Indian Dance Workshops at Gent India Dance Festival
The workshops at the Gent India Dans Festival offer dancers the opportunity to engage deeply with the richness and diversity of Indian dance. Led by experienced artists and educators, these sessions explore a wide range of styles in a focused and supportive learning environment.
The workshops balance cultural depth with contemporary relevance, creating meaningful learning experiences that extend beyond the festival itself.
What Makes Our Workshops Different
Unlike choreography-heavy formats, the workshops at the Gent India Dans Festival focus on developing tools, understanding, and strong foundations. Participants are guided through the essential elements that define each Indian dance style, including movement quality, rhythm, musicality, expression, and cultural context.
This approach allows dancers in Belgium and Europe to gain practical skills they can apply to their own training, teaching, and creative practice—supporting long-term growth rather than short-term learning.
Technique & Tools Lab
The Technique & Tools Lab at the Gent India Dans Festival is designed for dancers in Belgium and across Europewho already have experience in Indian dance and are looking to deepen their practice.
This lab-format session moves beyond choreography and focuses on the essential tools that support strong, confident dancers. Participants work closely with the artist to explore technique, movement quality, rhythm, musicality, and form-specific principles in greater detail.
Created for experienced dancers and dance professionals, the Technique & Tools Lab encourages reflection, questions, and sustained practice. The aim is to support long-term artistic development by offering skills and insights that dancers can carry into their own training, teaching, and creative work within the European Indian dance community.
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Our Approach to Indian Dance Training in Europe
The Gent India Dans Festival follows a clear and intentional approach to Indian dance education in Europe. The workshops aim to represent Indian dance forms as they are lived and celebrated in India today—rooted in tradition, dynamic in expression, and continuously evolving.
By prioritising depth over imitation, the festival seeks to support the development of more informed, confident dancers and to contribute to a stronger Indian dance community across Belgium, Europe & beyond. The workshops are not only about learning steps, but about building knowledge, respect, and shared understanding within the wider Indian dance landscape.
Open to all levels: Most workshops are accessible to anyone with some dance experience, offering the chance to explore new styles of Indian dance, experiment, and discover what inspires them most.
Beginner-Friendly – Clearly marked in the program as “Suitable for beginners,” these workshops provide a supportive environment for absolute beginners to explore and gain confidence.
Dance Essentials Workshops – Focus on key skills, movement, rhythm, and short routines; suitable for dancers with some experience.
Community Class – Open and free for all (registration required); a welcoming space to connect and experience Indian dance.
Technique & Tools Lab – For dancers with 2–3+ years of experience or professionals; in-depth focus on technique, rhythm, and artistry.
Who the Workshops Are For
WORKSHOP SCHEDULE
Below is the structure of the festival weekend, bringing together focused training, workshops, and shared community moments. The schedule is designed to support progressive learning while allowing dancers to choose sessions that best match their experience and interests.
Friday · 1 May
12:00 – 16:00 → Technique and Tools Lab
17:00 – 18:30 → Workshop 1
18:30 – 20:00 → Workshop 2
20:00 – 20:45 → Community Class
Saturday · 2 May
09:00 – 11:00 → Workshop 3
11:00 – 12:30 → Workshop 4
13:00 – 14:30 → Workshop 5
14:30 – 16:00 → Workshop 6
Sunday · 3 May
09:30 – 11:00 → Workshop 7
11:00 – 12:30 → Workshop 8
13:00 – 15:00 → Workshop 9
15:00 – 16:30 → Workshop 10