Garba & Kalbeliya in Ghent
Indian Folk Dances
GARBA & KALBELIYA AT SHOONYA
Day:
Wednesday 18:30 - 19:30
Where:
Studio Aakash (2nd Floor)
Teacher:
Swapnil Dagliya
Levels:
Open Level
Language & Age:
EN/NL | 12+
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Total Semester: 14 Sessions
Time: 18:30 - 19:30Part 1: Garba (7 Sessions)
Start Date: Wednesday, February 11, 2026
End Date: Wednesday, April 1, 2026Feb: 11, 25
Mar: 4, 11, 18, 25
Apr: 1
Part 2: Kalbeliya (7 Sessions)
Start Date: Wednesday, April 22, 2026
End Date: Wednesday, June 10, 2026Apr: 22, 29
May: 13, 20, 27
Jun: 3, 10
Note: No class Feb 16–22 (Krokusvakantie) or Apr 6–19 (Paasvakantie).
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Details for our Fall/Winter semester are currently being finalized. Please check back in May for the full schedule and pricing.
Two Rich Folk Traditions in One Semester
Garba - Open Level
Garba is a lively folk dance from Gujarat, rich in rhythm, turns, and festive spirit. In the first half of the semester you'll dive into the basics, classic step patterns, and group formations that give Garba its joyful energy.
Kalbeliya - Open Level
In the second half we move to Kalbeliya, the expressive folk dance of Rajasthan. Performed with flowing skirts, Kalbeliya features fluid spins, sweeping lines, and the sinuous, graceful movements that define the style.
Join one or both
You can enroll in Garba only, Kalbeliya only, or take the full semester to experience both traditions.
What to wear & bring:
Comfortable, loose clothing (Kurta or wide skirt recommended) • Bare feet • A bottle of water
Select Your Style & Register
Garba & Kalbeliya - Open Level
When: Wednesdays, 18:30 - 19:30
(14 sessions)Price: €173
12% Discount for students (under 25 years)
80% Social Discount with UiTPAS
Garba - Open Level
When: Wednesdays, 18:30 - 19:30
11 Feb - 1 Apr | 7 sessionsPrice: €92
80% Social Discount with UiTPAS
Multi-class student discounts do not apply to this style only
Kalbeliya - Open Level
When: Wednesdays, 18:30 - 19:30
22 Apr - 10 Jun | 7 sessionsPrice: €92
80% Social Discount with UiTPAS
Multi-class student discounts do not apply to this style only
Meet Your Instructor
Swapnil Dagliya
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.
Perfect Pairings
Bollyfolk: Build an incredible, well-rounded foundation in Indian folk rhythms and group formations.
Indian Dance Technique: Build the core strength and balance needed to flawlessly execute fluid, sweeping spins.
Students taking multiple weekly classes automatically receive a discount at checkout!
