Slice of Life: ‘Dance is an integral part of my life’

Chennai

I got into dancing when I was 14 years old. It started off for fun. I got into popping first, then hip-hop and street styles. Contemporary is style and technique based. But it’s about being creative and original in your own way. I mix it up in my own way, so it became my own kind of dance. I used to think ballet was boring. It’s not like street style where you explore the music. But my views changed when I explored it in depth. When I started taking Ballet lessons, I used to be the only boy in class. It didn’t bother me as I looked at it as a dance form. The stereotypes don’t bother me. I do ballet because it helps my street style - it helps stretch my body and my style. I think there are two kinds of dancing - freestyle and choreography. You don’t need to be a dancer to do the former. But choreography is something that requires a lot of thought and planning. You need a storyboard and a stage plan. People think dancing is just the former, and that’s wrong. It might sound cliché, but dance is a way of life for me. Even when I’m brushing my teeth, I listen to music and I groove to it. It’s an integral part of my life. Since I’ve been learning dance for a long time, my ego gets to me and I try to show off even when I go to clubs and dance for fun. I just riff on some stuff that I’ve choreographed in past. If you’re hesitant to dance because you’re afraid of how well others do, it’s all in your head. You need to let go and just dance. You might feel awkward, but that’s part of your growth.