AAJA NACHLE

Indian dance parties are notorious. Unlike western cultures, Indians can dance boy with boy and girl with girl, or a bunch of boys or girls.. and its perfectly normal, without being sidelined as gay. In that regard, I happen to witness and take part in a few dances myself. Gregarious groups in dance clubs or parties make the most noise, and it doesn't have to be a proper dance in the first place. As long as you appear to gel with the group and gyrate your bodies, you are in.

Though not properly choreographed, dance groups in Indian parties and discos have a few common rules.

1. There is usually some guy who is the leader of the pack, who dictates the mood of the group and formulates the dance steps.

2. If you are dancing to a Punjabi number, invariable your hands will go up in the air followed by rhythmic jerks, while one leg is up in the air trying to keep pace with your arms. Locking legs with each other while doing the hand twists in the air and revolving around is a popular variation. Some popular person will make a late entry and barge into the crowd making a "brrruuuaaaaaaaahhhh" noise, his 15 seconds of fame. The Bhangra is so simple and famous that invariably every dance ends up with this.

3. If the song is not with Punjabi beats, then it is a free for all- the group tries to create some sort of collective movement in unison. Probably this works for a few seconds before someone breaks off.

4. For the typical south Indian song, some variation of the "dappanguthu" will be employed by everyone. Even if they are blissfully unaware of what it is, the tune of the song will subconsciously move their bodies in a controlled chaotic motion. To explain the steps, bring your right leg and right arm forward and bend down, and then arch back standing on your left leg, with your left arm close to your body... and repeat.

5. Booze creates more energy and aggression.

6. Private parties are dictated by a core group doing a jig while others circle around the group clapping hands and gyrating in random fashion.

7. There's always a better song to dance, and the DJ is always wrong.

8. If you are not making a scene, you are not dancing- and there will be loud hoots, requests and threats for the "meek" person to join the fun.

9. You should embrace everybody, even though drenched in sweat.

10. Someone will get hit amidst the frenetic body movements (apparently "unintentionally", to settle old feuds).

11. Popular songs HAVE to be danced with the SAME STEPS as seen in the song video. And you MUST sing as you dance.

In many ways, this is good for people who don't know to dance. They still can have the bragging rights of "being there, and dancing". After all, it is excellent workout and opportunity for social bonding, while having a good time at it.