'India Is Ready For Different Dance Movements And Commercial Stage Performances'

Dancing happened to this ace choreographer much later. “My first love was singing and I used to act in a lot of musical productions. I chanced upon dance classes at the Pineapple Studio in London where the teacher thought I had prior training. She was shocked to know I had never learnt ballet before that. I took the training forward and then decided to come back and start western jazz dance classes in India. I realised my mission was to spread joy through dance,” says Shiamak Davar. From an unconventional career to a profession that was female-dominated, ace dance guru tells us how far he has travelled in this journey of dance.

Excerpts:

How did you start?
The dance wasn’t accepted as a career when I started out for men or women. So here I was trying to begin a dance school for Western Jazz which was unheard of! I had faced a lot of rejections. Even to find a space to conduct my dance classes was a task. My first class had only seven students, five of whom were family and friends! But I knew this is what I had to do, this is what made me happy so I never looked at these things like the failure. And the greatest joy is that the same people who would ridicule my passion back then send their kids to my classes today!

 I wanted to make people experience the same joy that I derived from dancing and performing. My motto is ‘Have Feet. Will Dance.’ which reiterated the fact that everyone can dance. I wanted to create a platform for people to come and express themselves through movement, without being judged. Whether they are four or 84, everyone learns and performs on stage. The sense of achievement and fulfilment they get is greater than any other feeling. It’s been over 30 years and it’s great to see the impact it has had on people. This change that people find themselves through dance is my biggest motivation. There is an inspiration in everything – music, movement, nature, animals, silence. There is an emotion, a feeling that each piece of music communicates, this is what I translate into movement.

How has the culture of dance evolved in India?
Dance has come a long way. Our culture and heritage have always celebrated and appreciated dance. But in terms of its acceptance as a viable career option, the progress has been exceptional. While classical and folk dance forms represent us the best, even the western styles have found a place. Dance is not just a hobby, dance is not restricted to only girls, today from metropolitans to towns, the awareness about dance is much more. People now have the capability and access to make their passion a profession. The global dance community is a closer unit and India is an integral part of it. Dance has not only gone beyond the periphery of an art form but also become a means to a healthy lifestyle, a positive avenue to de-stress and vent out emotions. And eventually, dance is music made visible. So with the progress in music, the influences of the west in rhythm, dance has also adapted and progressed accordingly.

Are there any new technological innovations in choreography evolving in India? Do you support this in your teachings and how?
Access to knowledge with the internet has become much easier than it was back in the day. This has made people more aware of different dance styles being developed globally and brought the dance community together. While in terms of awareness this is a great technological tool, but as a choreographer or teacher, one must understand that YouTube or other avenues on the internet don’t give you professional training in technique. One must train properly at an academy and learn from professionals. Focus on training, find an area of speciality and create an original style that is unique. The longevity of one’s career will depend on how knowledgeable and relevant one is.

How has India imbibed the latest trends in art and technology from abroad and adapted it to locally?
The talent in our country is unbelievable. The actual skills are hidden in the interiors of our country. The interest is a lot, they just need an avenue. With the popularity of dance reality shows on television, people have found a great platform to really come out and showcase their talent. This has helped in finding a lot of talent from across the country. But one must realize that while these shows are a great starting point, they must keep the process of learning going on and continuously evolve as dancers. Fame must not supersede their respect for the art.

How are you providing a unique opportunity for talented dance enthusiasts?
While we run hobby classes globally, there are a lot of students with talent who want to take up dance professionally. So we have a full time One Year Dance Certification Program (OYP). The OYP Program is a holistic performing arts course that encompasses all aspects of dance. The focus of the program is my style of contemporary and I personally teach this program every day for three to four hours. It also includes performing arts-related courses like Yoga, Malkhamb, Gymnastics, Creative Dance Movement, acting workshop, audio and video editing classes.

What is the changing behaviour of people: People’s willingness to spend extra on professional dance programs?
People now see dance as a viable career option. Not only dance, but any form of art or the performing arts have found longevity in terms of not only staying hobbies but being taken up as full-time professions. Whether as a performer, dance instructor, choreographer or entrepreneur in the field of the performing arts; there are a plethora of opportunities. Being a first-hand witness through the transitional phase of western dance in India, the last 30 years have been a revolution of sorts. I’ve observed a positive and impactful change in people’s attitude towards dance as a career. The industry has opened up tremendously, arts and culture have become hugely popular and in effect, people don’t fear to make their passion a profession. This transitional change in people and the overall market has opened doors. Knowing that there are plenty of opportunities in the future, and with stiff competition, they know the importance of investing in training and are now open to spending more towards quality learning experiences.

What is the overgrowing demand for commercial dance shows/stage shows? Is India ready for this?
Dance in every form has found a bigger space. Stage shows have also been accepted very well. In fact a few years back I choreographed an Indo-contemporary show which people refer to as the Shiamak Style of work. Selcouth was performed by my OYP students and post the show people insisted I open it to the public. Honestly, I wasn’t sure if the audience was ready for a show like this. But within a couple of years and nearly 30 packed show later, I know that the audience is receptive, aware and completely ready for different movements, commercial-stage performances. If you look at Zangoora – The Gypsy Prince at the Kingdom of Dreams, we were a part of it for over six years and 2500 shows. So the stage which I consider my second home is now becoming a home for the audiences as well!