Features: Magazine | Literary Review | Life | Metro Plus | Open Page | Education Plus | Book Review | Business | SciTech | Friday Review | Young World | Property Plus | Quest | Folio |

"Indo-Jazz isn't frivolous"

From the World Economic Forum to the Common Wealth Games, Shiamak Davar is elated at recognition that his dance form has elicited

HAVE FEET, WILL DANCE Shiamak with one of his young students

Dance is what Shiamak Davar believes in and will go any length to put a smile on people's faces through his art form.

A few days ago, coinciding with World Dance Day, Shiamak invited a number of elders to take to the stage and simply sway to the beats. But this is something Shiamak has always been known for.

In Hyderabad to witness the performance of his students at the Summer Funk, he says, "As a choreographer, I can work for 25 Hindi films and make tons of money. But I prefer reaching out to people. God has given me so much. This is my way of giving back something."

Shiamak's school has been training mentally challenged children as well as HIV patients.

Representing modern India

Shiamak's roster has been filled with national and international projects for the last one year. First came the performance at the World Economic Forum at Davos followed by the Common Wealth Games at Melbourne.

"In both these projects, what was beautiful was the Indian government recognising my form of dance and giving me the opportunity to showcase Indo-Jazz on an international platform," says Shiamak.

He pauses and then adds, "I don't mean to blow my own trumpet. But these international projects have been significant. In normal cases, the government would have chosen classical dancers. But the concerned authorities told me that they wanted my group to perform because the art form represents modern India. All these years, I've combined the best elements of Indian classical and western styles in my own way. This has worked in the West and people didn't rubbish Indo-Jazz it as a frivolous act."

Even as Shiamak is keen on expanding Shiamak Davar Institute of Performing Arts to newer centres like Chennai, members from his group have been making a mark globally. Two of his principal dance instructors have been chosen to visit the US as part of an exchange programme.

Shiamak is obviously thrilled. "They will teach our dance form to the US counterparts at the John F. Kennedy Centre and in turn learn their dance forms."

B & B to Dhoom II

Though Shiamak has stayed away from getting too involved in Bollywood, he is open to indulging once in a while. If Dil To Pagal Hai fetched him a national award, the Bachchans got a taste of his Indo-Jazz in Bunty Aur Babli. "That project was very memorable. Abhishek used to rehearse a number of times for Nach Baliye and with each rehearsal he got better," smiles Shiamak.

Now, Shiamak is choreographing Hrithik Roshan for Dhoom II. "Hrithik is an amazing dancer and always hungry to try something new. It's wonderful to work with him," he says. Ask him why he is one of Yash Raj Films' favourite choreographers and Shiamak grins, "I don't know. They've always given me quality work, so I've obliged." He informs, "I will also be choreographing for Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Saawariya. I don't know if Sanjay wants me to do all the songs or select numbers. We are still talking about it."

Soon after Summer Funk in Hyderabad, Shiamak will shift focus to composing special numbers for the IIFA Awards.

SANGEETHA DEVI . K

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail