Making the right moves

Tapori isn't a word you'd associate with the blue-blooded Shiamak Davar. Yet, the man who spearheaded the whole dance training movement in India is now ready to show some mean streetside moves in a reality show which features street kids from all over India. The dance guru talks to CS about his new endeavour:


WHO:u00a0 Shiamak Davar
WHAT: Talking about his new show for street kids
WHERE: At his office

One for the road
Well, I have been working with street kids and differently abled children for quite awhile. I have never said no to a kid just because he can't afford the fees. As far as dancing abilities of street kids are concerned, let me tell you that the real talent is on the roads. Dance forms like hip-hop, B-boying, house, funk, etcu00a0 have all evolved from street dance and urban ghettoes and are globally respected art forms today. Street dance has such a crazy culture in India too. You just see them dancing at a visarjan or a wedding, you'll know what I am talking about. I am very excited about the show. Once it gets over, I will take the best of the lot and train them further at my institute, so that they can pursue a career in dancing. Street kids are so bindaas. They are stronger than kids from South Mumbai or Lokhandwala. For them, my instructors are my heroes. The kind of affection they show you is so genuine and heart-warming.u00a0

Steps to success
When I started out, no one even thought that an individual could make a career through dance. There was a dearth of opportunities. Dance was my life, and I was serious about pursuing it further. My parents insisted that I complete my education before I diversified into full-fledged dancing. But there was a lot of scepticism from people, who said that dance was frivolous and that no respectable person would like to earn a living through it. Some even labelled me as a pansy, an effeminate man who ran dance classes. But the criticism made me a much stronger person. I would say that the journey's been a fantastic one overall.u00a0

Kid at heart
My biggest problem is that I have never grown up (laughs). All my friends call me a man-child. And trust me; I love the innocence and vulnerability of children. I don't want to be hard-hearted ever. As a creative person, I have to be playful enough to accept new ideas and try some crazy things. I feel that even when I turn 80, I will still be an 18-year-old at heart.