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Shimmying it well

Photo: Murali kumar k.

Past tense Sanaz Bakhtiari says that the dance originated as a religious dance centuries ago

For the ordinary mortals, belly dance is just glamour and sensuality. But Iranian Sanaz Bakhtiari tells you that the dance form originated as a religious dance. “It is one of the oldest dance forms which originated in Middle East and North Afri ca. The dance is very internal and an art,” says Sanaz. She should know. After all, Sanaz is a trained belly dancer and has been teaching belly dancing as a fitness tool to Bangaloreans for the past two years. “It is a great way to reduce weight and be in shape. Belly dancing tones the arms, strengthens and tightens the abs and burns calories,” says Sanaz. She takes classes in Koramangala, Vasanth Nagar and Jayanagar and has 70 to 80 students currently. But that was not the aim, the middle eastern beauty came with. She came as a tourist and fell in love with the country. “I realised that people love fast music to dance on,”says Sanaz, who is professionally trained in ballet, Persian folk dance, traditional dance and Iranian modern dance. Though she studied journalism for her bachelors’ degree, she realised that dance is her true calling.

Settling down here was no cakewalk for the artist. “And then, they were just so shy. The movements are very natural and internal. To do such movements, it’s important that you know your body. I had difficulties because of the differences in my accent and the locals’ accent but now I have picked up the accent,” says Sanaz. She loves observing people. “I notice that on weekends, peoplewear their best clothes. On weekdays, they do not much care what they wear.”

Sanaz misses Iran and her family. She visits her motherland once a year. Drawing comparisons with her country, she says, “Women are more independent and respected in Iran. Women are not allowed to do hard labour but here I see women working on construction sites. But then, dance and music is given more respect in India. Family bonding and values are much stronger here. I feel strange when women here tell me that decisions on their life are still taken by their parents. It doesn’t work like that in Iran,” says Sanaz who feels that as an artist, she gets more creative liberty in India. Sanaz Bakhtiari can be contacted at 9886466746.

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