#bollyfit

We are excited to have Reema Sarin on the floor today. We all have at some point in life shaken our legs and swayed our hips to the scintillating Bollywood music. Reema, took her love for dancing and fitness to the next level by starting BollyFit in 2004 and there has been no looking back since. With a background in dancing, acting, modeling, choreographing and anchoring she has created a niche…

            Flashback to Tuesday evening:  Hermés and I are lying on her bed, cackling, as we watch Improv Everywhere, a New York City-based group that does unexpected mass pranks in public locations. So, it was very fitting that on Wednesday at half past seven, Hindi music interrupted the Latin Jazz music coming from Los Gatos to signal the start of a Flash Mob.             The Flash mob, run by Bollyfit creator, Anuja Rajendra, was signaled to begin by a single man near Rackham stage. What ultimately alerted the festival goers, however, were the 15 men all wearing white scarves tired around their heads standing over by Top Shop.  Slowly, the crowd began to pick up on the hint that something exciting was about to happen, as people swarmed to the X in the middle of Ingalls Mall to witness this mysterious event.              One by one, groups of men, women, and children, previously attempting to blend in with the festival goers on the lawn began to stand up in unison to dance their part in the Flash Mob.  Just like during the Bollyfit retreat session, which happened last Saturday, the four groups of dancers displayed their expertise in Latin, Folk, Bhangra and Classical sections and finally came together for a finale.  Every time a new musical cue came over the speakers to signal the next dance sequence, the crowd eagerly spun their heads around to search for the next flash mob participants and shuffled shoulder to shoulder towards the dancers.             The finale took place on the X, where dancers lined up along all four sidewalks to shake their hips (many of which donned the multicolored beaded wrap skirts).  The music, excitement and adrenaline were contagious as the spectators began clapping, jumping up and down, and laughing (especially as the dancers scattered rose petals along the pathway).  This infectious energy was representative of what the Ann Arbor Summer Festival is really all about, people from Ann Arbor coming together to enjoy local talents, restaurants and company.   In 10 minutes, Anjua, her Bollyfit dancers and community volunteer dancers were able to capture the essence of the summer festival.  As the Flash Mob came to an ending, festival goers walked back to their picnic areas on the lawn with a new bounce in their step, proud to be part of such a lively and cultured community.