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Posted: 14 years ago

Neil Bhatt talks dance

Natasha Coutinho/Hill Road Media

Neil Bhatt who has charmed everyone with his performance as Kesar from Gulaal, is an excellent dancer and has also been a choreographer during his college days. His list of achievements includes winning the popular dance show Boogie Woogie. The nimble footed Neil shares his journey as a dancer with us.

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When did you realize that you are passionate about dance?
I have been dancing since childhood. My mom used to participate in many dance competitions during her college days and she was an inspiration. However it was after watching my young sister performing a classical dance on stage that I decided to pursue dance seriously. I have not undergone any professional training but learnt by watching Michael Jackson and Prabhu Deva's videos. I used to keep rewinding and watch their moves in slow motion.

Tell us about your experience as a choreographer?
I worked as a trainer at a gym in Breach Candy, Mumbai. I used to also teach dance in a school. Later I started choreographing performances for my college.

Which are your favourite dance forms and which ones do you find tough?
I believe that all dance forms are tough. However I am one of those people who can pick up choreographed steps quickly. Many of my co-dancers have pointed that out and complimented me for that trait. So if someone shows me the steps of any dance I may be able to pick it up no matter how tough it is. My favourite dance styles are hip-hop and contemporary.

Which has been your most memorable performance till date?
There used to be this show Kaboom that aired on STAR Plus and I had performed in an episode. Incidentally I had performed on the number choreographed by Prabhu Deva 'Main Aisa Kyun Hoon' in an episode where he was the special guest. At the time, Prabhu Deva had just won the National award for that song. Everyone praised my performance and later Prabhu Deva complimented me saying that ,they had shot that song in four days while I performed the same steps at one go. That compliment is unforgettable since it came from my idol. Ravi and Naved liked my performance in Kaboom and asked me to participate in Boogie Woogie, where I emerged as one of the winners.

How did the transition from dancing to acting happen?
I always wanted to be an actor. Since I had proved my self as a dancer my next step was getting into acting. I got that opportunity when I was offered my first show Arsalaan.

Now that you are doing a daily soap do you find enough time to practice dance?
You will usually find me dancing in between the shots. My co-stars have now started complaining that although they like watching me, my dance moves distract them (laughs).

Just Dance begins tomorrow, what tips will you offer to the contestants?
One thing that I have learnt from my journey as a dancer is at that you should never be conscious of your body while dancing. Just feel free and move your body to the beats of the song. Most people feel conscious and are worried that they are looking awkward while dancing. I overcame that fear and so should each of you.