‘Item number is just a name’

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Step Up Revolution

When he came into the industry back in the 90s, Shiamak Davar’s dancing style was as ‘different’ as his name. At a time when running around trees was dance and hundreds of background dancers tiringly rehashed stock steps, Shiamak gave Bollywood Dil To Pagal Hai.

Soon, the Shiamak Davar Institute of Performing Arts slowly took shape, bustling with young aspiring dancers who took the world stage by storm at various award and international shows.
More than a decade later, the dance guru still feels that there is a lot to be done. “We have enormous talent in the country but there are not many platforms where these people can be professionally trained. We have dancers learning from TV shows and there are inspiring stories everywhere, but we need to have institutes that can train dancers — dancers who know all the technicalities and nuances of a form.”
Highly impressed with the upcoming cult dance movie StepUp Revolution, Shiamak says, “When it comes to dance, this movie has moves that people have never seen before. Movies based on dance have more or less similar storylines, but I am looking forward to this one.”
The man who has been credited with bringing international dance ballet and dance theatricals to India now wishes to bring in a change by introducing multi-styles. “Different dance forms are incorporated and presented as one. I wish to publicise this form of dancing more in this country.”
Fortunately or unfortunately, Bollywood sets trends for dance styles in India. Item numbers now seem like the order of the day. Does it bother him? “Item number is just a name that has been associated with sleaze in many ways. Look at Katrina Kaif in Chikni Chameli — she looks amazing and dances with such grace.