Teacher+Information

Bollywood is a well-established form of film making in India.The term ‘Bollywood’ refers to a specific part of the multimillion dollar Indian film making industry based in Mumbai.More than 800 feature films are produced in India each year.Most films are produced in Hindi (with subtitles) while some have been produced in English or dubbed into other Indian languages if they prove to be popular. Bollywood film and dance movements are becoming increasingly popular in Australia with the South Asian diaspora and within mainstream pop culture.

Bollywood films have a style of their own and are interspersed with song and dance sequences.While these may seem out of context to the new viewer, they are an integral part of this genre and the success of these films can often depend on the quality of the song and dance sequences. Dance choreography will vary from more ‘traditional’ Indian dance to sequences which are strongly influenced by western dance forms.

The films listed are rated as PG (parental guidance is recommended for persons under 15 years), however for students younger than fifteen, it should be possible to select the appropriate dance scenes (as described below).

The [|National Geographic] website has a very accessible multimedia ‘Behind the Scenes’ account by an American photographer which might serve as a useful introduction to the Bollywood genre.

The website ‘[|Bollywhat’] provides useful insights into common dance gestures and techniques used in several films studied in this unit.

=**Other links**= = = BBC website ‘About Bollywood’ http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/find_out/guides/2003/bollywood/newsid_2679000/2679857.stm

Bollywood World http://www.bollywoodworld.com/whatisbollywood/

Wikipedia: Bollywood http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bollywood

British Film Industry information about Bollywood []

"Bollywood Mania" Rising in United States http://www.america.gov/st/washfile-english/2006/August/20060809124617nainawhdaw0.8614466.html = =

Plot synopses of the two Bollywood films used extensively in this unit can be found on Resource Sheets 3 and 4. = = =Duration=

This unit can be a part of a longer investigation or form a study in itself. Ideally, students should be able to explore the genre through both physical and theoretical engagement. Althoughg each dance sequence should be viewed within the context of the whole film, teachers should be aware that many of these films are quite lengthy and that film clips of most dance sequences can be found on YouTube. Each of these activities could be undertaken in a single lesson or could be developed over a much longer period. Choreographic tasks may require the teacher to provide scaffolded subtasks to ensure successful outcomes for all students.

=Assessment=

Assessment should be ongoing throughout this unit of work. Teachers should monitor student engagement with each task and the level of cooperation and collaboration during group activities. Criteria can be developed according to specific State and Territory curriculum goals focusing on choreography, performance and appreciation. The assessment approach and sample outlined in Resource Sheet 1 of the Unit 'Seeing and Sharing' provides a starting point for assessment.