BOLLYWOOD
THU · STUDIO AAKASH · SWAPNIL
Film music, expressive choreography, and a full range of emotion — from folk energy to semi-classical grace. Both levels run on the same Thursday evening.
Bollywood film dance draws on classical Indian technique, folk movement, and the full emotional spectrum of Hindi film music. A single choreography can move from graceful, sculptural passages to fast folk energy — and the music holds all of it together.
At Shoonya, both levels run on the same Thursday evening. Level 2 builds expressive, musical choreography. Level 3 goes deeper into technique, timing, and performance quality — and after a year there, committed dancers may be invited to join ABC a Bollywood Company, Swapnil's semi-professional performance group.
WHAT IS BOLLYWOOD?
Free trial week · 14–19 September
Drop in to any class, no registration needed — subject to availability
Swapnil Dagliya
Pune, India / Ghent, Belgium
BollywoodFolk Dance
Born and raised in Pune, India, near Mumbai, Swapnil grew up steeped in Indian film music and dance culture. Trained at Broadway Dance Center (New York) and Opus Ballet (Florence). Leads ABC a Bollywood Company — Shoonya's semi-professional Bollywood performance group — and curates the annual Gent India Dans Festival.
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.
📷 Kristof Pieters
Levels & registration
Sep 14 – Jan 30Semester
14 sessionsClasses
Thu eveningsSchedule
2 levelsLevels
Level 2
Prior experience needed
This is the step up from Bollyfolk's open-level work. We do bigger, more expressive choreographies — some slow and emotional, some fast and full-energy. The focus is on feeling the music and getting comfortable with personality and drama in your movement.
A good fit if you've done a semester of Bollyfolk, have an Indian dance background, or carry a year or two of dance experience in another style. Newcomers can build a foundation through our summer or winter Bollywood intensives, or by starting with Wednesday Bollyfolk Open. Age 12+.
14 sessions · Sep–Jan · see all dates
Thu 17 SepThu 24 SepThu 1 OctThu 8 OctThu 15 OctThu 22 OctThu 29 OctThu 12 NovThu 19 NovThu 26 NovThu 3 DecThu 14 JanThu 21 JanThu 28 Jan
€173
Full
€154
Student / 2+
€34.6
UiTPAS −80%
Level 3
Intermediate
Level 3 is about technique. The choreographies lean from folk Bollywood into semi-classical, and we spend time on how you hold yourself, how clean your footwork looks, and how tight your timing is. The pace picks up and the material gets harder.
Best for dancers with at least three years of experience in any style, or a solid Indian dance background. Newer dancers can build a foundation through our summer or winter intensives, or by working through Bollywood Level 2 first.
After a year in Level 3, depending on commitment and group fit, dancers may be invited to join ABC (a Bollywood Company), Swapnil's semi-professional dance group. Age 12+.
14 sessions · Sep–Jan · see all dates
Thu 17 SepThu 24 SepThu 1 OctThu 8 OctThu 15 OctThu 22 OctThu 29 OctThu 12 NovThu 19 NovThu 26 NovThu 3 DecThu 14 JanThu 21 JanThu 28 Jan
€173
Full
€154
Student / 2+
€34.6
UiTPAS −80%
Spring 2026 classes still running — view the spring schedule →
