollywood Dance Studio.
Kathak Performance | Friday, April 26th at 7PM
Enjoy a Kathak performance by world-renowned Kathak performer Jayeeta Dutta. This program will include a beautiful Kathak performance by local students and a professional Kathak performance by Jayeeta Dutta. We will follow with a talk and a meet and greet.
Location: Elmwood Commons Auditorium | 3200 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14228
Time: 7-8 pm (followed by discussion)
The name Bharatanatyam signifies three concepts coming together, BHA- bhaava or emotions, RA- raaga or melody/musicality and TA- taala or rhythm. This class will take the dancers through these three fundamental concepts through a dive into Kalakshetra technique of Bharatanatyam. Participants will get a chance to explore emotion, story-telling and rhythm through their bodies and embody movement patterns such as crisp turns, deep plies, rhythmic grounded patterns with feet, classical hand gestures and graceful angular movements that are the signature of Bharatanatyam.
The dancers will get a chance to explore emotion, story-telling and rhythm through their bodies and embody movement patterns such as crisp turns, deep plies, rhythmic grounded patterns with feet, classical hand gestures and graceful angular movements that are the signature of Bharatanatyam.
Kids class:
Adult Classes:
Labonee Mohanta, disciple of Kathak maestro Pandit Chitresh Das, began her training in Kathak dance at the early age of 8. She is a prominent solo artist, regularly performing Kathak solos to great acclaim in dance and music festivals throughout the United States, Canada, India, and Europe. Labonee has become renowned for dynamism in her dance, fiery footwork, subtlety and grace in movement, and performing some of the fastest pirouettes in the field of Indian dance today. She also employs the technique “Kathak Yoga” where she simultaneously sings the rhythmic cycle, dances complex mathematical patterns, and plays an instrument at the same time. Labonee is the Artistic Director of Lavanya Academy of Indian Arts in California, where she trains her dance company and teaches 50 students in 3 locations in the Bay Area.
**Prices increase October 4th
Kids: 10/8/2024
Time: 6:15PM- 7PM
Adults: 10/8/2024 & 10/9/2024
Time: 7-8:30PM
Celebrate Spring Equinox with us:
Why 108 Salutations? It is a meditative practice that connects the body, the mind, and the universe specifically when nature is undergoing a change.
Tuesday, 03/19/2024
7 – 9 pm
Cost: $25 |
Let’s go to Jamaica!!! Enjoy a movement class introducing the traditional folk and contemporary dances of Jamaica. Taught by Nicolette Ferguson, be prepared to engage your mind, body and soul. Don’t forget your water bottles and attire is bare feet and comfortable clothing.
Date: Friday, 01/12/2024
7-8:30pm
Sliding Scale $10-$25
Come learn something new or brush up on your skills! We will cover the basics of fan dance, and integrate footwork and whole-body movements to take your fan dancing to the next level. Please bring your own set of fans if possible. Extra fans will be available for practice but not for purchase.
Date: Friday, 01/12/2024
7-8:30pm
Sliding Scale $10-$25
This energetic Beginner Bhangra class will entice your head, shoulder, knees, and toes to get moving and grooving! Bhangra, is a folk dance from Punjab which is mainstream on social media and around the world. Join us for an evening of fun learning and easy dance moves.
Instructor: Sunny Soloman
Tuesdays 11/7, 11/14, 11/21
6:30 – 7:30pm
Cost: $23 per class
Wine and Snacks provided!
Friday, 11/17
Time: 6:30 – 8pm
Cost: $40
Garba is a fun dance form that originates from the state of Gujarat in India. The steps are easy to learn, and it’s fun to watch even if you’re not the dancing type! Garba is typically done during Navratri, it is a Hindu festival, literally meaning “nine nights”. While this festival is celebrated in various ways across India, Gujarat follows the prime tradition of performing Garba dance for nine nights as a symbol of respect for the goddess. Open to adults and kids
Friday, 10/13
7- 8:30pm
Cost: $20 | $30 (day of)
Friday 9/29 7-830pm
Saturday 9/30 6-730pm
Sunday 10/1 11-12:30pm
Wine and Snacks provided!
Wednesday, August 16th
Time: 7:00 – 9pm
Sold Out
The goal of this class is to strengthen the larger muscle groups of the body, building balance and stability, while incorporating the multiple benefits of a mindful yoga practice. In this class we will use physical postures (asanas), breathing exercises, and meditation to improve our overall health and wellness.
* We will have a live sitar player as a musical accompaniment.
Thursday, August 10th
Time: 7:00 – 8pm
Cost: $30
Saturday, July 29th
Time: 11:00 – 12:30pm
Cost: $30
In this free workshop we will focus on:
– Learn choreography from Gaitrie Subryan of Devi Bollywood and Megan Rakeepile from Mahatammoho Collective. The choreography will be an excerpt from our production “Find Your Beat”
– Afro-Caribbean and Indian/Bollywood movements, vocabulary and technique
– Discussions with drummers and choreographers about the creative process and artistic direction with this excerpt
– Rhythm, sounds, energy
This workshop is supported by the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) Statewide Community Regrant (SCR) program
Wednesday, 06/5/2024
6 – 8pm
Cost: $25
Wednesday, 06/5/2024
6 – 8pm
Cost: $25