Bollywood Community Dance Club meets every Friday evening in term time at Sporting Club Thamesmead. It celebrated the end of its spring term with a special Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr session.
“We danced to Ramadan-inspired music, learned related dance steps and enjoyed some nibbles at the end of the class,” explained organiser Mitali Pandya. “At the end of each term, we celebrate recent or upcoming festivals and cultural events, so this time it was Ramadan and Eid.”
The dance club has been running since April 2018. With support from the Thamesmead Community Fund, the group offers free weekly sessions for adults and children.
“The Thamesmead Community Fund grant was very helpful,” explains Mitali. “I already have to pay for insurance, so it would be difficult to pay rent, buy music, provide food and keep the classes free without this support.”
Mitali is keen for the classes to remain free and accessible to everybody.
“It’s a confidence-builder, it brings adults and children together and it promotes physical wellbeing, particularly within minority ethnic groups,” said Mitali. “These free-flowing dance moves are the best way to stay healthy.”
The group has built up a group of regular attendees over the past year, but Mitali wants more local people to enjoy the benefits of Bollywood dancing.
“Come along, join in with the music, dance and have a bit of fun,” she added.
Bollywood Community Dance Club returns after the Easter break on Friday 17 April. The class runs from 5.30pm to 6.30pm.
The Thamesmead Community Fund has now awarded more than £450,000 in small grants to support projects that help local people. The money for the fund comes from fees Peabody earns through location filming in Thamesmead and from the Peabody Community Foundation.
Applications for the next round of Thamesmead Community Fund grants open this month. Residents and organisations interested in delivering cultural or community projects that benefit Thamesmead’s residents can email communitygrants@peabody.org.uk to discuss their plans.
