How this Zumba instructor is making elderly in Mumbai happy with his music and dance

Rajput teaches Zumba Gold to senior citizens at the Dignity Foundation’s Anandyaan centre in Byculla. PIC/ASHISH RAJE

I met Roshan Singh Rajput on the road while travelling to work. It was one of those conversations that begins casually and, before you know it, leaves you with a story you want to carry home.

Rajput has been dancing since 2003 and teaching Zumba in Mumbai since 2010. One of the early Zumba instructors in India, he trained in Pune during what he recalls as the country's first Zumba training programme. Since then, dance has become a way of connecting with people, including a group of senior citizens who may not otherwise have many reasons to get up and move.

Rajput is the founder of FitFuda (Fitness Fun Dance), which he started in 2011. He is also a certified Zumba Gold instructor, a format designed specifically for older adults. "Zumba Gold is very easy to follow since it does not have too many jumps. The elderly can enjoy this type of workout," he says.

Originally from Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, Roshan Singh Rajput has been teaching Zumba in Mumbai since 2010. PIC/ASHISH RAJE

His journey with senior citizens began through the Dignity Foundation's Anandyaan centre in Byculla. The organisation works with older men and women, many of whom are above 55 or 60, and who may have limited financial or family support. Rajput began working with them before the pandemic, after the organisation approached him looking for something fun and engaging for its members. "They were not aware of Zumba Gold. They heard about Zumba and that is obviously a high intensity programme," he recalls. He suggested Zumba Gold instead. After a few sessions, the idea stuck.

The classes have since become a regular part of the centre's routine. What was once a two-hour programme from Monday to Friday was shortened to an hour after the pandemic. For Rajput, however, the value of those sessions cannot be measured in minutes or money. "I was so close to my mom who passed away around 2007," he says, "She was quite fond of dancing. I think I got this skill to dance because of my mother."

That memory seems to follow him into every class. Most of the participants are women, with fewer men joining in. "Nobody is giving time to these people," he says, "So I think spending time with them is paramount. I end up receiving so many blessings from them in return." He describes entering the room to applause, hugs, and blessings from the participants. "It doesn't feel like I'm doing any work. I feel like I'm just dancing and I'm getting so much more love out of it."

The changes he has witnessed have made the work even more meaningful. Some participants who once struggled to stand for half an hour can now complete 40 to 50 minutes of standing Zumba.

Many of the people at Anandyaan, he says, have experienced depression, anxiety, loneliness, or physical illness. Their children may be busy with work or have moved away. "Now when they come to the classes and move, their mental state stays balanced and stable," he says, "They understood, this is life. Our kids are not there with us. It's okay."

His care extends beyond the dance floor. He runs an Instagram page, Meow Mumbai, through which he tries to help stray and building cats in Lower Parel. Inherently Rajput shows up for beings who need a little attention. And sometimes, it means stopping on the road and having a conversation with a stranger.