Question 1

Do I need prior Indian dance experience to attend the Summer Intensive?

Accepted Answer

No prior experience is needed. All five sessions are open level — beginners and experienced dancers are equally welcome. Each session is self-contained and Swapnil teaches from first principles, so no prior vocabulary or technique is assumed.

Question 2

Can I attend just one or two sessions of the Indian Dance Summer Intensive?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Single session tickets are available for each evening session (€40 each, 3 hours) and for each Saturday session individually — €35 for Terah Taali and €30 for Kalbeliya. A Saturday day pass (€60) covers both Saturday sessions. The Full 4-Day Summer Pass (€150) covers all five sessions and saves €35.

Question 3

What should I wear and bring to the Indian Dance Summer Intensive?

Accepted Answer

Comfortable dancewear you can move in — ordinary sports clothes are perfect. Ours is a barefoot studio: no shoes on the dance floor, indoor trainers included. Bring a water bottle — there is a tap in the centre where you can refill it — and a small towel for sweat. All props for the BollyFolk Tippani and Bihu session are provided by Shoonya, so there is nothing else to bring.

Question 4

What is Kalbeliya dance?

Accepted Answer

Kalbeliya is a traditional folk dance from Rajasthan, India, created by the nomadic Kalbeliya tribe who historically lived as snake handlers in the Thar Desert. The dance is characterised by fluid spine articulations, hip isolations and fast floor-level spins in flowing black skirts embellished with mirrors. It was brought to international prominence by dancer Gulabo Sapera and is recognised as an Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO.

Question 5

What is Terah Taali dance?

Accepted Answer

Terah Taali is a seated folk dance from Rajasthan, India, performed primarily by women of the Kamada community. Dancers play the manjeera — small brass cymbals — in intricate, interlocking rhythms while seated, creating a hypnotic percussion performance. It has deep devotional roots connected to the Rajasthani folk deity Baba Ramdevji.

Question 6

What is the difference between Bhangra and Luddi?

Accepted Answer

Bhangra is the high-energy harvest dance of Punjab, built on a characteristic bounce from precise weight transfer between the legs. Luddi is a celebratory Punjabi folk dance from the same region — danced to mark joy or victory, with clapping, finger clicks, swaying head movements and circular steps. Both share the Punjabi rhythmic vocabulary and are covered in the Wednesday session.

Question 7

Where is Shoonya Dance Centre and how do I get there?

Accepted Answer

Shoonya Dance Centre is located at Stapelplein 41, 9000 Gent (Ghent), Belgium. The centre is a 10-minute walk from Gent-Dampoort station. Paid street parking is available nearby.

Four days.
Five forms.

Five sessions, 26–29 August.

Swapnil Dagliya

Come for one, stay for all five.

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Common questions.

Four days. Five forms.