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GARBA

INDIAN FOLK DANCE

SWAPNIL

FEB - JUN 2025

  • What is Garba?

    Garba is a joyful and energetic folk dance from Gujarat, India, traditionally performed during Navratri, a festival celebrating the feminine divine. Known for its rhythmic movements, lively turns, and clapping patterns, Garba is a dance that embodies community, devotion, and festivity.

    In our Garba classes, you’ll start with the foundational steps and techniques, learning the rhythm and flow of the dance. As you progress, you’ll explore more intricate movements, such as spins, jumps, and dynamic patterns that bring Garba to life. The classes will also introduce you to basic group formations, giving you a chance to experience the sense of connection and joy that Garba embodies.

    Whether you’re new to Garba or have some dance experience, these classes will help you build your skills, gain confidence, and enjoy the vibrant energy of this beautiful dance form.

  • Garba

    Level 1
    WEDNESDAY 18:30 - 19:30
    Studio Aakash (2nd floor)
    €192/ €169 for students (-25j)
    16 sessions

    Language: EN/NL
    Age group: 12+

SWAPNIL DAGLIYA

Swapnil hails from India, born and raised in Pune, not far from Mumbai, the Bollywood city of India. Since his birth, he has been immersed in the music and dance of the Bollywood (Indian film dance) world. He uses his experience in ballet, jazz, modern, and contemporary dance to make Indian dance more accessible to people outside of India.

Swapnil Dagliya, artistic director and co-founder of Shoonya Dance Centre, graduated from the prestigious Broadway Dance Center in New York, specializing in ballet, modern jazz, contemporary, and other dance forms. He furthered his training at Opus Ballet in Florence, Italy, where he honed his skills under the guidance of experienced instructors and collaborated with renowned artists. His professional experience also includes running his own dance school, SPACE (Swapnil's Performing Arts & Contemporary Ensemble), from 2008 to 2018. During this time, he served as the director and curator of AVAYAVA, a contemporary dance festival in India since 2012. For many years, he taught dance and theory at two universities in India (Lalit Kala Kendra - University of Pune and Flame University).

Swapnil's passion for yoga began in his childhood. He completed his yoga teacher training in 2011 in Pune, India. His grandmother, who learned yoga directly from B.K.S Iyengar, imparted her knowledge to Swapnil from an early age, teaching him yoga asanas, yogic philosophy, and mantras. This foundation in yoga has influenced his approach to dance and movement.

In addition to his diverse dance background, Swapnil has also completed an Indian folk dance diploma. He possesses expertise in Indian folk dance, including the vibrant and energetic dance style of Bhangra.

He now conducts regular classes at the Shoonya Dance Centre and has launched an Indian dance company in Ghent called "ABC a Bollywood Company."