The dance: BOLLYWOOD

Where to see it: On your television. Or Mumbai.

Sexy factor: Like a white sari on a very humid day

The moves: India's major entertainment export is Bollywood—those fun, off-kilter films known for sudden, spontaneous dance numbers. Because on-film depictions of sex (or even kissing) are a no-no, the cinema has amped up the choreography into the equivalent of a long-form lap dance, mixing classical Indian dance styles, trendy pop moves, and lots of exposed midriffs.

The stage: The easiest place to get a piece of the culture is in your video store: Bollywood beginners might rent Mohabbatein and Dhoom 2, both starring the insanely beautiful Aishwarya Rai (pictured, and who also happened to have been Miss World in 1994). If it feels a bit too much, there's always the gentler 2002 American production, The Guru, starring Heather Graham.

Do a little dance: India is surprisingly short on Bollywood dance schools—the whole scene is less structured and more, well, fun. To get in on the action, a trip to Mumbai is mandatory. Clubs like the Taj President Hotel's Wink and JW Marriott's Enigma are where the beautiful people (many of whom actually are in the film world) reenact the best moves from film. Just don't wait to be magically transported to the Alps or Paris, as in the movies themselves.

Wink at the Taj President Hotel
Tel: 91 22 6665 0808

Enigma at the JW Marriott Hotel Mumbai
Tel: 91 22 6693 3000