When Lavania Hajji, Founder of Dance Embassy, held her first Bollywood-inspired fitness class in Singapore back in 2010, she had 5 students. Today, Dance Embassy is the go-to place for wedding choreography, Bollywood dance-fitness enthusiasts, and new mums looking to get fit in a healthy and welcoming environment – with more than 10 classes a week and over 12,000 members. “When we first came up with the idea of marrying dance and fitness for sustainable weight management, there were a lot of questions from concerned family and friends on whether it would succeed in Singapore, where Indians are the minority. But we decided to take the risk and forge ahead because we believed in the idea – the idea that everyone no matter their size or fitness level can get healthy, and the best way to do that is by having fun with fitness. For us, the risk was worth it to bring our love of Bollywood and fitness to the Singapore public,” says Lavania. She has just expanded the Dance Embassy community in the heart of Bollywood with the launch of her Masterclass in January this year, for aspiring fitness instructors and dance enthusiasts. Singled out by Zee TV as one of the most promising female-led businesses in Singapore, Dance Embassy will train you to take on the challenging, yet rewarding, journey from dance lover to dance-fitness expert. Created on the principle of inclusivity and body positivity, BollyFreak is a programme that welcomes everyone – from total newbies to experienced fitness instructors looking to expand their skillsets.
Emma Darby
COO
