“I say during my online classes Corona Se Darona - Dance Karte Rahona”

SANDIP SOPARRKAR tells JYOTHI VENKATESH

How easy is it for a person to dance from his or her home?

Dancing from home is very easy as it is as per one’s convenience and one’s own comforts too. At the same time the person can keep revisiting the online videos and keep revising what was taught in the previous sessions. I believe learning dance online is a means of total comfortable learning.

In what way are online dancing classes a substitute to real physical dance classes?

In this lockdown phase we have no other option but to learn dance online. Though I strongly believe that the warmth that a physical dance class can give a student an online class can never provide, dance is a form of art and to learn any art one has to personally and physically learn under a teacher. An online class is no match to the

warmth, the discipline and the techniques that can be taught and imparted physically,

Is it true that you are also all set to train your students on FB too?

Yes it is true that my online classes are currently being conducted through Face Book live, and dance enthusiasts from all over the world are joining the session and learning with me and I feel happy about it. Apart from India, I have dance lovers from Philippines, USA, UK, South Africa, Ireland, Germany, Netherlands and many more countries that join into the session and many more see the repeat videos. Though the online classes are very successful I still miss my physical classes.

Why are you not taking up choreography assignments in films like Saroj Khan, Farah Khan or Remo D'Souza, who are also directors?

Ha Ha, I am not getting many assignments in films, for the simple reason that I guess today the directors and producers are looking for younger talent and they find me old. There are a few films that I have recently choreographed for but not as much as I used to do before. I also believe that today directors look for cheaper team and choosing the right choreographer is not the priority any more the way it was few years back.

Have you written a book on your illustrated career as a choreographer?

Ha ha, I really wonder whether really people would be interested to know about my life.

When did you start your dance classes?

I started my classes in Mumbai 20 years back, with just a handful of students and today I feel humbled to say that we have many branches in Mumbai, a few In India and also a few international branches. Apart from these. I also have long list of students who have learnt with me and are still learning with me.

How many years have you devoted to choreography? 

My Initial days of dance were all about learning and then it was all about performance and today apart from performance it is also teaching and choreographing. I have devoted about 25 years of choreography work and 20 years of teaching along with a lifelong of dancing.

In what way are Indian as well as International dancing different from one another?

To me dance is dance. It has the same soul. We put it in different molds of classical, folk and international and categorize them as spiritual, ritual, social, performance, devotional etc. To me all dances are just the same, just a medium to connect with the divine, a way to understand oneself, the best way to make a conversation with the almighty. Like everyone prays in a different way, some go to temple, some to a church, some to a mosque but finally we all pray to the divinity the same way various dance forms are a medium to reach that force.

Who are your favorite Indian as well as International dancers. Including actors and actresses?

I will talk of my students only, from Bollywood. I love Kajol and think that she is a fabulous dancer and films have not really tapped that side of hers at all. I also find Priyanka Chopra extremely dedicated, I worked with her in many projects and simply love the way she executes her dance. Of course Hrithik is totally unmatched. In Hollywood I feel there is no one like Madonna, as even today she can give the younger a run for their money. Shakira has some amazing moves and an incredible body to match.

Which is your all time dance film in Hindi till date?

I have loved all the films of my mami, Vyjayanthimala Bali, and feel that there has been no dancer like her and I am super proud that I am her nephew. From Sangam to Nagin to Devdas or even Kathputli or Madhumati or Amrapali and Jewel thief she has danced in each film so differently and so beautifully that she has and will also be an icon for not only our family but for the entire film world.

Who are your all time Hollywood dance film till date?

I love dance films from Hollywood, and there are many. Strictly Ballroom, Mad about Mambo, Take the Lead, Shall We Dance, Chicago, Dance With me all have been path breaking and have shown ballroom dancing very beautifully.

Have you contemplated on taking up acting in films since you are tall and handsome?

I recently did do a film with a very interesting message and a very controversial name 'I am Not a Porn Star Nazar Sambhal Ke' it is yet to be released though. Let’s see what future has in store for me.

How do you keep yourself fit and trim?

Yoga and dance is what keep me the way I am, though I also feel that with age catching up now I need to put more efforts in keeping up with my fitness.

In what way are dances really necessary in Hindi films today?

Dance and music have always been an important part of Indian cinema, and almost all our films are musical and that is the best part about our films. I remember when I went representing the Indian Dance world at the Cannes film festival and also at other prestigious film festivals all over the world; people were only talking about the song and dance routines in our films. But today I feel dance in Indian films has totally lost its charm, as it has become very athletic and looks like an exercise routine. The grace, the expressions have all gone and we only see dancers jumping, flipping and splitting and to me, that is not dance.

How many classes do you have every day and how many batches?

We have classes daily at some center or the other and about three batches each day. So a student can never miss a class, especially since we give them opportunity to dance at any center at any given time.

What is your view on Corona Virus?

It is unfortunate that the world is going through this horrible pandemic, I just pray that this gets over soon and we all get back to our lives with a new vision and a brand new hope. If we take care of things that have been told to us I am sure we can flight this together. It is important to maintain positivity, and follow all the rules with sincerity to wage a war against this death threatening virus. Like I say during my online classes Corona Se Darona - Dance Karte Rahona

In what way do you think a dancer scores over an actor? 

A dancer has great understanding of his or her own body, gestures and expressions. A good dancer also has fantastic understanding of costume, make up, hair along with lights, stage and space, and all this makes it easy for a dancer to act. I believe that every good dancer can be a good actor about every good actor might not be a good dancer.

Name your five dear friends among actors in Bollywood today!

Sharbani Mukherjee, Sangeeta Bijlani, Ameesha Patel, Raveena Tandon, Yukta Mookhey are some actors I often talk to and take advice from.

Has one failed marriage put you off marriage in future too?

Ha Ha. Well I believe 'never say never' but yes a failed marriage has surely made me pull up my guards. This time if marriage happens it will happen with a lot of thought, and as of now I am enjoying my time with my son and seeing him grow is an experience that I cannot compare with anything else in the world.

Is dancing an art which is good for both males as well as females? Why?

Dancing is great for everyone and gender, age or sizes do not matter at all. Dance helps a person to connect socially, physically, emotionally and spiritually. To dance is like being blessed and who would want to miss out on a golden opportunity like this.