Pune: With Navratri just around the corner, the city is experiencing a surge in garba workshops as enthusiasts gear up to perfect their dance moves for the festive season. Dance studios, cultural groups and community spaces across the city are offering short-term workshops and intensive practice sessions, teaching both traditional and modern garba and dandiya steps such as teen tali and dodhiya.“I always wanted to learn some hook steps of garba, so I enrolled in a short four to five days workshop that teaches steps that can be performed on just about any song. I am planning to attend several garba nights this year,” said Pankhuri Chavan, a resident of Wanowrie. These classes not only attract youngsters but also families looking to celebrate together. “Four of us from the family enrolled in a 10-day garba workshop. We are from Chennai and would love to celebrate this festival with our society members this year,” said A Pushpa, who joined the workshop with her eight-year-old granddaughter, her daughter-in-law, and her sister.Tushar Khairnar, who has been teaching garba since the lockdown, said that no matter how evolved the dance gets, it is the traditional moves that will always trend. “Steps like the doriyo, sanedo, and dakla are evergreen. People want to learn choreography on new trending songs. The usual workshop duration is 13 sessions, but there are people who want shorter crash courses of four to five sessions also,” he said.Karishma Jain, who conducts garba workshops at Marketyard, said there has been a tremendous response from learners this time around. “I teach a mixture of authentic garba along with folk variations. It is a modern garba concept which we teach on trending songs. Fifteen sessions are required to learn the basic concepts. Residents learn so that they can participate in community events during Navratri,” she said.Riyasa Studio in Baner will also be conducting a special 11-day garba workshop. “We will teach beginner-level steps as well as advanced garba. We already have a registration of over 70 participants and will be holding an event at the end of the workshop,” said Riya Ghatpande, owner of the studio.
