Top 10 Choreographers In India | 2015

1. Prabhu Deva

Known for his works predominantly in Tamil, Telugu, Bollywood, Malayalam and Kannada films. In a career spanning twenty-five years, he has performed and designed a wide range of dancing styles. He has garnered two National Film Awards for Best Choreography; widely referred in the media as Indian Michael Jackson.
Beginning with a series of acting roles in the 1990s and early 2000s including Kadhalan (1994), Love Birds (1996), Minsara Kanavu (1997), Kaathala Kaathala (1998) and Vanathai Pola (2000), Deva then ventured into direction with the 2005 Telugu film Nuvvostanante Nenoddantana. He then went on to direct films in Telugu, Hindi and Tamil languages such as Shankardada Zindabad (2007), Pokkiri (2007), Wanted (2009), Rowdy Rathore (2012) and R… Rajkumar (2013), he appeared in ABCD and ABCD2.

2. Shiamak Davar

He’s one of the first to bring contemporary jazz and western forms of dances to India. He is known as the Guru of Contemporary dance in India. He is responsible for modernizing India’s dance scene especially in the film and theatre industry, and is respected for his ever evolving and very popular “Shiamak Style” of dance. He was also the Director of Choreography for the Commonwealth Games, Melbourne, and Commonwealth Games, Delhi. He recently choreographed the dance sequences for the movie Mission Impossible 4.

3. Saroj Khan

Nirmala Kishanchand Sadhu Singh Nagpal popularly known as Saroj Khan (born 22 November 1948) is one of the most prominent Indian dance choreographers in Hindi cinema. She choreographed more than 2000 films. Saroj Khan was born to Kishanchand Sadhu Singh and Noni Sadhu Singh. She is married to a Muslim, Sardar Roshan Khan and that is where her last name Khan comes from.

4. Remo D’Souza

Although he is mainly involved in choreography, he has also contributed to other Indian film industries. He made India’s first 3D dance movie, ABCD – AnyBody Can Dance, with contestants from series 1 and 2 of Dance India Dance (Dharmesh Yelande, Salman Khan, Bhavna and Prince) and Prabhu Deva and Lauren Gottlieb from So You Think You Can Dance. His next directorial venture ABCD 2 was released in June 2015. It has grossed Rs. 100 crore within 1 week, having a budget of Rs. 65 crore.

5. Terence Lewis

He’s specialized in contemporary dance. He is known as a choreographer and judge in reality dance series. Dance India Dance Season 1, 2, 3, He runs his ‘Terence Lewis Contemporary Dance Company’ in Mumbai, holds dance workshops both in India and abroad. He has choreographed Bollywood films like, Lagaan (2001), Jhankaar Beats (2003) and Naach (2004), apart from musicals, stage shows, ads, music videos and national and international dance competitions. He won the 2002 American Choreography Award for his choreography for songs of the movie Lagaan along with Saroj Khan, Raju Khan, Ganesh Hegde and Vaibhavi Merchant.

6. Ganesh Hegde

Hegde is best known for his work in the Oscar-nominated film Lagaan and for his musical numbers in Company. Ganesh has choreographed many stage shows, namely Temptations 2004, the Bollywood rock concert.

7. Vaibhavi Merchant

She began her career by assisting her uncle Chinni Prakash. Her first solo work was the choreography for the song “Dhol Baaje” for the film Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. She won a National Film Award for her work. She took a short break from the industry and then returned with the song “‘O Ri Chhori'” in the 2001 film Lagaan. The then performed “Kajra re….” from Bunty Aur Babli (2005) that fetched her several awards. She has been a judge on the television dance show Nach Baliye 3, Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa (season 3), Zara Nach Ke Dikha 2, and Just Dance.

8. Ganesh Acharya

He has choreographed for Bodyguard and Singham amongst others. He has also appeared in numerous music videos for films. He opened out as a film actor with the 2013 dance film ABCD: Any Body Can Dance. He won the National Film Award for Best Choreography at 61st National Film Awards for his work for song “Masthon Ka Jhund” from 2014 movie “Bhaag Milka Bhaag”.

9. Farah Khan

She has choreographed dance routines for more than a hundred songs in over 80 Hindi films. She has since become a film director as well. In addition, she has worked on international projects such as Marigold: An Adventure in India, Monsoon Wedding and the Chinese film Perhaps Love.

10. Ahmed Khan

Khan began as a child actor playing small roles in films like Raakh. He played an orphan boy in his debut film, Mr. India and worked as choreographer’s assistant in Anjaam. He choreographed for films such as Rangeela, Taal, Ghajini and Kick.