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Heritage Newspapers August 19, 2010

Getting fit
BollyFit dance is latest exercise trend
By Lisa Allmendinger But on Aug. 9, she brought her classes to the
A2 Journal Pittsfield branch of the Ann Arbor District
Library.
Anuja Rajendra has worked with Olympians, “In BollyFit dancing there is no right or
toddlers and grandparents, teaching them fitness wrong, we just have fun; we just dance,” she told
through dance at her BollyFit company. a group of about 20 children who were there with
Rajendra, a University of Michigan engineer- adults.
ing school graduate, who also has a master’s Rajendra invited everyone there to participate,
degree in business administration, created her and many gave it a try.
dance business about three years ago after she “I’ve done it at home in the basement,” said
gained a lot of weight following the birth of two Adrienne Licata of Ann Arbor, who brought her
children within 18 months of one another. daughter, Sophie, 6, to participate.
In 2004, while expecting her first child, she She and 1-year-old Vivian happily danced on
gained 65 pounds, then more with her second the sidelines.
child. Sam House, 8, of Ann Arbor said he has
“I started dancing at 6 years old,” she said, but attended lots of library events, and this one was
quit as an adult and then started teaching a class “very fun.”
locally. It was so popular, she decided to turn her Luke Andoni-Savas, 6, said he liked all of it,
love of dance into a business. referring to the 45-minute program that included
(Above) Anuja Rajendra Bolly refers to the Bollywood in Mumbai, warm-up stretching and lots of dancing.
began BollyFit about three India, film industry and BollyFit “synthesizes “It was great,” said Marisa Andoni-Savas, 4.
years ago after gaining a elements from Indian film dances” with classical Several parents said they planned to check out
lot of weight following the (Bharat Natyam) and folk (Bhangra) styles in a the class schedule in Ann Arbor, but there are
birth of two children 18 dynamic, aerobic dance experience,” according also classes in Canton, as well.
months apart. BollyFit com- to published information she shared. For more information about BollyFit, visit
Two of Rajendra’s most famous dancers are www.Bollyfit.com.
bines classic Indian dance Olympic ice dancers Meryl Davis and Charlie Lisa Allmendinger can be reached at 1-877-
and lots of fun. White, who worked with her for their Indian- 995-NEWS (6397) or at lallmendinger@heritage.
themed choreography in their original program com. Check out her daily blog at www.A2Journal.
at the most recent Olympics. com.

Photos by Lisa Allmendinger

(Right) Noa Boyce, 5, of


Ann Arbor practices a
dance move at a recent
BollyFit class at the Ann
Arbor District Library
Pittsfield Branch.

Abbey Zheng (left), 8, and her sister, Bethany


Zheng, 4, dance in the front row along with Sam
House, 8, also of Ann Arbor, who is strutting his
stuff in the next row at a BollyFit class.

(Above) Luke Andoni-Savas, 6,


practices his balance with his
mom, Alexia Andoni.

(Left) Luke Andoni-Savas, 6, and his


sister, Marisa Andoni-Savas, 4 1/2,
pose for a photo at the conclusion of
Mom Adrienne Licata and Vivian a special BollyFit dance class Aug
Licata, 1, of Ann Arbor both took part 9.
Sophie Licata, 6, practices her dance in a BollyFit class. Vivian danced on
moves. her mother’s hip during the class.

KATIES HALTON

10
Age: 30 big city.
A2Journal: ON THE Position, for how long:
Artist, all my life, but professionally for
5. Which Ann Arbor restaurant makes
your favorite dish, drink or dessert and
the past few years. what is it?
Live in what neighborhood and how The Earle makes a beautiful steak.
long: Babs makes a beautiful pomegranate
Ann Arbor’s West Side, almost all my martini.
life. 6. What building or landmark in Ann
Family, ages: Myself, my husband, Arbor makes it unique?
Alistair, and our dog Carmen, 3. The alley with the Michael Jackson
How would you like to be remembered: impersonator dancing in it.
By the things I have created. 7. If you could wave a magic wand and
Most significant accomplishment: change one thing about Ann Arbor, what
Marrying a smoking hot Englishman. would it be?
Biggest disappointment: The economy.
Hurting my back and dealing with chron- 8. What’s your favorite saying or quote?
ic pain. Homer is approached by the devil in

SPOT
the form of Ned Flanders, and is tempted
Ten Questions to sell his soul for a doughnut: “Mmm,
1. What do you do on a home football forbidden doughnuts ...”
Saturday? 9. If you could give a newcomer to Ann
Anything that doesn’t involve driving Arbor one piece of advice, what would it
somewhere. be?
The AA2 Journal asks 10 2. You’re a tour guide in Ann Arbor, Only one? Buy good snow boots. Watch
where would you take a tourist? out for drivers with cell phones. Check
questions of people who help The 8 Ball. out my booth at art fair.
shape and move Ann Arbor. 3. What’s your favorite season in Ann 4. What are the pros and cons of living 10. Ann Arbor is known as tree city,
Arbor and what makes it special? in Ann Arbor? what’s your favorite and why?
Anything not winter. Pros: It’s not a big city. Cons: It’s not a All of them. I love green.

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