Spectacular dance sequences are one of the most recognizable elements of Indian cinema, and female dancers are the biggest stars. Although some critics view dance sequences as just interruptions that don’t push the story forward, Usha Iyer argues that distracting from the story is actually a good thing. Whereas the stories are typically marriage plots in which women give up their independence, focusing on women’s dancing allows us to recognise the power and skill not only of the characters but also of the dancer-actresses who have shaped these films behind the scenes.
Bonus clip
Usha talks us through a dance sequence featuring Vyjayanthimala, and then explains its political significance.
Works mentioned
– Bimal Roy (director), Devdas
– Lekh Tandon (director), Prince
– Beyoncé’s performance of “Formation” at the 2016 Super Bowl
– Video of Isabelle Huppert dancing
Further reading
Sharine Taylor at Noisey – Body Politics: Beyoncé, Teyana Taylor, and the Liberation of Black Women Through Dance
Zadie Smith: On Dancers (video)
SJ Sindu at Literary Hub – Balancing Bollywood Inspiration with American Expectations
Pamela Hutchinson at The Guardian – The birth of India’s film industry: how the movies came to Mumbai
Lucy Townsend at BBC – Bollywood dance explained