Guest : Ahneesh Valodia

Ahneesh Valodia’s love for Bollywood dancing lights up his eyes and ignites his soul. At
the age of eight, he began learning moves intrinsic to the genre by watching Bollywood
movies. As the vibrant colours saturated the screen, Valodia’s hands would mimic the
extravagant gestures. He dreamt of performing the Indian art form on stage for the rest
of his life. Then Valodia was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy. The degenerative
muscular disorder confined him to a wheelchair, rendering him unable to perform.
But Valodia would not let go of his passion.
To keep it in his life, Valodia founded Taare, an academy located in Cape Town that
unites young people in the preservation and promotion of Bollywood dance. In addition
to creating this platform for budding performers, Valodia is also the artistic director and
choreographer of the troupe. With his knowledge of various Indian dance styles,
Valodia fuses these forms to create a unique experience that portrays its diversity.
Taare have performed their crafted shows at prestigious establishments such as the
Artscape Theatre Centre and Taj Hotel. They’ve also contributed to fundraisers for
cancer awareness and autism. In pursuing the life he’s always wanted, Valodia is
empowering others.

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