BOLLYFOLK
Circle dances, colour, and folk rhythms from across India. A different tradition every semester — explored from scratch, together.
TUE & WED · STUDIO AAKASH · SWAPNIL
What is Bollyfolk?
Each semester, Bollyfolk goes deep into one Indian folk tradition — the footwork, the rhythm, and the story behind the dance. We build from the basics to a full choreography set to Bollywood or traditional folk music, taking time to understand where each tradition comes from: what the music means, why people dance it, and the communities who created it.
Folk dance in India is rooted in celebration — harvests, weddings, festivals. Every semester is different.
Open level needs no experience; Level 2 is for dancers with more experience.
Free trial week · 14–19 September
Drop in to any class, no registration needed — subject to availability
Swapnil Dagliya
Pune, India / Ghent, Belgium
Holds a diploma in Indian folk dance and is a certified Learn Bhangra® instructor. Deep expertise in Garba, Rajasthani dances like Ghoomar and Kalbeliya, and folk styles from more than a dozen regions of India. Artistic director of Shoonya Dance Centre.
Read full bio ▸
Swapnil Dagliya is the artistic director and co-founder of Shoonya Dance Centre in Ghent, Belgium. Born and raised in Pune, India — near Mumbai, the heart of Bollywood — he grew up immersed in the vibrant world of Indian film music and dance. He blends his Indian roots with training in ballet, jazz, modern, and contemporary dance to make Indian dance more accessible and relatable to international audiences.
He is a certified instructor with Learn Bhangra® and holds a diploma in Indian folk dance, with deep expertise in traditional forms like Garba, Rajasthani dances such as Ghoomar and Kalbeliya, and other folk styles from across India. His formal training includes graduation from the Broadway Dance Center in New York and advanced studies at Opus Ballet in Florence, Italy, where he trained with renowned teachers and international artists.
From 2008 to 2018, Swapnil led his own dance school in India — SPACE (Swapnil's Performing Arts & Contemporary Ensemble) — and taught dance and theory at Lalit Kala Kendra – University of Pune and Flame University, mentoring many young dancers.
His journey with movement began in childhood through yoga, guided by his grandmother, a student of B.K.S. Iyengar. In 2011, he completed his yoga teacher training in Pune, a foundation that continues to influence his approach to choreography and teaching today.
Now based in Belgium, Swapnil teaches regular classes at Shoonya Dance Centre and leads ABC a Bollywood Company. He is also the curator of the annual Gent India Dans Festival, a celebration of the richness and diversity of Indian dance in the heart of Ghent.
He is a certified instructor with Learn Bhangra® and holds a diploma in Indian folk dance, with deep expertise in traditional forms like Garba, Rajasthani dances such as Ghoomar and Kalbeliya, and other folk styles from across India. His formal training includes graduation from the Broadway Dance Center in New York and advanced studies at Opus Ballet in Florence, Italy, where he trained with renowned teachers and international artists.
From 2008 to 2018, Swapnil led his own dance school in India — SPACE (Swapnil's Performing Arts & Contemporary Ensemble) — and taught dance and theory at Lalit Kala Kendra – University of Pune and Flame University, mentoring many young dancers.
His journey with movement began in childhood through yoga, guided by his grandmother, a student of B.K.S. Iyengar. In 2011, he completed his yoga teacher training in Pune, a foundation that continues to influence his approach to choreography and teaching today.
Now based in Belgium, Swapnil teaches regular classes at Shoonya Dance Centre and leads ABC a Bollywood Company. He is also the curator of the annual Gent India Dans Festival, a celebration of the richness and diversity of Indian dance in the heart of Ghent.
📷 Stijn Dejonckheere
Levels & registration
Sep 14 – Jan 30Semester
14 sessionsClasses
Tue evenings + Wed eveningsSchedule
2 levelsLevels
Level 2
Prior experience needed
This semester: Cheraw & Lavani. Cheraw is the bamboo dance of Mizoram — dancers step in and out of clapping bamboo poles, light feet and sharp timing. Lavani comes from Maharashtra: bold, theatrical, full of hip work and strong eye expression. Deeper material, longer choreography, more cultural context. Builds on Bollyfolk Open. Age 12+.
14 sessions · Sep–Jan · see all dates
Tue 15 SepTue 22 SepTue 29 SepTue 6 OctTue 13 OctTue 20 OctTue 27 OctTue 10 NovTue 17 NovTue 24 NovTue 1 DecTue 12 JanTue 19 JanTue 26 Jan
€173
Full
€154
Student / 2+
€34.6
UiTPAS −80%
Open Level
No experience needed. Start here.
Beginners welcome
This semester: Garba Choreography & Khoriya. Garba comes from Gujarat — a Navratri circle dance built on light footwork, gentle claps, and community. Khoriya is the women's celebration dance of Haryana — strong, grounded footwork, swinging arms, and the joy of the village square. Age 12+.
14 sessions · Sep–Jan · see all dates
Wed 16 SepWed 23 SepWed 30 SepWed 7 OctWed 14 OctWed 21 OctWed 28 OctWed 11 NovWed 18 NovWed 25 NovWed 2 DecWed 13 JanWed 20 JanWed 27 Jan
€173
Full
€154
Student / 2+
€34.6
UiTPAS −80%
Spring 2026 classes still running — view the spring schedule →
COMING UP
