shot-button
Subscription Subscription
Home > Lifestyle News > Culture News > Article > Web film celebrates the journey of two young male Navi Mumbai ballet dancers

Web film celebrates the journey of two young, male Navi Mumbai ballet dancers

Updated on: 07 November,2016 10:05 AM IST  | 
Suprita Mitter |

Two boys flying, swivelling around mid-air and then getting into an Arabesque (a ballet position where the dancer stands on one leg with raised leg extended in straight line to rear and foot pointed) made a riveting montage in the latest film by 101India

Web film celebrates the journey of two young, male Navi Mumbai ballet dancers


Manish Chauhan


Two boys flying, swivelling around mid-air and then getting into an Arabesque (a ballet position where the dancer stands on one leg with raised leg extended in straight line to rear and foot pointed) made a riveting montage in the latest film by 101India. Titled The Ballerinos of Navi Mumbai, the six-minute film by the portal that focuses on youth-centric content, tells the story of two kids who hail from chawls and have excelled in Ballet, a dance form conventionally associated with women. Defying the gender stereotype and battling the odds of social strata 21-year-old Manish Chauhan and 15-year-old Amir Shah were discovered by Ballet trainer Yehuda Maor. Both have bagged a year-long scholarship at a ballet school in Portland.



Starting steps
“I did Ballet myself, long back. We scour newspapers; we look for stories that are cross-cultural and left of centre. We knew someone who recommended the boys to us for their unique stories. Their real story had a potent mix of drama and the ability to inspire. That’s how we decided to make the film,” says chief creative officer, Cyrus Oshidar. “The boys are now in the process of getting a visa. The last time they were offered a full scholarship from another American school and couldn’t make it because they didn’t get a visa. They are really worried this time,” he adds.


Amiruddin Shah

When we tried to reach the boys and their teacher we learnt just how paranoid they were. After several hours of being told that he and Shah were in a queue and were then sent back to arrange for missing documents, we finally got through Chauhan. “There is no scope for Ballet in India. I hope this scholarship works out,” says Chauhan in a mix of Hindi and English. “I didn’t want to dance. I was more interested in doing stunts and back flips like I had seen Akshay Kumar do in a film,” he reveals bursting out into peals of laughter. His honesty strikes a chord almost immediately when he tells us that he found the terms in Ballet the toughest to understand.

“I auditioned for a reality show and was told that I should get professional training. The fees at classes run by big choreographers were too high for me to afford. Danceworx was comparatively not as expensive. When I began classes, Ashley Lobo spotted me and offered me a scholarship. He introduced me to Yehuda sir who said I was good but needed more practice,” admits Chauhan. “He is the one who found Amir too. He noticed his feet would be ideal for Ballet,” he adds. Chauhan, whose father is a cab driver, is yet to finish his BMS (Bachelors in Management Studies). Shah has only studied till the ninth grade.

“I used to do cartwheels and flips at a park near my house. My brother was an instructor at Danceworx and they needed someone to do cartwheels for a production. That’s how I started training. I would say I’m going to classes at home and head to dance classes instead. I love dance and am not very interested in studies. I was doing my stretches after a workout when Yehuda Sir looked at me and said, point your toes. I didn’t know much English then so didn’t understand what he was saying. Later the other instructors told me he was saying that I have perfect Ballet feet which are not common in India,” says Shah, with disarming innocence. “I had never seen or heard about ballet before, I confused it with Belly dancing and thought it was for girls. But because of Sir, I now know better,” he adds with a giggle.

Dance against the odds
Chauhan whose mother is teary eyed in the video as she talks about stitching his worn out shoes each time he needs to attend Ballet class, is keen to work hard and get absorbed by a dance company in America. “I want to get a job with a dance company that travels. Dancers get a salary when they are employed by the company, unlike in India,” he shares. Their teacher, a media-shy Maor was difficult to trace. When we did manage to get him to talk about the boys, we didn’t miss the pride in his voice. “Manish is great with jumps, stunts and tricks while Amir is more artistic. They have tough lives but didn’t miss a class. Their focus strengthened the relationship.”

From the master
‘Their muscle structure and feet with a high arch that allow the body to go all the way up are gifts from god. I hope the visa isn’t a problem this time. They will get a good life, education and great training if this opportunity materialises. It’s only the beginning,’ says Maor, his voice overcome with emotion over the phone line.

Log on to: www.101india.com
The film goes live tomorrow

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!


Mid-Day Web Stories

Mid-Day Web Stories

This website uses cookie or similar technologies, to enhance your browsing experience and provide personalised recommendations. By continuing to use our website, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. OK