CAMDEN — Sunday, May 3, was an afternoon of learning Bollywood dance at High Mountain Hall in Camden as Kea Tesseyman of Kinetic Energy Alive raised money for her Annual Dance and Short Film Event, Power Performance, Make a Change, June 26 and 27 at the Strom Auditorium.

And though the term Bollywood refers to India’s film industry, or rather a large segment of it, it has also come to be applied to a dance form that encompasses the style associated with India and its arts.

Tesseyman said the Bollywood experience brought out a sense of freedom in her. 

“Bollywood came from a desire that I had to bring culture into my community of dancers, but it touched something inside of me like a little girl to understand this culture and seek its teachings,” she said.

Tesseyman said she sought out, with the help of a filmmaker, a wonderful woman from India. She traveled toNew York City to train with her.

“It gave me that feeling that our two worlds aren’t so different,” she said. “I found she teaches a lot like me and explains movement a lot like me. It fused all these genres and it gave me what the little girl needed which was a place to belong. And it also validated that the way I teach is happening across the world, too.”

Of the 20 who participated in Sunday’s class, some where familiar with Bollywood and for others it was their first exposure to the dance.

“Some of the dancers here are from my Power Performance group and they have tried this movement only once,” said Tesseyman. “This is a Bollywood fundraiser, so it’s a community fundraiser offering the dance so we can help raise money for our show Power Performance, Make a Change, June 26 and 27, held at the Strom Auditorium, which is Kinetic Energy Alive’s 5^th annual dance production.”

If it has to do the community and dance there’s a good chance you will see Tesseyman’s name associated with it.

“I’ve been teaching for 13 years. I wanted to leave a footprint, so that when my son grows up he is proud of what is happening with his family in that we are really about dancing and inspiring other people through dance and story telling,” she said.

“For me, I get so much from just feeling like I belong. So much of life was a struggle when I was younger that to give an individual, any individual the opportunity to feel beautiful and confident and safe and inspired, it’s me who is receiving the opportunity by sharing it out.”

“I feel like there isn’t enough I can do, be it the restorative justice project, the Wayfinder School, or anything else in the community I just want to give, give, give, because I receive so much when I get to share my message and give strength and health,” she said.