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Mangaluru Dances Beyond Boundaries: New Forms Emerge
21 Sep
Summary
- Pole fitness and aerial arts are challenging traditional dance perceptions.
- Belly dance is shedding its stereotypes, highlighting fitness and culture.
- Dance academies are seeing diverse age groups and professions enroll.
Mangaluru's dance landscape is expanding as pole fitness, aerial arts, and belly dance enter the local vocabulary. Residents are actively seeking alternatives to traditional classical, Bollywood, and folk styles for fitness and expression. Susan Misquith, a pioneer in pole fitness and aerial arts in Mangaluru, notes the initial challenges in shifting perceptions, as 'pole dance' is often misunderstood. She aims to break barriers, having previously trained transgender women in Bollywood dance and becoming a certified aerial silk artist.
Belly dance is also experiencing a resurgence, with Sharlaine Sequeira, founder of ShimmyLaine, observing a growing interest that signifies Mangaluru's readiness to embrace diverse art forms. Sequeira's academy, established in 2025, now boasts over 50 students ranging from seven to 73 years old. She emphasizes that belly dance is a disciplined art form with cultural depth, offering significant fitness and wellness benefits, particularly for core and pelvic region strengthening.
The second edition of Sequeira's showcase, Kudla Hafla-Golden Caravan, scheduled for September 27, will feature a wide array of students, including doctors, IT professionals, and scholars. This event highlights the broad appeal and acceptance of these evolving dance forms within the community.
