Career in Choreography: Jive Your Way To Bollywood!

During the auditions of reality show Dance India Dance, famous choreographer Rajeev said that he regrets absence of such talents hunts in his times. And he was true. With Television bubbling with such talent shows, hundreds of amateur dancers are getting a platform, which previously was a rare occasion. Dancing has always been a part of ancient Indian tradition but with rising media gloss, the awareness about this field as a career has emerged. Becoming a professional dancer is actually a thorny path, as it demands immense patience and a multifaceted personality. This is owing to the fact, that choreography is not simply about good dancing but requires excellent sense of rhythm, music and lights. It also needs an individual to have a thorough knowledge of cultures as it helps him learning genres of dance like ballet, hip-hop, modern, tapping and others.

If an individual is aiming it high at Bollywood, one should have skills of a good director. The choreographer has to lead an entire team and keep it intact. He or she also needs to have a thorough understanding about plot of the movie, visualize the entire sequence and recreate the magic. This requires intelligence, knowledge of technique and most importantly creative talent.

Future Prospects As A Choreographer

As choreography requires immense perseverance, one might take years to establish himself as a professional in Hindi Film industry. Various well known and successful choreographers have started off as background dancers, then assistants and it was then that they got credentials in the movie cast. However, with more and more events, live shows, wedding parties and hotels organizing dances, scope for new comers has widened.

Moreover, depending upon the client's budget and other factors, professionals can earn between 10,000 to 1 lakh per show. Apart from having right skills and talents, this field also demands good contacts in the film industry. But with hard work and positive approach aspirants can reach their dream destination-the glittering world of Bollywood.

Popular Colleges/Institutions That Offer Training In Dance:

• Shiamak Davar Institute for Performing Arts, Mumbai
• Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi
• Terence Lewis Dance Academy, Mumbai
• The Natya Institute of Kathak & Choreography, Bangalore
• Urdang Academy, London
• Trinity College, London
• Sandip Soparkar's Ballroom Studio, Mumbai
• Ashley Lobo, East of Kailash, New Delhi
• Danceworx Performing Arts Academy
• Conservatoire for Dance and Drama, London
• Indian Film & Television Institute (IFTI), Meerut 
• Kala Kendra College of Music & Dance - Sardar Patel University
• N S Z College of Music & Dance - Andhra University 
• Dance Theatre of Harlem Inc - New York

 - Compiled by Prachi Srivastava (Shiksha Team)