By Khalida Sarwari
Summer may be winding down, but the parties are far from over. The dress code for the next big one in Saratoga includes saris and bangles.
The Saratoga Village Development Council will present its annual Bollywood Dance event on Aug. 18 from 5 to 8 p.m. in the parking lot at 14440 Big Basin Way, next to Wells Fargo Bank.
Back for a fifth year, the event promises three hours of dancing, music, food and socializing. It’s a community event first and foremost, event coordinator Sushama Thakker said.
“You meet other Saratogans, you meet friends and family and have fun,” Thakker said. “It’s like a big party.”
DJ Alok, who is well known in Saratoga’s Indian community, will kick off the festivities this year, Thakker said. He will spin Bollywood tunes throughout the evening for those who feel daring enough to re-enact dance scenes from their favorite films.
An instructor of a Bollywood dance class at the Saratoga YMCA will be on hand with a group of other instructors to teach the less daring dance steps. At the end, everybody performs together, Thakker said.
A performance by students in the Indian Cultural Awareness Club at Saratoga High School is sure to be one of the night’s many highlights. Saratoga High students will also serve as the event’s emcees.
For those who work up an appetite while dancing up a storm, refreshments will be available, as will food catered by Chaat House, according to Thakker. Big Basin Cafe will provide drinks and gelato.
Anyone who wants to give their feet a break from the dancing can drop by a henna artist, who will apply designs on the hands.
The best part of all? The event is free, said Thakker.
Last year, nearly 500 people attended the Bollywood dance event. Among the guests was Mayor Jill Hunter, who also serves as chairwoman of the SVDC. Hunter called the event “a great way for the whole city to get moving and dancing in the parking lot on Big Basin.”
The SVDC created the event five years ago to promote downtown Saratoga businesses and as a way of attracting people to the area, Thakker said.
Earlier this year, the city allocated $1,300 in community event grant funding to SVDC for the event.
