Shiamak Davar's Bollywood Jazz in Vancouver

by Pia

I kind of hoped news programs would also have dance numbers.

To my disappointment, they didn't. Nevertheless, I happily spent evenings in my hotel room in India channel surfing, as almost everything on TV, even an ad for instant noodles, had a dance number. Any joyous Indian gathering is not without dance and if you need further proof of its importance to Indian culture, there is even a 'Lord of Dance' - Nataraja - an incarnation of the Hindu god Shiva.

Despite this importance, traditional Indian society doesn't readily encourage its masculine men and modest women towards a career in dance, especially modern dance. It is, however, whole-heartedly embraced by modern society as a source of fun, exercise and for the shot at Bollywood stardom. Since the early days of Bollywood, dance has sashayed from a cluttered mass in the background to become slick centre stage routines. Films sometimes succeed solely by its song and dance numbers, which can make stars out of dancers and duds out of uncoordinated actors. To many, the prominence of dance in India today could not have been without a little magic from Shiamak Davar, one of Bollywood's most influential choreographers.

Against the waving finger of tradition, Davar taught his first dance class in Mumbai in 1985. He had been training in London and New York, and his unique fusion of Indian dance with musical theatre style jazz and modern attracted only a handful of students. Unfolding like a Bollywood film plot, his perseverance was finally rewarded with accolades for his 1997 film choreography debut in 'Dil To Pagal Hai', about a love triangle in a dance troupe. Besides snazzy dance numbers, this Bollywood classic is also a time capsule of three of today's biggest stars - Shahrukh Khan, Madhuri Dixit and Karisma Kapoor - in their young, ingnue days. Despite Bollywood fame, Davar's main focus is nurturing the Shiamak Davar Institute of Performing Arts (SDIPA), which teaches his trademarked 'Shiamak Davar's Indo Jazz Movement' and 'Shiamak Davar's Bollywood Jazz' to students worldwide. His mantra, 'Have feet, will dance', emphasizes that dance comes from within.

Can you blame me for wanting to dance in a Bollywood film? Think of dancing the Y-M-C-A with your friends, except in Bollywood, you have 20 times more friends, and you're all much better dancers. You must exaggerate your expression in order to reach an audience that is not live with you. So, if you're having a good time, you better look like you're having a really, ridiculously great time. Cameras can capture you from any angle, so you practically need to radiate laser beams of energy from all 360 degrees of yourself. Unlike theatre where numbers are performed once per show, Bollywood dancers are subject to multiple takes and to keep smiling right up to the last take.

Don't tell me you're in shape until you've sweated through a Bollywood dance class. After only 60 minutes, (real Bollywood dancers rehearse and film for hours), I was heaving for air and emptied my water bottle of the last rationed sip. The instructor, Rahul Manoharan, with his boundless energy, rallies us to dance the routine one last time. His beaming confidence in us diverted my focus from perfecting the steps to simply enjoying the dance. The lively choreography of bhumkas and jhabkas hit every thumping beat of the song and transported us to the colourful world of Bollywood. It was one of those rare times I caught a room full of strangers smiling ear-to-ear to each other.

Rahul's mother suggested that he try Davar's classes after seeing him 'freak out' whenever she put the music on. 'Freak out' is Rahul's expression for 'dance crazy' or 'go all out'. Only a few years after Rahul was plucked by Davar from his beginner class, he has been freaking out non-stop for films, performances and teaches all levels of Davar's classes in India and Vancouver. Rahul's days begin with teaching early morning classes and can extend past midnight with rehearsals. Tiring as it seems, he is humbled that people come to his classes to do exactly what he loves and gets to do all day. In addition to Davar, Rahul is also grateful to the teachers who kept him returning to those beginner classes. Their attention to adapt choreography for the male role, as males are still a minority in this field, or to help him find a connection to the dance, gave him a sense of belonging and fulfillment. Now, as the instructor, Rahul understands the range of reasons people come to class and tries to impart that same sense of connection to his students.

"Rahul, am I ready for Bollywood?" For the first time, Rahul's optimism dimmered slightly. "Uh, sure, why not?" he replied, then, he quickly added, "If you want to be in a Bollywood movie, you need first to come to class." He was right. I could barely get through one class; plus I was too focused on technique and didn't let my expression come through. Anyway, if I don't make it to Bollywood, at least Rahul brings Bollywood to every class.

Rahul Manoharan is an instructor of Shiamak Davar International (Canada) Inc. and currently teaches throughout Vancouver. Visit www.shiamak.com for class schedules and upcoming performances of the Shiamak Davar Institute of Performing Arts.