Dance Masala Bollywood Dance Company Fortitude Valley, Brisbane, QLD

At Dance Masala, we take pride in having amazing teachers, able to bring out the dancer in anyone.

Our classes are the perfect complement to your exercise routine, guaranteed to uplift the spirit and leave you smiling.

We are dedicated to creating inspiring dancers and encourage our students to evolve into proud, passionate artists.

Through a unique curriculum for Bollywood dance, supplemented by a culture of respect and support, Dance Masala brings out the performer in everybody! Performance is integral to Bollywood Dance – it builds confidence; improves technique; and gives our students an outlet to share their joy and passion.

All Dance Masala Professional Company members have been trained in various forms of Western and Indian dance, including Kathak, Bharatnatyam, Lavani, Ballet, Contemporary, Jazz, Hip Hop, Garba, Bhangra, Tollywood, and Bollywood. High energy, artistic integrity, and complexity are characteristics of Andrea Lam’s choreographic approach and can be seen in every Dance Masala performance.

 Mission Statement

Dance Masala’s Vision is to:

Respectfully and authentically pay homage to Indian culture through excelling in Bollywood dance.

Dance Masala’s Mission is to:

Create inspiring fusion, while actively engaging in classical roots of Bollywood and the influence of regional specific folk-dance.

Values

The following Values underpin Dance Masala’s Vision and Mission

Cultural Responsibilities
Respect
Diversity and Acceptance
Accessibility
Homage
Constant skill development
The Dance Masala Mission Statement

Dance Masala is proud to be a reflection of our multicultural society and engage a wide-range of ethnicities in Bollywood Dance. We believe in creating diversity, honouring hard work, and building a culture of respect in our classes. It is our pleasure to help promote and share Indian culture in Australia.

Bollywood is a technical, diverse and profound art form, as beautiful and diverse as India herself. Bollywood draws from many influences, and Dance Masala is proud to be ‘pure Bollywood’, a lively fusion of Indian and Western dance. We believe in the tradition of dance story telling, and the importance of dancing with intention and purpose. We hope to inspire our students strive for excellence in technique, performance, and expression.   Although Bollywood choreography is not “free licence” like a dance like the Macarena, we acknowledge that there is a vast existing repertoire of Bollywood steps. Our choreography has two main intentions: –

1. Homage: we seek to transport our audience by referencing specific cinematic moments through the use of ‘signature steps’ and very occasional dance covers and;

2. Originality: to create powerful, emotive and joyous performances, through original and exciting choreography.

In meeting with its cultural responsibilities, Dance Masala invests in building relationships with the Indian community, and giving back to the Indian community through regularly performing at cultural events.

Awards / Media Appearances

2014 Award of Appreciation – Asylum Seeker Resource Centre Christmas Appeal for raising $833.00
2014 Featured Dancers in Shaadi Ke Side-Effects featuring Vidya Balan
2014 Channel 10’s ‘The Project’ promoting BrisAsia Festival and To Bollywood with Love
2013 Channel 7’s Great South East – Appearance promoting QPAC’s Feet First Program
2013 Ausdance Industry Showcase
2012 Award of Appreciation – Brisbane Indian Times
2012 Award of Appreciation – Oxfam Australia for raising $600 to make poverty history
2012 Award of Appreciation – St Columba’s Primary School, Wilston
2011 SBS’ Bollywood Star – featured as a Top 20 contestant – viewership of over 250, 000 per episode
2011 FOX8’s Cricket Superstar – Guest Instructors
2011 Award of Appreciation – Oxfam Australia
2011 Pozible Funding Grant
2010 Great South East – Guest Instructors
2010 Subway Chicken Tikka TV Commercial – Feature Dancers – shown in India and Australia

Partners, Associates and Friends
DJ Desi
Red Chair
Chandni Events
Urvashi Gandhi Dance Spirit
Henna by Hannah Australia
Kubra Elyas – Bollywood Dance Choreographer (VIC)

Reviews

“First time I watched Dance Masala group performing on India Day fair in 2014. Totally loved their performance. Due to work commitments could not join the group that time.
Me and a best friend of mine did a Bhangra workshop with Neharika in 2015 and straight away we joined Dance masala. Since then are part of Dance Masala and we have performed bhangra four times on stage. And let me have this opportunity to tell you that what an amazing time I’ve had with Dance Masala group. Thanks Andrea and Neharika. I had lots of fun. I’ve met great personalities through dance masala. Glad to say they are now my friends. I’m definitely ready for another incredible year of dance. I’ll see you guys in second term.”

“We had the lovely girls from Dance Masala do a 10 minute medley and then a Bollywood Masterclass at our wedding reception. It was the first time I’ve seen them perform and it was beyond our expectations. The girls were skillful, professional and put on a great show. The Masterclass was so much fun. Our guests could not stop talking about it. The girls did an amazing job entertaining and getting everyone on to the dance floor. Thank you for a great night ladies!”

“When I first watched Drea and her team perform for the song “Naino Mein Sapna” at the 2015 Diwali Festival in Brisbane, I knew instantly that this was the dance school I wanted to be a part of. I was completely blown away by the excellent choreography and Drea’s expressions; it looked like a scene straight out of a Bollywood film. I joined Dance Masala in mid-2016 and completed two terms in Drea’s intermediate class. Wish I could have done more! I loved every bit of the choreography – there was a lot of variation in the routines incorporating steps from different dance styles and the formations were absolutely brilliant. Always looked super hard at first but all steps were broken down systematically and well taught, giving us an immense sense of achievement afterwards. Dance Masala is undoubtedly THE best Bollywood dance school in Brisbane. They have set the bar high and taken Bollywood dance to a whole new level in Brisbane. Kudos to Drea and her team and thank you for reviving my passion for dance!”

“The best dance company in Brisbane? I joined the beginning of last year with no dance experience, I’ve had the pleasure of taking dance classes in intermediate and beginners, their classes are very welcoming and lots of fun with no judgement if you put a foot wrong lol?? I’ve performed once last year at Indian day fair and have done 4 performances this year?I’m hooked , I will definitely be coming back next year. Thank you Drea, Divya and the rest of your awesome team you are the BEST ????”

“I cannot recommend Andrea and her staff enough! Erika from Dance Masala choreographed a flashmob for us, and everyone involved absolutely loved the whole experience. Such amazing energy in the piece, and such professionalism shown throughout. Thank you Dance Masala, we hope to work with you again one day.”