Ask Sumitra Preetham about her love of dance and her face lights us. Ask about her love of Scarborough and her face lights up. Ask about traveling and her face lights up.
Sumitra’s positivity is contagious. After talking with her for an hour, I suddenly need to sign up for Bollywood dance lessons, something for which I have no time or natural talent.
Scarborough Community Services will host the classes this fall and Sumitra welcomes everyone to join her. Bollywood dance combines traditional Indian movements with elements of jazz and hip-hop. It’s known for its vibrancy and theatricality.
This will be Sumitra’s first public class, but it’s not her first time teaching. That started through participating in events organized by the Indian Association of Maine. Every fall, Sumitra’s living room fills with dancers preparing for the annual Diwali festival (the Hindu celebration of light). She choreographs all the dances and they spend three months learning them.
Sumitra’s love of dance started during her childhood in India. Performing was a regular part of the school curriculum and she relished it. She would continue dancing at home, watching and rewatching the dance scenes of Indian films until she had memorized the moves. She performed through her time at Bangalore University, where she earned a science degree in electronics.
After moving to the U.S. in 2009, Sumitra stopped performing for about ten years. She and her husband, Preetham Sathyanaryan, moved several times as he advanced in his career – Missouri, Ohio, Maine. Her love of dance took a backseat to another passion – travel and exploration. Each place offered new adventures. Sumitra dove in with her signature enthusiasm.
By the time they landed in Scarborough in 2015, she knew the drill: “The library is always our first stop.” Scarborough’s library was ready to welcome them. They took their son to the summer Pajamarama and the Easter Park Hop (they won) and marveled at all this town offers. For newcomers, Sumitra recommends the Facebook accounts of the library and Community Services.
Compared to their previous locations, Scarborough was small. They loved the intimacy. They marveled at the lack of traffic on their street and the abundance of trees, so different from the metropolis where they grew up.
During COVID, Sumitra started sharing her passions online. Her YouTube channel, WeekendFunn, has videos of travels near and far, from the Boston Duck Tours to a desert safari in Dubai. On Instagram (@desividesistyle), she showcases fashion pieces.
This summer, Sumitra made her Scarborough debut with a solo dance performance on stage at SummerFest. It showcased the style of dance she will teach this fall.
Nicole Hall, Scarborough’s Operations and Events Manager is excited about the classes “…[W]e are always looking for new programming ideas, especially ones that speak to the dynamic nature of our community…. When we can connect with community members who have the skills and desire to bring forward new programming, it is a win-win for everyone. We are excited for Sumitra to join us in offering never-before-seen programming in Scarborough.”
Sumitra welcomes everyone to join her. The only requirement is a desire to have “fun with dancing.” With Sumitra’s contagious enthusiasm, fun seems guaranteed.
Join Sumitra in Person and Online
Bollywood Dance Class
Scarborough Community Services (go to “Family” activities)
Oct 4 – Nov 9
Classes for ages 6-12 and 13+
No experience necessary.
Register online or call 207-730-4150.
YouTube: WeekendFunn
Instagram: @desividesistyle
