Thaindian News

Buckingham Palace in London was immersed in Bollywood and Bhangra dances on October 13 evening when Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth II of England hosted this maiden performance.

Queen and Duke of Edinburgh Prince Philip, along with leading British-Indians, watched this 15-minute performance by five female and three male dancers in the lavish Palace Ballroom where once German composer-organist-conductor-pianist Felix Mendelssohn performed organ recitals for Queen Victoria. This performance was held in the shadow of red velvet canopy once used in 1911 for Delhi Durbar in India. Buckingham Palace has 775 rooms.

Queen was introduced to the dancers and other guests during this reception for British-Indian community. Queen had already watched the Bollywood dancing during a visit to Bradford in the past.

Welcoming Queen’s interest in India’s culture, Rajan Zed, acclaimed Hindu statesman, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, urged her to visit a Hindu temple. Zed, who is president of Universal Society of Hinduism, further said that traditionally Lord Shiva invented dance who first danced the cosmic tandava. Sage Bharata first codified rules of classic Indian dance in Natya-sastra treatise.

Bollywood dancing is a high energy vibrant dance performed to the Bollywood tracks and is fusion of traditional Indian dances, folk dances (including Bhangra), and western influences; popularized by Bollywood movies which usually feature about seven song-dance sequences, mostly involving two people falling in love. Bollywood dance craze is spreading across USA, Canada and Europe. It is a free dance, an expression of joy, Rajan Zed adds.

-Sampurn Media