At Bath Indian Dance Society, we celebrate and explore the world of Indian Dance and the performing arts, all while fostering a close-knit community of passionate dancers.
Hello and welcome to the Bath Indian Dance Society - BIDS for short !
At Bath Indian Dance Society, we celebrate and explore the world of Indian Dance and the performing arts while fostering a close-knit community of passionate dancers. From classical elegance to folk vibrancy and Bollywood's infectious energy, we're your ticket to exploring it all!
What we have in store for you:
Regular Classes: This is your chance to learn a new Indian dance style every week! (we offer classes for different dance abilities) This is also a fun way to burn calories if that's on your list.
Socials: We love hosting socials- an Indian food potluck or a fun Bollywood dance party! Feel free to join us in all these events using our membership (remember, the membership is free!)
Performances: You can perform/train with us for shows & competitions all year round. We also participate in events, so when you feel confident enough, come dance with us on the stage, too.
Festival celebrations: We love celebrating cultural festivals together like Diwali, Navratri, and many others, even far away from our homeland. We understand that being away from home can be challenging, especially during these significant occasions. Through dance, music, and shared experiences, we come together to recreate the magic of these festivals, embracing the warmth and unity they represent.
The best way to keep up to date with everything is to follow us on socials - we have Instagram (@bathindiandancesoc), Tiktok (@uob_bids), and a Whatsapp group chat for updates (linked in the Instagram bio)
Class Days & Timings:
Every Friday from 17:00 - 19:00
All classes are held at the Dance Studio (Floor 3, The Edge)
FAQ
What dance forms do you teach?
We teach a wide range of styles, including Bollywood, Semi-Classical, Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Hip-Hop, Kuthu, Afro, Commercial, Lyrical, Contemporary and Folk (Bhangra, Ghoomar, Garba and Gidda). We also collaborate with other societies to bring you even more styles!
This year, we have introduced Classical Choreographer and Semi-Classical Choreographer roles, with the aim of increasing our focus on classical dance while continuing to expand the range of styles we offer.
I have no prior experience in these dance forms or even dance in general. Can I still join?
Absolutely. We take beginner, intermediate and advanced level classes. Just look out for those details on our weekly posts about the regular classes!
I want to compete. Do you have opportunities for this?
Yes! We are participating in Just Bollywood again this year, and we are also looking to create a classical competition team. Keep an eye on our Instagram for audition details!
What is unique about these classes?
Indian dance encompasses a huge variety of styles, from classical and folk traditions to street-style such as Kuthu. Different dance forms have developed across different regions of India, each with their own movements, music and traditions. For example, Bollywood dancing is inspired by Indian films, in which dances are an essential part of the entertainment aspect of cinema.
However, we want to emphasise that we are NOT limited to Bollywood at ALL ! We recognise that as an Indian dance society, we are representing an incredibly diverse country and we want the styles of dance we teach to reflect this!
Still not sure? Come to our taster session on 25th September from 6-8pm in the Dance studio and see if BIDS is for you!!
Can I teach a class?
Of course! Just drop us an email, and we will get in touch soon!
Meet the team
Hello everyone, my name is Satchit Panjabi and I am the Chair this year.I have been dancing for over a year now and my favourite styles are Shuffling and Bollyhop. If you are a Bollywood enthusiast and love discussing theories about movies, we are already friends.
Hi I’m Simran and I’m the Secretary for this year😁. In my family I’m known with the fact that I used to wave and wiggle🌊 on songs even when all i could do was crawl:) I love bollywood, freestyle and semi- classical styles and I am so excited to see you all in classes👯♀! My other interests are reading📖 (a lot) and writing✍ (well, i try)!
Hello I’m Vishakha😊, your Competitions Coordinator this year. I’m a 2nd year Management student👩🏽💼. I have been dancing since I was 4 and have experimented with and performed various dances styles but what I enjoy most is hip hop🪩. BIDS has been a huge part of my growth as a university student and I have found a home away from home in this society🏡. We have a lot in store for you all this year and I hope y’all enjoy with BIDS as much as we have🥳.
Hi everyone👋🏽 my name is Sarisha and I’m the social secretary for this year. I’m a final year BSc International Management student📚. Dancing is a part of my heart- I’ve been dancing since I was six and I’m a classically trained Bharatanatyam dancer💃. I’ve also ran my own dance classes and I love everything bollywood🎬. Feel free to say hey to me if you see me on campus - I can’t wait to make this a year filled with dance memories for you🌞!
Hey everyone😇! I'm Chayhal Sahni, your new BIDS Marketing Manager and dance enthusiast🎉! I’m a second year Psychology student and you'll often find me on the dance floor, especially during Bollynights🎞🌙. Bollywood dance is my passion, and I can't wait to bring that excitement to my role here and giving you every opportunity to dance and have fun🤗.
Hi everyone😄! I’m Khushi, and I’ll be your Activities Officer this year🏆. I’m a final-year psychology student🧠 and started off in dance as a Bharatanatyam dancer. Dance has been a big part of my experience at Bath, especially through BIDS, so I’m really looking forward to bringing that joy to all of you and creating some special memories together this year🤩