Afro Station Bangalore

Ards India launched its first ever edition of Afro Station Bangalore on the 3rd, 4th and 5th of October, supported by Afrontal. It was a 3 day event celebrating the growing Afro dancers community in India featuring international and national faculties and participants from all over India. The 3 day event consisted of choreography workshops, battle training sessions, panel discussion and an afterparty! All 3 days of this celebration of dance and culture took place at ARDSIndia while the after-party took place at The Heineken Bar at Watsons Indiranagar.

DAY 1 Day 1 was 2 classes that focused primarily on drills and techniques. The first class was by Adhish Arul all the way from UK. He has over 5-7 years of experience and collaborations with global names like Red Bull and Sadler's Wells in the UK. He’s also a member of India's acclaimed dance crew BFAB, and a master of modern Afro dance, with a special focus on the dynamic Ghanaian style, Azonto. Class 2 featured International Artist Cori Dlionne from Cameroon.  From sharing stages with icons like Wizkid and Burna Boy to teaching worldwide, Cori’s journey is a love story with movement. She is the Founder of @_rootsandmore and has trained in a multitude of styles under the Afro dance umbrella with a special focus on Coupe DeCale and Ndombolo. This was Cori’s second time in India, the first being the Let’s Kutusa event organised by Afrontal last year.

DAY 2 Day 2 comprised of 4 choreo classes, with each class getting more and more insane with the energy of the class. The first class was a collab workshop which introduced the dynamic duo of Swady Dinesh and Dev Mandal who took an Afro Fusion workshop to the track 'Charger'. The boys took the studio by storm. The second class was a stark contrast to class 1. The serene and peaceful choreography by Adhish was performed to the track ‘Okay’. The class mainly focused on acceptance and the idea of letting yourself be and it was quite magical to watch attendees navigate and unfold themselves through the choreography.

Day 2 of the classes concluded with two explosive choreography workshops, starting with a session led by Divya Easwaran. Divya brought the heat with an Afro Fusion piece set to the hugely popular "Baiana Piano" remix. This choreography was an absolute whirlwind, showcasing intricate and energetic movements that challenged and thrilled the participants. The passion and power of the routine were unforgettable, making it a definite highlight of the day. The excitement continued as the day wrapped up with Cori’s dynamic workshop. She taught a lively choreography to Youka’s catchy track, "Pimpon." Cori's class was not only technically engaging but also incredibly fun. The class was a perfect, high-note finish, leaving everyone with a sense of accomplishment. 

DAY 3

Day 3 began with a Battle techniques class by Adhish. Participants freestyles under different techniques and music in the first part of the session. The second part of the session was characterised by the participants engaging in a friendly battle in a 7 to smoke format. This was truly an engaging and informative session. The second segment of the day transitioned from the dance floor to an engaging intellectual exchange, featuring a compelling Panel Discussion. Hosted by Divya, the panel included renowned dancers Cori, Adhish, and Alisha. The discussion offered a profound deep dive into the global landscape of Afro dance, exploring its rich history and culture across various regions. Furthermore, the panelists shared intimate details about their own individual journeys and professional experiences within the dance world. For the participants, this session was an incredibly enriching experience. They gained valuable, multifaceted insights—not just technical knowledge. The personal stories shared by the dancers were particularly inspiring, fostering a strong sense of connection and leaving the audience feeling informed, motivated, and highly reflective on their own artistic paths.

The energy was electric as participants, fuelled by the day's inspiration, moved from the studio to the social floor. It was the absolute best way to wind down the day, creating lasting memories and forging deeper connections among the energized, thriving dance community. “The lineup was so immense and amazing. More than choreography and techniques, its so good to see them sharing about the culture, the history and a lot of theoretical information which inherently shows the love for this culture and community. Pushed myself hard each and every session and it was worth every drop of sweat.” - Sai Kishen

“The faculties are highly knowledgeable and dedicated to ensuring that students understand each concept thoroughly. Their teaching styles which creates a well-rounded learning experience. Most of them are approachable and encourage interactive discussions, making the environment engaging and effective.” - Infan Rick

“It was such a pleasure to learn from all those talented faculties.Swady and Dev were fun, Adhish was very challenging but wholesome, Divya ma’am as always too good and Cori’s class as difficult as it was, made us all move— that’s the top learning of the camp” - Suhail K Pasha

Afro Station was a huge success and thanks to everyone who made this event come to life. This wouldn't have been possible without you. Until next time! Who knows, we just might have an Afro Station Season II.

Keep dancing,

Love Team ARDS