Swati was absolutely amazing, and this was one of the most well-received programs my library has ever hosted! Booking her was a breeze, and her pricing is so reasonable considering she offers something so completely different than we have ever seen here at the library. She was great with tailoring the program to my library’s patrons, space, and budget. Swati started the group off with a dance warmup, and within minutes, she has everyone in the room dancing–adults included! The dance routine she taught was easy for everyone to pick up, regardless of age or ability, and she made everyone feel successful in learning Bollywood moves. The whole time was filled with smiles, laughter, and joy. Swati managed to help a very shy participant feel more comfortable by using her as a “helper,” and she is just wonderful at interacting with kids, even when a couple had meltdowns. Swati brought lots of clothing and cultural objects to share with the group, and it was special since it all belonged to her or family members, so she could tell a story about each item. We finished with henna, which was a huge hit for kids but ESPECIALLY for the parents! Swati was so patient and friendly with each participant as she created a work of art on their hand. She was very gracious with her time and talent and made sure that everyone (including a couple people who didn’t attend the program but were peeking in the program room) could leave with henna that day. Every single parent in attendance came up to tell me that they LOVED this program and think she should invite Swati back again–which, of course, I plan to do! I wholeheartedly and enthusiastically recommend Swati’s program to libraries or any school/community organization that wants to provide a fun, engaging, educational, and unforgettable experience!
Alison King, Children’s Librarian
Community Bollywood Dance Project 