Throughout history, various dance genres have emerged, each
characterized by unique movements, rhythms, and cultural influences.
Shrinath Kanavi from Ponda, a SYBA student at St Xavier’s
College, Mapusa has been watching multiple dance reality shows since childhood
and he got inspired to begin dancing by Raghav Juyal, an Indian dancer,
choreographer, actor and television host. “I started my dancing journey when I
was in Class 4. I did not go for any classes and learnt the skill by watching
dance videos. I later took dance classes when I was in Class 10 that only
lasted a year because of the pandemic. My dance styles are mostly lyrical hip
hop and Bollywood. I usually find the lyrics to the song and I express them
through dance,” he describes.
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He also mentions the challenges he faced after his dance
classes were shut down. “I had no one to guide me, and I could not concentrate
anymore, adding to that, I also had to focus on my studies,” he explains.
Recalling his memorable performance he says, “It was not a
state performance but it was an unforgettable experience. I got to perform my
choreography in front of Amit Rajput, the winner of ‘Indian Banega Manch 2017’,
when he visited my school.”
He says to train the body physically one can do several
exercises which can help make the body flexible. For the mind he believes that
listening to different songs will help keep the mind calm and it can also help
choreography.
Jerusha Moniz, currently studying at the TATA Institute of
Social Sciences in Bombay, specializing in graphics and multimedia, hails from
Goa, born and raised, where her parents, uncle and her grandparents, used to
participate in annual dance competitions, mainly focusing on salsa, ballroom,
jive, and other dance forms. In Class 6, Jerusha’s mother encouraged her to
take up dancing, and since then, she has developed a strong passion for it.
“I engaged in hip-hop and ballroom dancing classes with
David Furtado. I also took part in David Furtado’s ‘100 dances in 100 minutes’
event,” she says. Her journey in dance has been immensely enjoyable and has
taught her valuable lessons.
One significant realization was the profound impact that
dancing can have on both mental and physical well-being. For Jerusha, dancing
serves as a therapeutic outlet, offering solace and rejuvenation.”Although some
people used to mock my dance videos and performances when I was younger, my
family stood by my side and provided unwavering support. Eventually, I
discovered the fondness for ballroom dancing, particularly jive. Whenever there
are weddings or fast-paced music playing at restaurants, I eagerly take the
opportunity to jive, often finding a partner to dance with,” Jerusha expresses.
Residing at Vasco, Anagha Nair, a SYBA student says that she
has been into dance ever since lower kindergarten. Anagha knows various dance
styles like contemporary, belly dance, hip hop, Kuchipudi and she also
choreographs. She loves exploring many styles and learns them. She did not go
for any classes except for Kuchipudi. She learnt other styles by watching
dancers on television. “The challenges I face are learning the steps in detail,
like the feet movements and so on, but I accepted all these challenges and
learnt those steps, even without anyone’s help,” she explains.
A TYBCom student, Seeya Mandrekar, from Mandrem began
dancing after her sister who is also a dancer motivated her. Every year, her
village held a competition where she first began dancing. “My dance styles are
contemporary and belly dancing. I learnt these styles because I love the moves
in it. I learnt these styles by watching videos and practiced them and began
dancing around the age of nine,” she says.
When she was in Class 9, she had a leg injury. She recovered
and during the final year of her schooling, she choreographed a performance and
also received positive feedback from everyone becoming one of her memorable
moments. “For me, dance is a key to getting over stress. I practice every day
for 2 to 3 hours, I always start with a small exercise,” she says.
Seeya advices those who are interested in dancing that
dancing will not be easy but after practicing sincerely, you’ll pursue your
dreams. “So keep going and keep growing even if you fail try again and have
patience,”she adds.
A SYBA student from Sophia College, Mumbai, Jessica Vaz,
originally from Goa a resident of Porvorim has loved dance ever since
childhood. Even if it was some jumping or twirling around, she was always on
the move. “In the beginning I didn’t think much about dancing. It was only when
my mother enrolled me into my first dance class did I realize how much I liked
it,” she claims.
She mainly enjoys freestyle although she started with hip hop,
Bollywood and jazz. She trained during summer school vacations for about a year
by watching YouTube videos and she also followed numerous dancers and imitated
their styles, as well as worked on her own.
The most challenging aspect of her dance journey was getting
over her fear of dancing in front of an audience. “I managed to overcome this
by daily practice, performing in front of family, participating in dance
competitions as well as posting my dance videos on my Instagram account,” says
Jessica.
One of the many memorable experiences she had was for a
group dance competition, where she choreographed the entire dance sequence.
“Training and teaching the team was an amazing experience. Having a thought in
mind and seeing it unfold as a dance sequence on stage was memorable,” she
expresses.
She dances everyday to maintain her physical well-being.
Whenever she dances, her body releases happy hormones, which also helps her in
maintaining her mental well-being. She starts with warm ups and later moves
onto familiar routines and then continues a routine that she is trying to be
perfect in.
Kshitiz Sharma residing in Mapusa, a SYBA student at St
Xavier’s College, Mapusa, started dancing at the age of 10. He specialised in
hip hop and freestyle, but has trained in many different styles. “As I grew
more into dancing, I automatically adapted to hip hop, my all-time favourite
style. It has been 13 years now since I began dancing. I trained with a lot of
trainers, including some famous trainers in Delhi. I also did a lot of
self-training and have also trained others for many years,” says Kshitiz. The
challenges he has faced mostly got to do with coping with studies, work, mental
state but eventually he adapted to it and handled it well.
For Kshitiz, the most memorable moment is his performance in
2016 when he performed with his crew in ‘Hip Hop International Championship
India’. He believes that to maintain physical well-being as a dancer the best
workout is dance itself and if possible, also include some extra workouts in
the gym to be fit. Some stretching every day is a must and also keeping track
of the diet.
Dance not only offers a means of artistic expression but
also provides a therapeutic outlet, instilling positivity, confidence, and
emotional well-being. It fosters discipline, resilience, and self-discovery,
allowing individuals to push boundaries and strive for excellence. Whether it
is performing on a grand stage or simply dancing to the rhythm in everyday
life, dance has the power to uplift spirits, connect people, and leave a
lasting impact.
