Bollywood Beats in Hindi Class: Dancing Our Way to Learning

Learning Hindi with Professor Kusum Knapczyk is never confined to the classroom or the textbook. Her teaching style encourages students to explore the language through its art, music, and traditions, allowing us to truly experience Indian culture. Earlier this semester, our Hindi 101 class had the wonderful opportunity to learn a Bollywood dance to the song Balam Pichkari under the guidance of upperclassman Shankul Lohakare. Before we began, Shankul explained how the song is closely associated with Holi, the spring festival of colors that celebrates joy, renewal, and friendship. She described how the lyrics and rhythm of the song capture the playful spirit of the season and reflect many of the expressions and emotions we have been studying in Hindi. Her enthusiasm and knowledge set the perfect stage for an afternoon of learning that went far beyond vocabulary and grammar.

As the music started, the classroom came alive. Shankul patiently taught us the choreography, breaking down each step and encouraging everyone through the moves. Even those of us with little dance experience found ourselves loving the energy and process. Throughout the session, Kusum ji helped us connect the words of the song to the Hindi phrases we had been practicing, turning the dance into both a cultural and linguistic lesson. By the end, the class felt more connected not only to the language but also to each other. The experience reflected what makes Kusum ji’s classes so special: her commitment to helping students experience Hindi as a living language shaped by culture, creativity, and community.

Students share their experiences of learning Hindi in a fun, active way.

Yana said the dance class was so fun that it made her want to join “Ishq” now! Dhanya loved learning the choreography and felt it was a great way to combine language with rhythm. Navya admitted dancing was a challenge but still a fun experience she would love to do again, while Arya enjoyed getting active and using a different part of the brain to learn Hindi. Anjali highlighted how dancing, along with other creative activities, made learning more enjoyable and helped her apply Hindi in new ways. Raaghav shared that even though he wasn’t the best at dancing, it was still a good experience and a nice break from traditional learning. Akshara loved celebrating World Bollywood Day with dance and music, and Priyanka summed it up perfectly: using singing and dancing to enhance understanding of the language made Hindi exciting and memorable.

Stay tuned for more cultural adventures in Hindi class!

This event was supported by Asian and Middle Eastern Studies.