Community Shows, Festivals, Theatres 

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Bollywood Star Dance Performance & Workshop

In her trademark charming and humorous style, award-winning Bollywood dancer and choreographer Karima Essa showcases Bollywood dance as a fun cultural art form by opening with an electrifying dance in full regalia. She'll then lead a fun and engaging dance workshop to inspire people of all ages and abilities to get up and dance along with her.  You'll learn the basic elements of Bollywood dance, including signature neck and head movements, facial expressions and foot and hand movements, to current Bollywood hits, while using props such as scarves or dandiya sticks.
 

Ages: all ages family show
Duration: 45-60 min.
Workshops: 1 day or multiple days. 60 ppl/session x 5 sessions/day in schools. Inquire for pricing.

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Bollywood Dance Workshops & Residencies

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Bollywood dance is a high-energy, vibrant dance style which originated in the Indian film industry. It combines elements of classical Indian dance, folk dance, and modern dance styles, creating a unique and dynamic dance form that is popular around the world. Karima's 1-day workshops are designed to introduce students to the basic elements of Bollywood dance while building their confidence and skills in a fun and supportive environment. She teaches students  basic Bollywood dance steps and techniques while using a range of props, such as scarves and Dandiya sticks to add an extra element of fun. Students will also learn about the importance of facial expressions and body language in Bollywood dance, and how to use these elements to convey emotion and tell a story through movement. At the end of the day, students will perform a follow-and-repeat dance routine that showcases highlights from each group's workshop. This is a fun and inclusive way to celebrate the students' learning and showcase their newfound skills. In addition, Karima also offers a special lunchtime dance session for interested teachers, who will learn a simple dance routine that they can perform as a surprise for their students.

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Multiple day residencies offer a more in-depth exploration of Bollywood dance and allow students to build their skills over time. On the final day of the residency, students will showcase their dances in a performance for their school community.

 

Grades: K -12 

Duration: 1 day. A daily schedule will be determined with the school and artist and usually consists of 4-5 x 45-min workshops with a 30-min dance performance and showcase at the end of the day or the residency.

Capacity: 60 kids per grouping. 

Inquire for daily rates. Discounted pricing is available for multi-day residencies, allowing schools to bring Karima back for 3-, 5- or 10-day workshops.

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Body Positive Bollywood Dance Performance

Since age 4, Karima’s been gracing the stage in dance competitions, events and most recently on OMNI TV’s Bollywood Star reality show. When she hit puberty at 11, her body unwittingly became a blank canvas in which people could “paint” their admiration and adoration or their judgment and criticism. She grew up thinking she needed to be a “size zero” fuelled by the vanity of the Bollywood industry. However, she has finally grown to love her new, beautiful body. Karima’s Bollywood workshop-style dance show infuses music, breathing and ideologies from ancient scholars from the Middle East and South Asia.  People of all shapes and sizes will leave inspired to accept and love themselves inside and out, on and off the dance floor!
 

Ages: all ages family show
Duration: 45-60 min.
Workshops: 1 day or multiple days. 60 ppl/session x 5 sessions/day in schools. Inquire for pricing.

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Virtual Bollywood Dance Modules on Arts IQ

Karima's virtual Bollywood dance program with professionally pre-recorded dance lessons and performance videos is available for teacher and school subscriptions on the Arts IQ platform now. Visit artsiq.ca/karima-essa.

Grades: K-

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ABCD: AnyBody Can Dance Workshop or Performance

 

Karima Essa is an award-winning dance choreographer and was a two-time semi-finalist on OMNI TV’s show, “Bollywood Star.” She has created a new interactive workshop style young audience show called, “ABCD: AnyBODY Can Dance.” This show and workshop (with the same title) is highly interactive and features students creating their own signature dance moves integrated with choreography from many different dance genres, including Bollywood, Bhangra, Salsa and Hip Hop. During the show or workshop, Karima asks students to vote on their favourite song from her curated cross-cultural playlist. Once students have chosen a song, she calls upon volunteer students to share their unique dance moves with their peers. She then integrates their dance moves into her own blended captivating dance choreography. In the performance, Karima will lead the entire audience in learning the dance in a 45-minute show. For the 1-day workshop or multiple-day dance residencies, Karima will work with 60 students/session x 5 sessions/day to create their own unique choreography to a song of their choosing. For workshops and residencies, students will also have a chance to perform for their peers and/or parents in an assembly. Karima will also teach any interested teachers a dance to surprise their students during a lunch session.

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Ages: all ages family show

Duration: 45-60 min.

Workshops: 1 day or multiple days. 60 ppl/session x 5 sessions/day in schools. Inquire for pricing.