Anyone who's tried creating their own choreography knows that every minute of performance feels like it takes a lifetime, and most Bollywood dances are not exactly short. What bride needs hours of more work in their planning? That's where Prayrana "Pray" Sharma comes in.
This shimmying, vivacious choreographer gets Austinites moving in a variety of Bollywood fusion styles. It's not just the meticulous and buoyant hand flicks and sweeps of the traditional style, but more pop-flavored and "booty shaking" in some performances, or grounded and Arab-influenced in others.
Whatever the style, people across the Austin area stop by Sway with Pray to get moving. Many of them are dancing for the fun of it, but others are coming for a range of wedding needs, from sangeet ceremonies (a family unification before the wedding), to first dances, to the widest known and a regularly viral YouTube staple: group dances for the wedding party and friends.
These super-personal performances could really look like anything, especially so far from South Asia, where most of the traditions originated. Sharma considers an array of factors to customize the performance and ensure the dancers have fun practicing — a crucial point for quick learning.
"When I work with the bride and groom, I feel I am bringing out their love for each other through the motion of dance," Sharma explains in an email to CultureMap. "I carefully consider the couple's personalities, dance preferences, venue size, cultural elements (as some of the weddings are inter-cultural), and overall wedding theme."
A couple puts Sharma's choreography into action at their wedding.Photo courtesy of Sway with Pray
The list goes on: wedding attire, available space, rehearsal schedule restraints, and more. Of course, some of the biggest considerations are skill and confidence level, and there are a number of ways to encourage new dancers that aren't just about flattery until confidence floats in on the breeze. Although Sharma works to normalize different body types and build confidence, she insists she won't push for moves that just aren't flattering to the dancers.
Sharma offers places to look while performing, "safe zones" to stay in within the group, and even some thoughts to focus on. There's no one that's too inexperienced or too late in life to make it work; In fact, one of her favorite projects was with a group of brand-new dancers in their late-50s to early-60s, learning in secret to surprise the bride.
"They had never danced before, and they gave me a couple of months to teach them," says Sharma. "They always showered me with respect and so many compliments on the dance: how easy I was making it, how graceful they are turning out to be, how they are enjoying this time together. And this dance that they did turned out to be immaculate — so coordinated and so beautiful."
Months may be a little long, and that process can be cut shorter with daily practice at home. But a shorter process might actually leave some dancers feeling wistful about not having more time together. Sharma has united friend groups on international video calls and even sat at the family table on the wedding day. It's less about getting the steps right, and more about getting deeper together.
"In my role, I strive to guide dancers to shed their self consciousness and recognize that dancing is an expression of inner joy," says Sharma. "Their feelings about themselves are actually what matters. I try to make them comfortable with me first and then slowly open them to love and be confident about themselves."
If all that goes well and these newfound dancers want to keep it going, Sharma emphasizes that there are plenty of opportunities to continue, both in her classes and in Austin at large. In a syndicated article shared by many publications, the Associated Press laid out some of the factors making 2023 one of Bollywood's best years of all time. The industry raked in $1.3 billion. Actor Dev Patel is one of America's favorite leading men this year with his clearly Bollywood-tinged directorial debut, Monkey Man.
"There is a significant Bollywood fanbase across the U.S., and from my observations on social media, it is evident that Bollywood themed events have been gaining momentum in recent years," says Sharma. "If you are into Bollywood dancing, keep an eye out for entertainment opportunities that feature or are open to incorporating Bollywood song and dance sequences into their events. And don't forget dancing those moves out at Bollywood DJ dance parties happening around the city."
More information about Sway with Pray's wedding choreography offerings is available at swaywithpray.com.
