Bollywood is coming to Powell River this Diwali, as the Desi Dancers make their first foray into theatre in celebration of the Hindu festival of lights.
The group well known for dance productions is performing, A Bollywood Love Story, a play entirely written, choreographed and directed by Powell River doctor, and Desi Dancer founder, Vidushi Mittra Melrose.
“It’s almost like old-style Shakespeare with role reversal and over the top plots,” said Melrose. “Bollywood is the fusion of Indian style dance with film-style storytelling.”
Melrose said although she’s always choreographed her own dances, she wanted to go further and write a play to tell a love story in the style of a Bollywood film.
Not standard boilerplate Bollywood however, Melrose has put a Powell River spin on the Indian movie craze. The story is told completely in English, and with women cast in male roles.
“We now have male dancers but they don’t have the experience to go on stage,” said Melrose. “So I told the women that some of them would have to play male roles.”
One of the dancers switching back and forth from a sari to shirt several times in the play is Colleen Curry, who’s said she’s had to learn how to transition from the graceful steps of the female dances to the more vigorous movements required of male roles.
“It takes a moment to go from one to the other,” said Curry, ”because the whole way of moving and being on stage is different.”
With costume changes to arrange between 12 carefully choreographed dance scenes, Melrose’s play puts the dance troupe through their paces.
“This is a Vidushi creation from start to finish,” said Curry. “From lighting, choreography to sound cues.”
With tears in her eyes at Curry’s praise, Melrose explained how the Desi Dancers become something of an extended family over the years.
“The Desi Dancers are my greatest support, we all know and help each other” she said. “With life being so much sometimes, just knowing we have each other and our dancing really gives such a boost.”
The Bollywood evening starts at 7 pm, November 7 at Max Cameron Theatre.
