Dance with your soul

World Dance Day is observed every year on April 29, on the birthday of Jean-Georges Noverre, creator of modern ballet. 

The intention of the International Dance Day,  is to celebrate dance, revel in the universality of this art form, across all political, cultural and ethnic barriers, and bring people together with a common language & dance. Every year a message from an outstanding choreographer or dancer is circulated throughout the world. 

This time we spoke to several eminent dancers from different backgrounds to know their passion and what dance is to them.   

Worship and connection  

I always believe that it’s not an age that defines a person, it’s passion, to achieve something in your life. I began as a classical dancer and have tried a lot of forms so far, but now i have chosen dance for fitness. It’s not the true, that people need to have rhythm in their body to dance, some people are called two feet, but I tell them if you have one right and one left feet then both know how to tap. 

You walk, talk, sit, stand, react all these are rhythm and everyone has rhythm in their body. For me, dance is  worship, it has been a priority of my life, dance is an expression for me, and the lastly, dance is something that connects people without speaking a word. In my opinion, we need to understand dance the way it is.
                          
Classical Dancer  - Vijaya Tupurani, 

Desire to dance

I became a dancer because of my desire to fly. There is no hidden meaning in my dances. Dance forms are a spiritual exercise in a physical form. Dance communicates and expands the universal language of communication, giving birth to joy, beauty and the advancement of human knowledge. 

It is about creativity again and again in thinking, making, doing and in performing. Our body is only a tool for expression and not a medium for representation. The life of an artist does not end with age, as some critics believe. Dance is made of people and ideas.
                
Classical Dancer–Dr Haleem Khan, 

Doing more 

I have specialised in oriental belly dance and its variants. With 10 years of teaching experience, I am running a fully-fledged academy in Bangalore.  I have learned the A-Z of modern Raks Sharqi, Music theory, drum solos and much more from the director of the academy. 

According to me, dance is not about how much you know but more about what you do with how much you know! This sums up my 12-year belly dance journey.
-Payal Gupta, director of Payal’s Dance Academy

It is therapy

I have been dancing since 2010. It has been a great journey dancing for almost 8 years and professionally 3 years to be in the Hip-Hop scene in India for representing Hyderabad. I have specialised in street style which originated in the USA. I am into styles like House Dance, Hip Hop, Freestyle, and B-boying. Dance is a beautiful art form where one can find themselves and be happy. 

It is solely up to you if you want to take it up as your career or just dance out of love. At the end of the day, it’s about having fun and doing what you love.

-Ken Neill, Hip-Hop Dancer

It is a journey

It’s not possible to dedicate one day to a feeling, to an expression, a movement like a dance. It's not just something people love doing. Its culture, it’s religious and spiritual. For me, dance has always been something I can’t help but feel. I believe my journey towards being a dancer has just begun and I have a long way to go. But the path is definitely very exciting.

contemporary dancer- Faria Abdullah, 

Sets me apart

I have been on stage as a dancer since I was a kid. I have always loved dancing. Apart from dancing, I engage myself emceeing for events, sangeets, any get-togethers, parties, etc. My studio is located in Bowenpally where we teach all modern styles. 

I believe that one’s journey differs from the rest around you, but if you trust yourself, you will often surprise with what you can accomplish. Dance is a medium through which we show the world who we truly are and who we can be, let that be on stage or off stage, dance is food for soul.

Gotta Dance Studios- Neha Rajabzade, MD, and choreographer of Diwakar’s 

It’s a hobby

Dance was merely a hobby when I was a child. I have always enjoyed performing    Bollywood, later I was trained and tuned to Jazz format and contemporary. With all the lovely ladies in my gym, I ventured into concept-based dances in the water like aqua dandiya, aqua goan, aqua arabian, and aqua garba etc.

 I used exclusive music, the live drummers, chosen properties, costumes, decor all went in the union to uplift the experience of dancing in water to a greater level. From my experience as a teacher, dance is a therapy for a lot of people. 

It makes the participants confident, expressive; needless to say, it’s a catharsis format for many. For all those who want to be a professional dancer they have to choose a good teacher and the institute who allows you to intern and proposes opportunities. I am presently conducting various workshops in corporate offices and also using dance as a therapy for children and teaching a few celebrities too. 

On this special day, I would like to say please involve your family members, your parents, grandparents, and siblings and dance with them, you will end up making so many memories, and it generates healthy relations.

Mandala, Aqua Garba Dancer- Venu Gopal 

By Heena Mishra