At the end of February at the Amador Donversity Rally, Zenil Koovejee (‘24) and the Bollywood Club took the stage, captivating the audience with a mesmerizing fusion of modern hip-hop and contemporary Bollywood beats.
Koovejee’s love for Bollywood started from a young age. He surrounded himself with Indian music and culture for his entire childhood.
“There always used to be the sound of Bollywood music playing in my house, whether it was a birthday party or just a day coming back from school. So every time I remember when I was small when the song started playing, I used to dance my heart out,” said Koovejee.
With this love for music and dancing from such a young age, it was no surprise that Koovejee sought to try out and join the Bollywood club.
“I wanted to take all of those years dancing around, just being joyful around the sound of music. I wanted to take that and I wanted to realize that potential this year,” said Koovejee.
Trying out for the team, however, became a journey of its own.
“I kind of prolonged it and I actually forgot about the tryouts. Then I remembered something, maybe by course of divine intervention, isn’t the tryouts today? And as you know the rest is history and it was a great decision,” said Koovejee.
Everything came back around at the Donversity Rally, where Koovejee felt at home and danced his heart out in front of the school.
“Performing and especially paying tribute to my culture to this art form has been one of the greatest opportunities. As soon as you step onto that gym floor and you hear the music, everything else disappears. It’s just you and yourself and your heart,” said Koovejee.
After his performance, Koovejee recalled some of his favorite moments of being on the team.
“Each person has their own character. When we come together, it’s such a great thing to see. I also love how students of our generation can appreciate where they come from and appreciate Indian culture as a whole. Making those memories, speaking to people and laughing together has been a great experience,” said Koovejee.
As the curtain fell on the Amador Donversity Rally, Zenil Koovejee’s journey from childhood dances reached its apex. His fusion of modern hip-hop and Bollywood captivated the audience, echoing his lifelong love for the art form.
Through his performances, Koovejee not only entertains but also inspires cultural pride and unity within the Amador community. As a rising Bollywood star, he embodies the joy of embracing one’s heritage and sharing it with the world.
