I used to post a lot of dance stuff, not just dance. I don't look at it like content creation. This might sound wrong, but I post whatever makes me happy, the most authentic things on my social media. Even if it is a dance class video, I don't have to post professionally shot dance videos. I should, but I don’t mind posting bad dance videos where I am struggling because that’s when I am growing.
1. You have a remarkable journey as an influencer and dance enthusiast. Can you tell us about how your love for dance and your online presence intersected to create your unique brand?
I have been dancing for almost 20 years now. Actually, I started when I was 4, and I am 25 right now, so I have been dancing for so many years. When social media happened, I started growing on social media after participating in 2 reality shows. People really liked me when they saw me on TV, so they came to my profile. I used to post a lot of dance stuff, not just dance. I don't look at it like content creation. This might sound wrong, but I post whatever makes me happy, the most authentic things on my social media.
Even if it is a dance class video, I don't have to post professionally shot dance videos. I should, but I don’t mind posting bad dance videos where I am struggling because that’s when I am growing. Those are my learning videos where I am learning. Everything can’t be perfect, so I post everything, and not just dance. Everything that I resonate with, that represents me. I think that’s what people really liked and connected to, and that’s why they always come back to my profile. That’s what kept me also posting whatever was real, and I think that’s how I created a brand. It was not like a business plan in my head. I wanted to just be me, and people seemed to like it.
2. As someone deeply involved in the world of dance, what do you believe is the most common misconception people have about the art of dancing, and how would you clarify it?
According to me, people think that if you're a good dancer, you know it all, and you don’t need to learn anymore. I know a lot of people who are just teaching and not learning themselves, so there is no growth. I think knowledge is very important. It is like ventilation; you really need to grow to teach more people. Your knowledge needs to keep growing, and learning should never stop. People come to me and tell me, "Oh, you know everything."
I used to train for like 8-8, 9-9 hours, sometimes 15 hours a day when I was a belly dancer. Now I don’t do that because I know I don’t have time. I have other things to do, so my body is not as capable as it used to be when I was 15 years old. If I want to do those things again, I have to do Riyaz. Riyaz is very important. Some people take it for granted and they think, "Oh, I know it all." It should never be like that, and I think that’s something that needs to be out there more. People should really understand that you should never stop learning. As an artist, learning is the best process.
3. Dance styles can vary greatly. Could you tell us about a dance style or routine that has been particularly challenging for you to master, and how you overcame it?
I have learned a lot of dance forms. All of them were very difficult because you need a lot of discipline and a lot of patience to learn. I have given a lot of years to these dance forms. Starting with Kathak, 14 years of my life, I took exams, failed in theory, passed, and topped in practicals. That journey was absolutely amazing. Of course, it was difficult, but I don’t think I would want it any other way. Belly dancing was very difficult initially because, again, a classical dance form needs a lot of discipline. But I enjoyed every bit of it.
I think pole dancing was very challenging because it needs a lot of strength, a lot of arm strength, a lot of core strength, and you should be okay with falling and getting hurt because you can fall, you can slip. The poles spin so fast, and mostly because it is not very acceptable in India. People really judged me when I told them, and they still do. They still judge me when I tell them that I am a pole dancer as well. But the joy I get when I am doing that can’t be matched. So yes, pole was the most difficult because you need to put in a lot of hard work, you need to do a lot of pull-ups, you need to get hurt, you need to get bruises. Through that, if you are still enjoying it, that’s the love I have for Pole.
4. Dance is often considered a form of self-expression. How has dance influenced your personal growth and the way you express yourself both online and offline?
Dance is often considered a form of self-expression. Yes, how has dance influenced my personal growth and the way I express myself offline and online? Dance is like brushing my teeth every morning; that’s how important it is for me. I have to do it. If I am not dancing, that means something is extremely wrong with me. I am not okay; that’s what dance means to me. It’s legit everything. Movement gives me so much peace. I don’t have to express what I would say. Any art form is a form of expression, but when I'm dancing, most of the time it’s for me. How it makes me feel more than me expressing. Movement, the quality of movement is different when I am feeling a little low.
When I am very high energy, the quality of movement would be different. It’s how it makes me feel, and dance really sorts everything in my head. When I am confused, if I go to a dance class, I have so much clarity in life about everything. I don’t know what it does to me. It’s not a part of my life; it’s my entire life. I don’t look at it like a hobby, and I don’t look at it like an external thing. Even if I am posting anything on social media or in my personal life as well, it’s me; it’s who I am. So, I think Shruti Sinha expresses, is very expressive in general because she’s been a dancer all her life.
5. In the world of social media and content creation, what are some tips you'd offer to aspiring dancers and influencers who want to make a mark with their talent and message?
Some tips I offer to aspiring dancers and influencers: I think just be unapologetically you, just do what makes you happy, and stay true to your art. I would say trends are there, and I also do it. It's fine; you should do it but you should also stick to your roots, stick to your art form, and be true to it. Create magic with it and be consistent. Consistency is extremely important. Just keep working hard, and that’s what I think my tip would be.
6. As our final question, let's lighten the mood a bit. If you could dance with any famous person, living or from history, who would it be and what style of dance would you choose for that epic performance?
I think Michael Jackson, because oh my god, a legend. It would be a dream come true if I got to just stand in front of him. You are talking about a performance; I think it would mean the world to me. Oh my god, of course, Michael Jackson.
BIO:
Shruti Sinha started her career as a dancer in 2015 in Dance India Dance's fifth season, where she emerged as one of the top 15 contestants. Later, she featured in an episode of MTV India's show Love On The Run.
Sinha rose to fame when she participated in MTV Roadies Xtreme in 2018,where she finished as a semi-finalist.
In 2019, she participated in season 11 of MTV Splitsvilla where she became the winner.
In 2021, Sinha was seen in Mumbai Saga's song "Shor Machega" sung by Yo Yo Honey Singh
In 2023, she starred in Amazon miniTV's series Campus Beats season 1 and 2 opposite Shantanu Maheshwari.
Interviewed and Edited by - Pragya Lamba
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