Tuesday 6 September 2016

Ritambhara Sahni of Belly Dance Institute Mumbai - in a Television Serial - Thief Of Baghdad [ Zee TV]




I, Ritambhara Sahni have been a dance instructor since 1996 in Mumbai  and i started to teach at a really young age. I was a child of 6 years when i started to dance and perform on stage and work on the radio as well. My mother Shrimati Indu Sahni was the lead announcer at All India radio and all thanks to her i got the opportunity to work on radio as a child artist and perform for many events as well. Today i also run Belly Dance Institute Mumbai by Ritambhara Sahni which is the first ever belly dance class in Mumbai. Today i am proud to say that a lot of the belly dance classes in Mumbai are run by my students who have completed my instructors course at my Belly Dance Institute Mumbai.

I was always in love with performing arts , be it singing, dancing, acting, mimicry, voicing...i was just so crazy to explore everything and today i can say that i have had to explore as many aspects of performing arts as i wanted to always but i was always partial to dance as that was what got me naturally more to do each time and i guess every time.

However my love for acting got me to do serials on Television and i acted in a few. I loved facing the camera. I was always told that i look like an Arabian Girl and i still get that compliment and i so love it as it compliments me as a belly dance performing artist. Because of my Arabian look i got to do a lot of mythological serials and my dialogues were usually in Urdu .

I played the role of a Water Fairy in this serial - Thief of Baghdad. My charector name was ' Shahanaaz' It was a serial by Karnik Communications and the executive producer was  - Mr. Sunjoy Wadhwa [now a great friend as well ]. Mr. Sunjoy Wadhwa is well known for his production house called Sphere Origins and is the man behind ' Balika Wadhu' . I am so fortunate to have met such great people during my acting days on the silver screen and have them as friends in my life even as of today .

It was a thrill to be in that beautiful both with the most talented actor - Mr Narendra Jha. He played Ahmed the Theif [ a good hearted thief for that matter ] . He was popularly called the Baghdad Ka Chor back then and he suited the role really well. I had a few words with him on the day of my shoot and discovered him to be a gentleman, infact he was a person i knew just like his role. An amazing actor and a wonderful person. The serial was directed by the talented Director Mr. Vijay Panday.


Ritambhara Sahni belly Dance
Ritambhara Sahni of Belly Dance Institute Mumbai with talented actor Narendra Jha in Zee Tv'spopular serial Theif of Baghdad



Wearing the Arabic costumes for the serial even at that time - i would feel like a belly dancer as i was so crazy to learn and explore this dance form. Belly dance was a 'taboo' dance in many countries and was not accepted in India either. I would sure feel like a belly dancer wearing the costumes when getting ready for my shots in the serial but missed wearing the belly dance hip scarf / belly dance belt always. I use to dream of wearing the coins on cloth wrapped around my waist. Belly dance in Mumbai was not appreciated so i would never have found belly dance belts in Mumbai. A belly dance belt / belly dance hip scarf is something i always dreamed to wear.


Ritambhara Sahni's Belly Dance Institute Mumbai
Ritambhara Sahni with great actor Narendra Jha of Thief of Baghdad serial on Zee Tv in the role of a water Fairy herself .
Ritambhara Sahni successfully runs Belly Dance Institute Mumbai by Ritambhara Sahni as of today.


To know more about me - Ritambhara Sahni and My institute - Belly Dance Institute Mumbai by Ritambhara Sahni - Do Click on the following links.

Centers at Colaba, Bandra West, Khar West and Andheri.








Ritambhara Sahni's Belly Dance Institute Mumbai - IN THE PRESS











Bombay Times - Times Of India - Ritambhara Sahni of Belly Dance Institute Mumbai - her article on Belly Dance and Sh'bam fitness

About Me - Ritambhara Sahni and my articles written by me and articles written about me.

Ritambhara Sahni - All About her story with Dance and Belly Dance

Ritambhara Sahni - how she made Belly Dance - her childhood dream into a Reality

Ritambhara Sahni - her battle to change the viewpoint of Belly Dance

Ritambhara Sahni talks About Women Empowernment and Belly Dance

Review - Real Life Review - Ritambhara Sahni - her Student on Belly Dance and her Broken Engagement

Review - Real life Review of Ritambhara Sahni - her student on Belly Dance and her Failed Love Story

Ritambhara Sahni - her article in the Near fox app

Ritambhara Sahni - Her Interview in Local Turn On App

20 reasons to belly dance by Ritambhara Sahni

7 MUSTS for an Aspiring Belly Dance Performing Artist by Ritambhara Sahni.



Reviews and Testimonials - by Ritambhara Sahani - her students

Review - Ritambhara Sahni - her student Rinky - Review on Belly Dance Institute Mumbai by Ritambhara Sahni

Review and Testimonial - by Ritambhara Sahni - her students

Testimonial - Ritambhara Sahni - her student Sangita - Testimonial on Belly Dance Institute Mumbai by Ritambhara Sahni

About Ritambhara Sahni's Belly Dance Institute Mumbai - Student Information


Frequently Asked Questiona At Belly Dance Institute Mumbai by Ritambhara Sahni

Review / Testimonial by a student at Ritambhara Sahni's Belly Dance Institute Mumbai


As someone who is a bit self conscious on the dance floor (my friends do moves called "the Nargis moves' [for those who can't read, my name is Nargis], and let's just say they aren't the smoothest), the intro to Ritambhara Sahni's belly dance  class in Mumbai had sounded like a good idea to me. The belly dance  class was full of other self-proclaimed non-dancers, but most of us at least had some rhythm. This belly dance class in Mumbai class is definitely for the beginners as well as beginner's of the beginners like me...we spent a lot of time learning to right-left-left-right and use our arms as well along with the beautiful moves. I loved it when i entered the doors at belly dance institute Mumbai and i saw beautiful girls and women of all age , shapes and sizes belly dancing in their colourful and glittery belly dance belts at Mumbai's premier and 1st ever belly dance class - belly dance institute Mumbai by Ritambhara Sahni . I remeber i was so crazy about getting my hands on one of the belly dancing belts on day one. Wearing my belly dancing belt added so much magic to motivating me to belly dance all the more. The noise of the belly dance belts can make one contagiously wear her own belly dance belt to start belly dancing. YEs, im crazy about Ritambhara Sahni's belly dance classes in Mumbai is what i really would want to say here in my review. Also Ritambhara Sahani's belly dance institute Mumbai have made me fall in love with my belly dance belt through the love for belly dance. lastly in my testimonial i would like to say  a big "THANK YOU ' to Ritambhara Sahni mam and here team of instructors  and everyone at Belly Dance Institute Mumbai, for making my belly dance classes first experience with belly dancing absolutely enjoyable. Our batch had so much fun that we're still talking about it days later and cant wait to start the next level. Despite us being older and in various sizes and shapes, not once did you make us feel out of place. Ritambhara Mam - your energy and enthusiasm, coupled with your patience and earnestness to help us conquer the moves, really built our confidence. We stand a little taller, smile a little brighter and walk a little sassier because of you.  I love love love the fact that i could come and practice at all your centers - Colaba, Bandra , Khar and Andheri. It helped me rise so much. Ritambhara Sahni's institute is an amazing belly dance institute in Mumbai.
- Nargis Mehta
student at Ritambhara Sahni's belly dance classes in Mumbai]

2 comments:

  1. It is really lovely to read all your posts Ritambhara mam and it’s great that we are connected through Facebook and i get the opportunity to read all your posts.I never knew you acted in serials. i am amazed. i have had the best times being a part of Belly Dance institute Mumbai by Ritambhara Sahni and i would love to take this opportunity to write down my review / testimonial as i can see many other reviews and testimonials here and i have always wanted to do so. Reading about you, i can’t stop this feel right now and so i must say in my experience with Ritambhara Sahni's belly dance classes in Mumbai that Ritambhara Sahni is the kind of teacher who shows you the tools to belly dance and lets you create the art, right here, right now. I started going to Belly Dance Institute Mumbai by Ritambhara Sahni at a time in my life where I was creatively not interested. From the moment I arrived, I felt a shift in myself. I didn’t know anyone in this belly class in Mumbai , but I felt at home. We laughed, we belly danced, laughed more, and explored creative ideas from the get go. Ritambhara Sahani mam has a way of fueling creative living. For me it started with dance, but it has expanded to other areas in my life. I no longer feel disinterested in any capacity – I feel alive. Belly Dance Institute Mumbai is a place to discover who you are – and Ritambhara mam(and the other amazing students!) makes that fun, interesting, and worth every lovely minute! . Also i have gotten very attached with my belly dancing belt. I love to just wear my belly dance belt and belly dance in at any time. According to me and all batch mates of mine , we all love to belly dance with our belly dance belts , belly dancing without belly dancing belts somehow makes us feel 'something is missing'. I joined Ritambhara's belly dance classes in Mumbai because dancing is a personal love of mine, and because I've always admired the intense beauty and deep roots of belly dancing - I was ecstatic to find this opportunity! I immediately felt sincerely welcome and among people that I both admire and enjoy very much - this is a group that I love to laugh with, learn from, and grow with. Ritambhara's belly dance class is incredible i must say as they allow you to attend at all their venues without charging anything extra be it Colaba, Bandra, Khar or Andheri .Ritambhara Sahni is a wonderful teacher - I have to rave on this because meeting rare and fabulous people is just that: rare and fabulous! - she is an exceptional dancer; incredibly knowledgeable and experienced in the history and developing world of Belly Dance; wonderfully adept at explaining how to make the brain-body connections happen; and her creative passion is infectious. Ritambhara Sahni is always sharing new opportunities and resources for us to continue our own development as dancers and as creative spirits - this is much more than a class, Ritambhara Sahni's institute is a community of beauty and creativity; I am truly thrilled and thankful to be a part Ritambhara Sahni's Belly Dance Institute Mumbai as here is group of genuine, caring, talented, generous, hilarious, and inspiring friends!!

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  2. Loved Watching this and thank you for sharing...so awesome.My training during my formative years was in Ritambhara Sahni's Institute. I joint her years back when she would run her - Ritambhara Sahni's institute fot the performing arts and had joint her hearing great reviews and testimonials from my friends. Today i am a part of Belly Dance Institute Mumbai by Ritambhara Sahni and have the opportunity to attend at all her centers to perfect myself which are Colaba, bandra, khar and andheri. When Ritambhara Sahni at belly dance Institute Mumbai started teaching me, I learned she followed so many belly dance styles. What I noticed was that Ritambhara Sahni had a unique presentation that was a distillation of the Belly Dance styles to a higher sense of perfection and technical brilliance. This not only elevated the belly dancer to a newer level of emotional transference, but the nuances transformed the dancer on stage which reflected on how the performances were received by the audience. From the time Ritambhara Sahni accepted me as a student, the next three years were nothing but sheer bliss, soaking in her teachings and immersing in her style. Whether it was going to belly dance before or after a hard day’s work, I could not wait to see her and get into rhythm. Her energy and passion for dance is contagious and missing a belly dance session at Ritambhara Belly Dance Class in Mumbai due to a work schedule conflict only made you want it more the very next opportunity. I also down the line fell in love madly with my belly dance belt and i miss something if i belly dance without a belly dancing belt. Love going to class and watching and admiring my batchmates belly dance in their belly dancing belts. Belly dance belts make our mood to 'happier'. To me personally, training under a Guru like Ritambhara Sahani mam is like doing a penance. It is akin to receiving a blessing from the Almighty. What it takes from us is desire, discipline and dedication. Just like the Ever Compassionate Mother Goddess, is always ready to embrace us in her arms and nurture our needs, so too is “Ritambhara Sahni of Belly Dance Institute Mumbai” who is ready to accept us as we are and help us reach our goal. In this bargain, without doubt, the student benefits far beyond her merit. And it is the gracious glance of our Guru that keeps the flame burning within us for belly dance. In my review/ testimonial i would like to take this opportunity to thank Ritambhara Sahni , for giving me the confidence to pursue my dreams, and guiding me through these years both on- and off-stage. I have to say that the best belly dance classes in Mumbai are none other than Ritambhara Sahni's Belly dance Institute Mumbai and to watch Ritambhara Sahni belly dance solo is like watching a Godess.

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