dance folks - bhushan salunke

Bhushan Salunke is an Indian dancer, choreographer, and cultural leader with over 20 years of experience spanning Indian folk and Bollywood dance, theatre, film, and community- based practice. His work brings traditional Indian dance to contemporary global platforms through performance, education, and inclusive engagement.

Bhushan began as a child artist in Indian theatre, acting and directing numerous commercial and experimental plays. Early recognition came through Boogie Woogie, one of India’s most prominent televised dance platforms, where his group won the group dance category for Indian folk dance. He later led ensembles to major competitive success, including First Prize for Folk Dance Choreography at the Maharashtra State Youth Festival, and in 2025 was recognised for leadership at the National Youth Festival of India, one of the country’s largest youth platforms.

Trained across a broad spectrum of Indian dance traditions, Bhushan has working knowledge of over 50 regional and tribal folk dance styles from across India, including Kashmiri Rouf and Ladishah, Punjabi Bhangra and Giddha, Rajasthani Ghoomar, Gujarati Garba and Dandiya, Bengali Chhau and Gambhira, Odissi folk forms, Tamil and Kerala folk dances, and Maharashtra’s Lezim, Dhol Tasha, Lavani, Koli, Warli, and Tarpa. This range enables him to create performances and workshops that are authentic yet adaptable for global audiences.

Bhushan has contributed extensively to the Marathi film, theatre, and television industry, performing as a dancer in feature films such as Huppa Huiyya, Ideachi Kalpana, and the National Award–winning Mala Aai Vhaychay, and working with leading choreographers. He has also written and directed several short films and appeared as a credited actor in London Misal (2023).

In 2023, Bhushan founded Dance Folks in the UK, a professional platform dedicated to preserving Indian folk traditions through high-impact performances and workshops. Through Dance Folks, he has introduced Lezim and Dhol Tasha Pathak in Ipswich, trained performers of all ages and abilities, and built new audiences for Indian folk dance. Within two years, Dance Folks has performed and conducted workshops at Global Rhythm (Arts La’Olam), New Wolsey Theatre’s The Big Afternoon, ISIA Summer Mela, and festivals across Suffolk.

Dance Folks is Bhushan’s professional gateway for all dance-related projects. Whether choreography for a show, tour, performance, play, workshop, or any dance assignment, Bhushan and Dance Folks can design, direct, and deliver work tailored to diverse participants and audiences, combining cultural integrity, technical precision, and creativity. Bhushan is widely respected for his inclusive teaching style, working with participants aged 2.5 to 84 and across abilities. His work emphasizes wellbeing, joy, and cultural connection, giving audiences and participants opportunities to relax, recharge, and celebrate cultural pride. His work received BBC Suffolk recognition in July 2023 for its professionalism, energy, and community impact.

Bhushan’s artistic vision centres on keeping Indian culture alive as a living, evolving art form, connecting heritage, community, and global audiences through rhythm, storytelling, and dance. Dance Folks embodies this vision — a platform through which Indian dance can flourish, inspire, and engage worldwide.

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Photo credits: Shevdearts Photography Studio