Discover Dance, Digging Deeper: Dhruv Naik

Company Member, Purawai Vyas has written about her experience of the September 2022 edition of Discover Dance, with special guest Dhruv Naik.

Purawai’s experience

Watching Dhruv dance was such a joy. He spoke about the importance of storytelling through Bollywood dance. As language can sometimes be a barrier when performing Bollywood dance, (a dance form performed to mostly to Hindi film songs) the use of facial expressions becomes very important to tell the story of each song in the context of the film. Dhruv danced to three different pieces with different costumes for each: a traditional Bollywood song in a colorful skirt, a folk song in a bright red kedhyu (Gujarati folk wear; gathered frock), and a western/modern song in a shimmery-sequined jacket. The way the costumes flowed, the use of props such as the dandiya (sticks) and the joy and energy in each dance sequence made me want to get up and dance along. The folk dance was called garba-raas, a community dance, celebrating a goddess and the triumph of good vs evil. It was interesting to hear Dhruv speak about how Bollywood dance inspired by folk and classical dance can hold both sensuality and spirituality at the same time. 

Dhruv also spoke about his journey to becoming a full-time dance artist. It was inspiring to hear that dance was always a constant, and that his passion and steady recognition of his work were the driving factors to choosing dance as a career. Dhruv spoke about Bollywood dance being a non-technical form; that it drew influence from other dance forms and as an artist it is important for him to respect all dance forms. Being in many competitive dance settings, Dhruv described “faking it until you make it” was sometimes the only option but being curious and learning about the dance form that Bollywood was drawing from was important to him. Dhruv’s performance reminded me of the pleasure and gratification of song and dance! 

“Dhruv’s performance reminded me of the pleasure and gratification of song and dance!”

“I had contracted COVID for the first time and was lying on a couch watching Dhruv’s Discover Dance and his exuberant and joyful dancing pulled me right out of my misery!  I was particularly moved when Dhruv spoke about how challenging it can be to find spaces where he can dance and dress his true self in safety.  Watching Bollywood movies at cinemas in Little India were the first time I saw a volume of people who looked like me dancing, it was profoundly inspiring.  I’m so happy that we were able to share Dhruv’s dancing and knowledge of Bollywood’s origins with everyone.”

- Nova Bhattacharya 

“Watching Dhruv reminded me that for young South Asian kids like myself having grown up so far from the motherland, we found community and belonging in Bollywood films.  It was this place of escape and joy, where love was celebrated, dancing to music was a mandatory integration and unapologetically kept my pride towards culture uplifted.  I listened to Madhuri Dixit songs on my drive home that day”. 

- Neena Jayarajan