One can become a professional Bollywood backup dancer, a stage show dance performer, or work as a dance teacher and eventually, after enough experience become a Dance Choreographer.
1.Tell us more about your background and journey.
I was born in Nasik, Maharashtra. My sister and I grew up watching Bollywood films together, dancing and singing, wearing mom’s makeup. We knew every song, every step, and every expression.
Quite like a Bollywood story, I came across a pamphlet about a dance competition lying on the road on my way back home from the last day of school. I participated in the competition and before I knew it, I was performing on stage in front of thousands of people with a thunderous applause.
It was only a matter of time dance made its way into my life for good and soon enough I was dancing with legendary choreographers in movies and theatres.
2. When did you first decide you wanted to pursue dancing and how did you start?
My life has been blessed with amazing teachers who have always taught and guided me in the right direction. I started with Mr. Atul Narang in Nasik, who was my very own Mr Miyagi. From there I went on to train with Shimak Davar and started dancing professionally.
In 2010 I joined Taj Express the Musical - by Shruti Merchant and Vaibhavi Merchant as a background dancer. Finally, in 2015 I was casted as the main lead heroine of the same.
All this was possible because I had the strong support of my mother who believed and trusted in me and my choice to dance.
3. Who is your favourite dancer and why?
From Pandit Birju Maharaj to Michel Jackson, Prabhu Deva to Kathak Dance goddess Shovana Narayan. Each one of them is an inspiration with their own unique style and identity. It is impossible to pick a favourite.
4. Can you throw some light on opportunities one gets as a dancer?
Dancing or any form of artistic career is a difficult choice to make, and to do so, you must be ready to struggle and work extremely hard. Things are much easier given the exposure online these days.
One can become a professional Bollywood backup dancer, a stage show dance performer, or work as a dance teacher and eventually, after enough experience become a Dance Choreographer.
5. Is Formal training required or can one train themselves purely on the basis of talent?
I have seen some amazing dancers and choreographers without any formal training, and it is pure talent and passion they shine the way they do. But yes, formal training adds icing on the cake as I always believe that a diamond is a chunk of coal that did well under pressure.
A classical dance base, Indian or western is always necessary as it improves your body postures, musicality and expressions.
6. What piece of Advice would you like to give to future and aspiring artists?
Never stop learning. No matter what you achieve in life, there is always scope to become better. And always believe in yourself. In Abraham Lincoln words, “you can have anything you want; you can be anything you want, if you hold on to that desire with singleness of purpose”.
7. Which is your favourite book and why?
The Alchemist. This book gave me a lot of strength, hope and inspiration. The very sentence that says when you truly desire something all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it. I have experienced it more than once in my life. It is a golden book for those looking for answers to the questions they have in life.
5. Is Formal training required or can one train themselves purely on the basis of talent?
I have seen some amazing dancers and choreographers without any formal training, and it is pure talent and passion they shine the way they do. But yes, formal training adds icing on the cake as I always believe that a diamond is a chunk of coal that did well under pressure.
A classical dance base, Indian or western is always necessary as it improves your body postures, musicality and expressions.
6. What piece of Advice would you like to give to future and aspiring artists?
Never stop learning. No matter what you achieve in life, there is always scope to become better. And always believe in yourself. In Abraham Lincoln words, “you can have anything you want; you can be anything you want, if you hold on to that desire with singleness of purpose”.
7. Which is your favourite book and why?
The Alchemist. This book gave me a lot of strength, hope and inspiration. The very sentence that says when you truly desire something all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it. I have experienced it more than once in my life. It is a golden book for those looking for answers to the questions they have in life.
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