Sangeet ceremony gets a salsa zing!

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No more is impromptu dancing on traditional songs and dhol beats the highlight of Indian weddings. The sangeet ceremony has now got a whole new spin with interesting skits, special props and sets, theme-based choreographed numbers, and western dance forms — with even matronly aunties going sassy and sensuous while doing the salsa and tango!
To rock on the big day, couples along with their families are paying big money to attend special classes to put together a memorable show. And choreographers are busy devising new ideas to make each ceremony special, in keeping with the requests and budget of the families.
Choreographer Akshat Kapoor says that people are asking for theme-oriented musical skits. His recent Sangeet gig was based on the birth of the girl child. “The 20-minute musical showcased how the entire family welcomed the new life and various phases in her life, till she finally found her perfect man. The performance entailed rehearsals for a month and had songs suiting the age and roles of the various family members,” he says.
“While Bollywood songs have been great hits during the wedding season, many now don’t hesitate to shake a leg on western forms, particularly salsa. Also, the use of interesting and innovative props is something new this year. Reality shows are a great inspiration for many families,” says Atul Jindal, founder, Big Dance Centre, who has been a choreographer for reality show, Dance India Dance.
“For the younger lot, like friends and cousins, we go for international hits. Here, the bride loves the opportunity of looking pretty in a western wedding outfit,” says choreographer Sasha Daar. “Taking a cue from various dance reality shows, we are adding props like audio-visuals, special glasses and goggles, fancy umbrellas. These add an element of fun to the piece. The rate for a performance starts from `25,000 and goes upto `2,00,000,” says Rahul Verma of Bollywood Naach, who specialises in wedding choreography and has 10 families registered for the season.
“A full-family show is fabulous as it’s a great bonding time during rehearsals. A show with a fun theme adds great memories to the celebrations,” says Neha Paul, a soon-to-be bride who’s opted for a dandiya-themed group dance instead of a couple dance.