WE'RE BACK & READY TO DO OUR PART IN FIGHTING DISCRIMINATION
By: Sumera Garcia-Quadri
Along with protesters calling for justice for George Floyd's murder and for the just treatment of black and indigenous lives in Canada and America, it is important for me to take a step forward and address the issue of discrimination on the basis of skin colour in the Bollywood industry and how I've been trying to change it within my own company.
After all, our Women's Bollywood Dance and Fitness Programs were the fastest-growing programs we've ever had, with over 150 women registered across 4 centers back in March
In the midst of the vibrant colours and intoxicating dances and beautiful songs that Bollywood is loved for worldwide, lies the toxic realities of the Bollywood industry. Directors and producers place a priority on recruiting actors that are fair-skinned for leading roles. Having a fair complexion is a requirement in some roles and has pushed aspiring actresses to seek skin-altering creams or surgeries in order to be considered. It is no wonder why the word Gori (fair-skinned girl/woman) is commonly heard in songs. There's then the factor of physical features (size and facial and body features) and age. Unfortunately, Bollywood like many entertainment industries reflects the local cultural and social norms of what is considered ideal and will only start to shift into a more equitable industry if challenged at a micro-level, such as by small businesses like mine and well, dare I say it, within in our own families.
Bearing this in mind, I still adore Bollywood dance and songs. As a girl trained in Hiphop and Afro-Latin dance (both a part of the black dance culture), I am happy to see Bollywood regularly incorporating black dance culture. I think we can have a positive impact on changing the face of Bollywood by how we deliver our programs in Toronto.
In the past few years, I have made it a priority to recruit a passionate, caring, and qualified team of instructors to support our community programs. A team that understood the importance in delivering Bollywood programs that were inclusive to women and girls from all back rounds.
The colour of an instructor’s skin and/or where they were from was not a factor in deciding whether they were recruited or not.
If you have taken programs with us before or are thinking too, our team consists of instructors of all sizes, ages, shades of WHITE, BROWN, and BLACK, and educational back rounds from engineers to doctors – we're a team just as diverse as our members.
If you're looking for instructors that look like the actors you see in Bollywood movies, you probably won't find that here as that isn't our focus!
If you're looking, however, for a place where you can have fun, burn a sweat, and meet awesome people in a community setting, you'll find that here.