Historic Origins of Bollywood Dance

Dance has always been an essential part of Indian culture. Drawings of dancing figures from the Indus River Valley civilization demonstrate how dancing was a part of social and cultural life in the area. For most of India’s history, dancing was religious, often used to celebrate and worship gods. It was not until the 20th century that Bollywood dance (or bolly) emerged, a product of the nation’s growing film industry.

Bollywood dance, a more narrative and expressive dance style—as opposed to its traditional cousins—was created for dancing scenes in Bollywood movies. Its movements were often aligned with the vocals in songs or the broader plot of a film. It would convey romance, heartbreak, or budding friendship, furthering a movie’s plot while providing viewers with a catchy, engaging dance sequence. Bolly was also influenced by European culture. When, in the 1930s, playback songs were added to movies, Bolly really took off. Previously, the choreography was somewhat limited by the fact that dancers had to carefully align their movements with a live vocalist. Many times, the dancers sung their own songs while performing! Now, they could introduce more complex, dramatic movements.

By the 1960s, Bollywood experienced a golden age. Western culture began to have a greater influence on its style. Not only did the movie plots and styles become more westernized, but the dance moves did too. This is what gave birth to more modern bolly styles, as opposed to classical Indian dance.

In the 1970s, disco music increased the pace of Bolly, contributing to the coreographing of more energetic dance numbers to keep up for the bouncy pop music that came with the era.

By the 2000s, Bollywood began to have an increased global influence. Popular films like Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham pushed Bolly to wider, international audiences. Fusion dance styles formed, integrating Bolly with Salsa, Hip-Hop, or Latin dance. This made Bolly more versatile and accessible, further increasing its global popularity. The growth of the internet also helped spread Bolly, as people were able to post performances and routines on sites like YouTube and TikTok.