The art of dance is a powerful and transformative experience that has the ability to heal and bring a sense of certainty in uncertain times. Dancing has been used as a form of expression, therapy, and even spiritual practice for centuries. It allows individuals to connect with their emotions and bodies in a way that can be both cathartic and empowering. Dancers may have different motivations for why they dance. Some dancers may dance as a form of self-expression, using their bodies to communicate emotions and stories. Others may dance to achieve grace and poise, while some may dance simply for the joy of moving to music. Regardless of the reasons why they dance, all dancers share a deep passion for the art form. Today we bring to you such passionate dancers that you need to keep an eye out for.

Unholy X Apsara – Rohit Gijare

Choreographed by Rohit Gijare, this fusion is brought to life by Gijare and his team, Aaliya Islam, Anjali Mehta, Jeremey Davidson, Revati Mahurkar, and Sruthi Palanippan. Grooving to the mashup melody of “Unholy” and “Apsara” that took the Instagram reels trend by storm towards the end of 2023, this fusion acts as the perfect blend of tradition meets modern. The transition from “Unholy” to “Apsara” is so smooth that it makes one scream SLAY!  

Ghodey Pe Sawaar – Renuka Deshpande

If this iconic song ever had a visual performance it would probably be Renuka Deshpande’s dance cover. Beautifully articulating each word of the lyric Deshpande gives the song a much-needed visual. From her eyes to her fingertips not even one bit is out of place. Dancing to the melody of such a hyped-up song is not an easy task, but Deshpande manages to make it look so effortless that it leaves the audience in awe.  

Varaha Roopam – Nidhi and Neha

Donned in the traditional Bharatnatyam costume from head to toe, the dancing sister duo Nidhi Ram and Neha Ram put on an elegant performance. Moving to the beats of Varaha Roopam from the movie Kantara, the synchronisation showcased by them is something that is achieved after weeks or months of practice. Gracefully transitioning from one stance to another, the sisters showcase how you can become one with the song through dance.

Raataan Lambiya & Ranjha – Urvashi Pardeshi

A mesmerizing performance by Urvashi Pardeshi brings to life the emotions that both songs carry. Just when you think all is happy and beautiful Pardeshi manages to leave you spellbound by transitioning from the happy phase of “Raataan Lambiya” to the sad phase of “Ranjha”. The transition is so swift yet gradual that it leaves you stunned physically yet moves you emotionally at the same time. 

As the digital space is getting more and more accessible all over the world, the amount of inspiration a dancer can draw from it is endless. With such innovative dance covers coming out almost every day the possibility of running out of ideas seems impossible.

Dancing has always been an expressive form of art. Today creators and dancers have taken it upon themselves to present a customised version of their performance. Presenting a set of semiclassical dances by some fantastic performers. They’ll without a doubt capture your attention with their visible potential and talent. Performing and embodying beautiful song, their movements and expressions are spectacular to watch and cherish. The performers’ choreographies are well done and emphasis the dance so well, making it look effortless to the eye.

Dance with Shivi

A beautiful semiclassical performance by Shivi on the song Afreen Afreen. She embodies the lyrics with her movement and makes her presence known against the black backdrop. Shivi’s movement subtly flows and blends with the rhythm of the song. She expresses the song beautifully through her expressions, it’s a definite delight to watch her immersed while dancing. The number of circling around and swaying her hands shows and highlights the beauty of the song. Be on the lookout for more of her performances as she has a lot more to offer in the coming days.

Vinita Mhatre and Vishwa Mhatre

A collaborative semi-classical dance choreography by Vinita and Vishwa is like a swift breeze tamed by the music. The girls in orange glide across the stage alluringly as they perform the song Kesariya. The choreography is easy to the eye and engaging which will get you on your feet too. The selection of songs and apt coordinating moves according to it, they have aced this performance. The sync between the song and dancers as the video proceeds completely blend together so well. The dancers seem to perform a single dance but with two projections which is stunning to watch.

Divya Singh

Chand Sifarish is a complex song with various rhythms and beats and exceptional lyrics. Divya completely does justice to this song and another dynamic to this piece through her dance performance. A Sneha Kapoor choreography, Divya is seen gracefully performing a semi-classical dance. Not missing a single beat and keeping the pace throughout the dance, it’s thrilling for the audience to watch her. The scenic beauty against which she performs makes the entire performance enthralling yet the focus solely remains on her. Her actions in the movements are complementary to the song and in a way visualise the lyrics. A passionate performance by Divya will leave you amazed, the energy of the song is channelled so well by her.

Dance, the most lively art form in the world that requires you to imagine and experience it with your eyes wide open. A song requires some part of your body to come to life but dance requires your entire body and dedication to truly thrive. 

Indian classical dance forms have been around for centuries and are well known for their beauty, grace and strong affinity for details. Considered one of the toughest forms of dance, it can be very well distinguished from its western counterpart by focusing on the attire and intricate make-up alone. In any Indian classical dance form, be it Odissi, Kuchipudi, Kathak, or any of the other eight major Indian classical dance forms, the main focus has always been towards pleasing deities and becoming one with them or telling the tale of significant historical figures of the culture. Hand gestures and facial expressions have always been given more importance in the classical dance forms of the Indian subcontinent than in their western counterpart. And there is nothing more beautiful than seeing today’s dancers keeping the tradition alive but reinterpreting it in their own unique ways. 

The Guru Within- Shreema Upadhyaya and Aditya Sharma

Being a trained Odissi dancer of five years I can completely vouch for the tediously long hours of practice that go into perfecting each mudra (hand gesture) and bhangi (pose/ stance). One might assume the rules would be comparatively more relaxed for kids than adults, but sadly the rules of Indian classical dance forms apply to all, regardless of gender or age. The reason it stresses so much on the importance of discipline is because it tries to unite your different personalities into one by removing all distractions and letting you explore and harness each and all of your personas as and when required. 

Beautifully highlighted in the dance video, “The Guru Within”. Conceptualised and choreographed by Shreema Upadhyaya and Aditya Sharma, this dance piece was a confluence of Bharathanatyam and Kathak both being well-known for their storytelling aspect. The dance consisting of two dancers, one male and one female explored the different emotions that a dancer goes through from joy to fear until they find their groove and become one with their inner guru or teacher that guides them in their journey. 

Anondodhara Bohichhe- Subhaijt Khush Das

Kabiguru Rabindranath Tagore is very well-known in Indian history as a poet and freedom fighter. Being a lover of art and believing in the power of different forms of art in uniting us, it’s no wonder that Subhaijt Khush Das conceptualised and choreographed a confluence of three Indian classical Dance forms, i.e., Bharatanatyam, Odissi and Kathakali, to the tunes of Anondodhara Bohichhe by Rabindranath Tagore as a tribute to him on his 161st birth anniversary. The song that reminds people of the bliss that is flowing around the world is brought to life by the harmonious tap of dancers performing three different Indian classical dance forms together but at the same time telling one tale.

Mere Dholna- Purnima Garg

The different Indian classical dance forms are deeply rooted in the customs and culture of each part of the Indian state they originate from. And being dance forms that rely heavily on elaborate costumes and makeup it’s not always feasible for today’s crowd to get their hands on each piece of jewellery for the perfect dance ensemble all the time, thus, came modern interpretation of classical dance forms. Infused with Bollywood beats and lighter clothing and jewellery it kept the essence of the classical form alive but gave it a modern twist. 

Perfectly captured by Purnima Garg who portrays two personas, one in white and another in black, in her Kathak cover of the catchy and ever-green classic song “Mere Dholna” from the movie, “Bhool Bhulaiyaa”, fully complete with light makeup. Her devotion to her art cannot go unnoticed as she doesn’t miss a beat as she switches from one persona to another. The way her eyes move shows how engrossed she was in the beats of the song, just like a true dancer. 

Aayat- Eshna Benegal and Eeshani Mitra 

Another example of such a beautiful fusion can be seen in the Kathak cover of the famous song “Aayat” from the movie “Bajirao Mastani” performed by Eshna Benegal and Eeshani Mitra. Given that it is a song from a Bollywood movie and not necessarily a traditional classical dance, the way the classical dancers incorporated their traditional art form with it shows the beauty and flexibility Indian classical dance forms hold. By sharply and gracefully doing different mudras and poses of Kathak as they tapped their feet to the tunes of this modern song, the dancer kept it authentic and gave it a twist of their own.

As the popularity of fusion dances keeps increasing day by day the concern regarding the loss of pure Indian classical dance forms also worries many. But given the intricate gestures and significance that each move holds in each Indian classical dance form, there’s hardly ever a chance that it will ever lose its essence to any form of dance in the modern world.  

Dance expresses art in way of movements channelling ways of emotions. A form presented by an individual to show devotion, joy or a depiction of a lyrical beauty of music and feelings in a visual way. Presenting you with a set of artists showcasing some amazing dances. The fluidity of their moves blends easily with the flow of music. Making the festive season more lively, they bring so much joy through their passion for dance and performances. Emerging dancers show their skills and passion in their own format of customized art. 

Mere Sohneya – Kalpita Kachroo

The dance choreography is acing an attempt to embody the lyrical beauty of the song. Kalpita looks stunning while presenting a semi-classical dance on the song Mere Sohneya. Her choreography paired with the song is pleasing to the eyes and shows her skills, doing absolute justice to this song. The synchronization of her steps and coordination highlights the choice of music. Her expression truly captivates you with a smile throughout her sequence. This small dance performance manages to show Kalpita has so much potential to deliver through dance in future.  

Ram Leela – Mouveen Sharma

A powerful performance bringing a compilation of all songs from Ram Leela. A tribute to the film with a commendable and diversified music range, she takes every beat of the music her own. The scenic beauty in the video with amazing cinematography with some focus on Mouveen moves and her expression is a visual to see. The variation in her dance ranges from performance in three different songs, showing a different form of dancing. A completely different persona of Mouveen in every song changes. Her talent to captivate the audience with subtle moves and portrayal of art in her way is beautiful. A piece to watch as she gracefully moves and adorns the song.

Dholida- Srija Ramakrishna

Embracing and celebrating the Navratri season, Srija presents a spiralling performance on Dholida. A complex choreography is presented appealingly. Grooving to Dholida and adding the Garba sequence, will make you excited and get your dance nerves tingle. Srija’s expression throughout expressing the song and the joy of the festive season is visible. She uses the floor to its maximum while performing and swiftly gliding with her moves. A fun performance to watch and hopefully learn for the coming festive season.

Saiyaan – ShruNetra 

ShruNetra presentation of her devotion to her Guru through a fascinating dance rendition. As part of her Bhakti series, she presents her art through the medium of art in different locations as devotion. The scenic beauty, the cinematography and her dance moves, all together make this beautiful peaceful piece. ShruNetra’s passion is seen as she completely makes the song her own and moves gracefully according to the rhythm and lyrics. ShruNetra’s portrayal of art and devotion is inspiring and shows the beauty in discovering passion and its acting as a driving force to progress in life. A performance to watch as the song Saiyaan comes to life visually through her dance moves.

Rabindra Sangeet, most commonly known as Tagore Songs, as the name suggests, are the songs penned by the Nobel laureate, Rabindranath Tagore. With a collection of more than 2000 songs, Tagore maintained his position in society as not only just a writer but also a lyricist. His depth of writing, with intense themes, has rendered everyone in deep awe. Apart from the mesmerising flow of the lyrics, the music of his songs was heavily influenced by classical Indian, Folk music, as well as international music. The perfect balance between the poetry and musicality in Rabindra Sangeet renders all other music dull in its presence. Tagore has immortalised himself with his passionate art. Here are some equally heart-touching dance covers on Rabindra Sangeet, reminding everyone of the liveliness and vigour of the Indian culture and dances. 

Monomor Meghero Sangi – Bidipta Sharma

Bidipta Sharma performs a soulful dance on the song, ‘Monomor Meghero Sangi,’ and exudes perfection and grace in every step of hers. She adds her own hypnotising trance to the song, which is already so absorbing and enthralling. Adorned in a blue saree, with pleasant expressions, the dance cover successfully delivers a splendid performance, wanting for more. Rabindra Sangeet is surely empty without its dancers. 

Jagorane Jay Bibhabori – Sharmistha 

Another magnificent Rabindra Nritya performance is of Sharmistha’s. The dance performance is brimmed with elegance and sharp steps, which play the rhythm to each and every beat of the song, Jagorane Jay Bibhabori. Sharmistha justifies the performance with her beautiful red outfit, which makes the entire performance even more resplendent. The ending of the dance cover will definitely be everyone’s favourite part, since the ending dance steps, along with her expressions, add one final beautiful dance movement, which complements the lyrics of the song and its profound music.

Bhalobeshe Shokhi Nibhrite – Payel

Payel and Dwaipayan perform a very beautiful and composed dance cover on the song, Bhalobeshe Shokhi Nibhrite. The duo, with each elegant and poised dance step, elevate the charm of the song. What’s more striking about this performance is that the dance duo also highlights the culture and traditions of India. The wedding ceremony, the surrounding architect, the attires, all encompasses the unique sculpture of the country. 

Bhenge More Ghorer – Nritya Chandraja

Namrat Chakraborty and Chandraja Guha come together to give an energetic, resplendent and vigorous dance cover. Choreographed by Chandraja, the dance cover exudes the dance skills of Chandraja. Matching to the rhythms of the songs, the dancers do not miss enjoying every moment of this performance. Accompanied by the perfect expressions, Namrat and Chandraja remind us of the wholesomeness of a dance cover. Moreover, with the sync and coordination that two are in, the dance becomes even more distinguished, and effortless.