The Great Indian Wedding Choreography!

When it comes to dancing, we, as a culture don’t really need a reason to kick off our heels and break into a jig. It may have seeped into our Saturday nights, into crowded dancing rituals at ‘discs’ or rapping to Honey Singh post 2 am at our house parties, but let’s not forget where it originally comes from.. The Great Indian Weddings!

There is nothing more fun than dancing with your family and friends to desi beats along with lots of desi tashan! So, it only makes sense that weddings, our biggest celebrations, be infused with choreography to have some coordinated thumkas!

1. Presenting…. The Bride and Groom!

Let’s admit it. We all saw Cinderella dancing with Prince Charming at the ball as kids and that has done irrevocable damage. From an elegant, fairy tale ballroom dance to a wacky Bollywood number with your friends and family… You could choose from Salsa, Waltz, Jive, Bollywood along with various uber-cool choreographed entries which are now becoming extremely popular.

2. The Good Ol’ Bollywood Medley

Don’t have a lot of time/energy/resources/patience etc. etc. to come up with an extravagant musical evening? Do you have over-enthu buas/friends/younger siblings/friends of younger siblings who have had plans of dancing at your wedding since you were 16? Then stick to the classic! Go for a basic Bollywood medley comprising of 6-10 songs. It’s short, it’s sweet and will put a big fat smile on your bua’s face. Besides, by the end of it, you might just put your own dancing juttis on!

3. Flashy Flash Mobbing

Flash Mobs are the biggest rage right now and when done at a wedding, leads to total craziness! It could be a Flash Mob proposal for the bride or the groom (C’mon ladies, it’s the 21^st century… Go down on your knees and surprise him!), surprise Flash Mobs for the guests or a cool Flash Mob Bride/Groom entry… they are super innovative and so much fun! Read more about it here 

4. Say Hello to Story-telling

Weddings are often an extension of our personality, where we are always looking for ways to make the invitations, the décor, the entertainment very personal and artistic. So, it only makes sense that the next step in our wedding celebrations would be to infuse storytelling, poetry, audio visuals or props with choreography. Personalized concepts, theme-based musical evening, mini-movies… there is just no stopping this wave of wedding creativity!

5. Read my Lips

The Lip-dub is a fun, colourful and entertaining wedding concept… and the best part is that it doesn’t take a lot of preparation time! All you need is a good video team and an extremely talented and spontaneous choreographer who can bring out the performer in you on the spot. These make for great wedding movies! Read more about the trend here 

6. Let’s get Professional!

If you are someone who’s looking at their Sangeet as nothing short of the IIFA awards, we suggest you hire a professional troupe of performers. They are larger than life, very filmi and will leave your padosis and rishtedaars star-struck!

  7. Unique Dance Floors!

A dance floor with colour-changing LED stars? It will probably give you a feeling of being of top of the world (pun intended) which you are supposed to on your wedding day! Add some zazz to the traditional Bollywood medley with an LED shimmering dance floor. Or one with water beneath you too! Read all about these colorful “get up and go” dance floors here!

 

top Tamil Choreographers

Dancer, choreographer, actor and director! India's Michael Jackson! Oops! We forgot there is picture of Prabhu Deva in this page. He is beyond comparison when it comes to dancing. Hip-hop, street dancing, western, classical... name it and he can dance. The man with the nimblest feet in Indian cinema, Prabhu Deva is an admired and respected figure in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Hindi movie circles. Though he first appeared on screen in Agni Natchatram as a dancer in the song 'Raja.. Rajathi Rajan', it was Shankar's 'Chikku Bukku Rayile' in Gentleman and 'Mukkala Mukkabla' in Kaadhalan which made Prabhu Deva a household name. He just took dancing to a different level in movies like Mr. Romeo, Love Birds and Minsara Kanavu. His special appearance in 'Key Sera Sera' alongside Madhuri Dikshit in the movie Pukar is indelible in fans' memory. Though he has acted in a lot of movies, he has always been an active choreographer.        

Tamil cinema - Dance choreography kings - Raju Sundaram & Prabhu deva

Firstly, talking about cinema and especially Tamil Cinema(India) is not to be considered gossip. The kind of activity that's happening in this industry is worth a lot of respect for the skill involved.
I am very sure, soon people are going to talk about management skills available in the tamil film industry, like they spoke about mumbai's dabbawallas last year.

Dance choreography

First and foremost are the dancers and dance choreographers of tamil cinema. And... only, Raju Sundaram and Prabhu deva in that context.
For the past 5 years whatever these fellas have done to tamil cinema songs is unforgettable... and never repeatable.
When there's a song on screen, I only watch the dancers behind the hero and /or main actors in the film. I will tell you something. Try to watch the dancers on the screen one by one and their movements. Each one's eyes, actions will reveal to you that they are enjoying the dance and all focussed on only enjoying it with perfection other than anything that's happening around them, not even looking at how the other fellow is dancing.
They are the best examples i can find in the world for team work. The best team is that of raju sundaram & prabhu deva's group. Watch two-three or 10 popular tamil songs in the same manner. You will find something interesting. The dancers in 9 out of 10 songs will be the same set, or atleast the first row of dancers will be same. They are all working for raju sundaram. Check up if you don't believe me.
And, I believe raju sundaram, and prabhu deva are one of the best managers of india.
Dance Choreography is about managing people, and making them dance... and more so its about finding steps that suits everyone's body and brings the best moves of dancer's body. Yes, there are too many parameters they keep track of, and for each actor the parameters are different.
I am totally excited about the dance in tamil films these days... I mean, even if 60-150 people dance, the choreography is like, not even a single person is out of sync or is not giving the best of him. So much involvement will happen only if everyone accepts the manager and understand the task ahead.
 

 

Bollywood Salutes Tollywood Choreographers

Bollywood Salutes Tollywood Choreographers 

The Indian film fraternity is one but then there are a few points which differentiate the north from the south. For instance, north cine circuit has been known for heroines who are bold in their exposing and their films are rich in making and glamour. South focuses more on beauty and content with subjects.

  
But here is something else wherein the south is unbeatable and even Bollywood accepts it. This is the department of choreographers. It is not just about the likes of Prabhu Deva, Raju Sundaram, Chinni Prakash or others but also the second level of choreographers who make the north stars shiver with their choreography.

The likes of Prem Rakshit, Dileep, Vidyasagar, Vijay, Imran Sardania are known for their knee-breaking and bone stretching dance moves. Till date, some of the best actors in Bollywood find it hard to match the steps with the south choreographers. As it is, technicians from the south are regarded high in Bollywood and now the choreographers have joined the list.

Top Choreographers Of Tollywood

A perfect film should be the right blend of songs, dance, screenplay etc. In this regard, the audience likes the jhatkas of the movie to a great extent. Tollywood, since its earlier days, is known for great dance moves. Though the actors and actresses take efforts to dance well, it’s the choreographers who make them dance with great fervor. Here is a list of top choreographers of Tollywood.

Prem Rakshit

He is the favorite of many in Tollywood now. He struggled in his initial days and was on the verge of giving up when a producer asked him to replace another choreographer. And from then on there is no looking back for this talented dance master. Nachore, in which NTR shook legs, is one of his best works.
Jaani Master

Jaani Master gained recognition of late and her works with Ram Charan are considered to be lucky. Laila O Lalila from Nayak, Dillaku Dillaku from Rachcha are just a couple of hits of this talented choreographer.
Raghu Master

Raghu is indeed a stylish dance master. He has won the coveted title of Dhee. The news is that he is now testing waters as a hero. Uppnantha Ee Premaki from Arya 2 is one of his greatest hits.
Ganesh Master

Coming from a poor background, this talented choreographer is very passionate about dancing. Osey Ramulamma is the flick in which he was introduced as a dance master. He is also the coveted winner of Dhee.
Raghava Lawrence

Raghavendra Lawrence has a heart-rending background;he was diagnosed with brain tumor during his childhood and he got cured through the blessings of Lord Raghavendra. Initially, he started as a car cleaner and it was superstar Rajinikanth who was instrumental in making Raghava a dance master. His film with Chiranjeevi, Hitler, was a landmark in his career.
Sundaram Master

Sundaram Master has the commendable recognition of working in around 1000 flicks in 6 Indian languages. Chiranjeevi, Nagarjuna and NT Rama Rao have shook their legs with much gusto under the choreography of Sundaram Master.
Raju Sundaram

It seems dancing is in the genes. Just like his brother Prabhu Deva, and father Sundaram, Raju Sundaram also tested waters as a choreographer. His dance sequences are crafted well and highly entertaining. Yahoon Yahoon is indeed a good choreography of Raju Sundaram.
Prabhu Deva

And here is Indian Michael Jackson. Prabhu Dev a has a soft corner of Tollywood and has choreographed quite a number of films there. Mukkabala song from the Tamil flick Kaadalan is his best assignment.
They say dance like no one watches. Hope you feel like dancing now!

 

Hip Hop Dance Choreographers

Hip hop dance choreographers have revolutionized the world of movement with their unique spin on classic steps and styles. Read on for more info on hip hop dance choreographers who have changed the face of dance history, as well as tips if you plan on becoming the next big name in the industry.

 

 

Influential Hip Hop Dance Choreographers

Since hip hop is only a few decades old, the choreographers in the industry today are still considered to be pioneers of the craft in certain circles. Michael Jackson can be credited as one early hip hop dancer and choreographer, however today's stylings and demands are much different than they were at the height of Jackson's fame in the 1980s. Hip hop dance choreographers are finding fame and recognition as creators of impressive music video sequences, as well as judges on popular dance television shows. No matter what road they take, the choreographers listed below are worthy of recognition for all they've contributed to the hip hop industry.

Shane Sparks

Born in Ohio, Sparks began dancing when he was 11 years old. He eventually moved to Los Angeles where he joined a dance troupe called Cold Krush. This team performed in talent competitions, which eventually led to his next gig as the crew transformed into a singing group called the Cold Premiere. Eventually, they broke up and Sparks went on to dance in music videos for prominent artists of the day such as Brandy Norwood.
His turn as a choreographer came when he was accidentally mistaken for a dance teacher, and asked to teach a class he was attending. He faked his way through the first portion of the class, and was then recruited by the actual teacher to be a dance assistant. He stretched the studio's capacities, bringing the hip hop class up from three students to over 175. This evolved into opportunities to choreograph for big events such as the American Music Awards, and also to work with big artists in the music industry.

The Secret To Success

If you are looking to become one of the best hip hop dance choreographers yourself, then you need to have a fair bit of drive and tenacity woven into your personality. People in this industry don't deal with niceties, instead seeking out the next great talent rather than handing out citizenship awards. If you are tough and believe you've got what it takes to make it in the hip hop world, make sure your work gets seen. Enter as many festivals and competitions as you can, and don't be afraid to get bold. The more you put yourself out there, the more likely you are to see your name in lights just like Robson, Sparks, and so many others who have come before and after them.

Choreography & Creative Movement For Kids

Choreography & Creative Movement For Kids

    

wholeheartedly believe in creative movement for young children. It’s about educating the whole child, giving them the power of choice, boosting confidence–I could go on and on. I teach children 6 and under and this is what I love to do. Do they need to know the positions, sure! Do they need to know how to build a dance, yes! Give them variety, and you will produce well rounded little people!

A few years ago, I wanted to challenge myself to put on a performance for my young students–but not in the traditional way. I was confused in my beliefs that teaching 3 year olds to stand in a line and follow my movement was not what I wanted to do in my class. But after a while, I could see the value in learning a song, and repeating choreography week after week and then performing it on stage for everyone to see.

Space + Formations
This year I have tried to mix up the formations. For my 3 and under class I put a long line on the floor with 3 colors. I give them a spot on the line, and the color they are standing on is the one they remember. It’s a sneaky way to make sure they all have enough room on the line, and if they leave the line, they know exactly where to go when it’s time to go back to the line.
If you have more than one class of 3 year olds in the same show, this line works for all of them. It really works!
For 4-6 year olds I do a little line of white tape for their spot. They can remember where they are in space much easier and then I can give them a different formation. Like 2 lines with windows, or a V formation.

Choosing Music
I think choosing the music is the hardest for me. I choose the music, marinate on it and then change my mind. I look at the show as a whole too. I notice though that I choose music that is happy and joyful for this young age group. I also choose music that Dad’s and Brothers will enjoy. Engaging the audience is the most important to think about. Also think of your sanity, if you have to listen to it for the next 14 weeks, you better like it too!
Structure of The Dance
Once you have picked your song, write down the words. Teach the words and the movement together. I write down the words in verses and then see where I can repeat. Theme and variation! In this case less is more.
If the song has an instrumental section, I tell them they get to make up their own dance there. Or, even if it doesn’t, pick a section to allow them to leave the line and share their own dancing on the stage. They leave the line, and do chasse’s, leaps, turns, plies, and passes. After the instrumental part, I cue them to go back to the line to finish the dance.

National Film Award for Best Choreography

The National Film Award for Best Choreography is one of the National Film Awards presented annually by the Directorate of Film Festivals, the organisation set up by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, India. It is one of several awards presented for feature films and awarded with Rajat Kamal (Silver Lotus).
The award was instituted in 1991 at 39th National Film Awards but awarded first time at 40th National Film Awards and then awarded annually for films produced in the year across the country, in all Indian languages.

Winners

Award includes 'Rajat Kamal' (Silver Lotus) and cash prize. Following are the award winners over the years

Filmfare Award for Best Choreography

The Filmfare Best Choreography Award is given by the Filmfare magazine as part of its annual Filmfare Awards for Hindi films.
Although the awards started in 1954, the best choreography category did not start until 1989.^[1]

Superlatives

Saroj Khan hold the record for maximum wins (8).

Saroj Khan, with eight wins, holds the record for most awards in this category. She is also the earliest recipient and has the most consecutive awards between 1989 to 1991. Farah Khan stands second with six wins. Chinni Prakash and Bosco-Caesar have won three times each. Ahmed Khan has won the award twice.
Madhuri Dixit is featured in 5 winning songs. Hrithik Roshan has been featured in 4 whereas Aishwarya Rai and Deepika Padukone are featured in 3 songs each. Raveena Tandon featured in 2 winning songs

Awards

Here is a list of the award winners and the films for which they won.