Anumita Das working at her desk at BollyX headquarters in NYC

By Anumita Das

Hi! I’m Anumita Das, and this summer I began my first internship at BollyX. As a rising junior at Boston College, most of my experiences with business have been restricted to cramming for finance exams on late Sunday nights or reading over yet another case study about Apple’s miraculous brand loyalty. Saying that my time at BollyX has been a departure from my schoolwork is a bold understatement. From plastering bright yellow flyers all over New York City storefronts to interviewing break dancers in Union Square, no day is ever exactly alike. The only common quality among all of my different experiences here is the infectious energy and passion of my coworkers. I first sensed this energy not when I entered the office on my first day of work or sat down for my first lunch with Minal, but months prior, when I tried my first BollyX class. The instructors were drenched in sweat within the first twenty minutes, and yet throughout the class they performed every leap and fist pump with the same lively bounce in their step and smile on their face. Normally when workouts refer to “intensity”, some part of me usually imagines disturbingly muscular men screaming in their trainees’ ears to do ten more push-ups, but BollyX brought intensity in a different form; it was more like a steady heat that emanated from the instructors, a sense of positivity and vibrancy that motivated every single person in the room to keep dancing despite the growing suspicion that their upper thighs might be sore the next day. I was immediately impressed by the obvious spirit of the company and wanted to put the same passion into my work that I saw in the instructors.

While it’s difficult to pinpoint exactly how much dedication I put into each e-mail or tweet I send to every potential new customer, I can definitely attest that there is something uniquely rewarding about getting replies from interested leads when you work for a startup that is still small enough to feel every inch of its growth. There is a satisfaction that comes with the knowledge that you’re doing work that will make a genuine contribution to the success of the company, not just busy work set aside for interns so they can write a single, over-embellished line on their resumes later. As an undergraduate, my future career endeavors are far from set in stone, but my time at BollyX has taught me that wherever I go, I want to always be surrounded by the kind of positivity that I have found at this company. The first piece of advice Minal ever provided me was to always seek out people who will motivate me. This summer, I definitely found people who give me the push I need to not only work hard, but also to think creatively, to venture beyond my comfort zone, and to always be confident in my ability to grow and succeed.

Meha Sadana working at her desk at BollyX headquarters in NYC

By Meha Sadana

Hey there, I’m Meha Sadana! After finishing my freshman year at the University of Connecticut, it took me a while to decide how to spend the upcoming summer. After a long year away from home, I decided I would only do a summer internship if it was affiliated with something I absolutely love: Bollywood. BollyX was the first internship that came up when I searched “Bollywood internships” and I had no clue that clicking the link would change my entire summer.

Though it’s only been a short four weeks with BollyX, I already know that my journey will not end here. This summer has been a blast, not only because of the work I’ve been doing, but also because of the company I am surrounded by: Clara, Meredith, Anumita, and Minal. Clara was the first to greet me with palpable enthusiasm. It takes a special kind of person to make worries melt after the first hello. She told us about all the exciting work we’d be doing this summer, and I immediately knew there wouldn’t be a dull moment ahead of me. I met Meredith later in the week and she seemed rather quiet at first. My first impression was proven wrong by her outburst of excitement: two clenched fists thrusted up in the air and her head tilted back like an Olympian who won a gold medal. The energy Meredith has when she schedules a new instructor training is infectious. Anumita has essentially been my sidekick throughout this entire summer. Working with her has made every job that much more fun. We constantly bounce ideas off of each other and come up with efficient ways to do the tasks assigned to us. It’s wonderful how with every job we do, our personal strengths show through. Last but certainly not least, Minal has been a great role model throughout this whole process. She persistently made an effort to learn about me and Anumita, and not even a couple hours in, offered valuable advice about our future endeavors. I’ve seen her handle hurdle after hurdle with grace and a touch of sass. She is significantly more thoughtful than most when choosing her words, as she will often read a prospective tweet or facebook post and tell us one or two words to alter that will give a whole new meaning. She doesn’t want to just present the brand to people, but truly include people and make each person an active participant. This is something I have come to admire.

I walked into the internship thinking the company was just Bollywood fitness. I assumed I would be told what to do and be expected to complete the set task; however, I now realize that this internship has offered me so much more. BollyX encourages people to be confident, positive, and to “embrace their inner rockstar.” In this day and age, we need companies to exude these values to the public. This company has managed to instill those values in me every day, inside and outside of the studio classes. I am not told what to do, but I am told to create. I am constantly given actual projects that involve thoughtful and careful decision making, whether it be choreographing pieces or creating a college ambassador program that is expected to be up and running this Fall. I feel so blessed to be interning at a startup because every obstacle we overcome as a team is so much more significant. I realized that even has an intern, I am truly helping the company progress, and that is something I am incredibly proud of.

So You Think You Can Dance producer Nigel Lythgoe created National Dance Day, an American holiday that was officially recognized in 2010 to promote dance education and physical fitness. When the National Dance Day resolution was passed, Lythgoe announced to a cheering crowd in Washington D.C. that he hopes “it’s a day that inspires you to change your life everyday.” Here at BollyX, we took this advice to heart. We always strive to embrace the power of dance as a tool to encourage health, express creativity, and unite people of all cultures and races throughout the world. To celebrate National Dance Day this year, we took to the streets of New York City and asked people to show us their favorite dance moves. We were overwhelmed not only by the talent we encountered, but by the laughter and joy we saw in people when they danced with us. You can also watch the video on our Facebook page here. 

We were also incredibly excited to host a National Dance Day demo at Lululemon Athletica Madison Avenue. We were honored that people chose to celebrate National Dance Day by joining one of our classes and learning more about the colorful dances of Bollywood. Like Nigel Lythgoe, we hope people walked away from our class knowing that they can celebrate dance and fitness not just once a year, but every day of their lives.