Eager to be part of India’s Best Dancer season two, choreographer Geeta Kapur says she has learnt of new styles from contestants while judging dance reality shows
Geeta Kapur
It’s not uncommon to hear Geeta Kapur go, “Stupendo fantabulously phantasmagorically magical” when she is overwhelmed by a performance. But Geeta Maa, as people fondly call her, is equally critical while judging dance reality shows. As a judge, she believes it is her duty to nudge dancers in the right direction. After wrapping up the fourth season of Super Dancer, the choreographer-dancer is now moving on to the second season of India’s Best Dancer. In a chat with mid-day, she discusses how the reality shows are as much a learning experience for her as for the contestants.
Edited excerpts from the interview:
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Judging reality show after show, do you run out of compliments to give?
Everybody is different, so no two compliments will be the same, especially if they’re genuine. I believe in being honest. Back in the day, we knew of only four styles; right now, the kids are experimenting with so many dance forms. I prep at home before going on the set, or I’d look foolish. If I see a unique [dance form] and don’t know of it, I discuss it with the dancers or the super gurus for more knowledge. In the last dance show, Tushar [Shetty, choreographer] did Chicago style-step. I asked him what it was because I knew of Chicago, the city. I then discovered that Chicago Hip-Hoppers has created their own step and named it thus.
In Super Dancer, they introduced 75 different dance styles in a special episode. How many did you know of beforehand?
I didn’t shoot for that episode, but I caught up on it on television. I knew a lot of them, but there are only a few that I can do. I know a lot theoretically, but practically I am not good at many of them.
Over the years, have you tried out any new styles besides classical dancing, which is your forte?
I have tried contemporary and a fusion of hip-hop. While doing films, we used to fuse a lot of ideas and styles. Bollywood [dance] is not exactly rigid. So, I learnt to break the discipline and pick up more styles, and became good at it, which is why I [still get] work offers.
In the past, judges have often said that they feel unworthy of judging some contestants. What is your stand?
I feel honoured because it is rare to get such an opportunity to observe and learn. I never say, ‘Hamari aukat nahin hai’, but I feel grateful that the contestants are accepting [our verdict] despite knowing that if they call us on stage, [we may not be able to do it]. Anurag dada [Basu] blatantly says that he is scared they might just ask us to come on stage and do it. I feel I could [match steps] with them. Right now, I am not doing performances because I have a slipped disc. Once it heals, I want to learn [styles] that don’t look ugly on me.
Do you feel any dance style would look “ugly” on you?
I have only tried things within my limitations. Sometimes, I have also tried things knowing that they may not look good on me. At such times, I could sense my body language is not correct, or the required discipline is not there. When your body is not adapted to a [dance] style, the awkwardness shows. It also [may amount to] disrespecting the people who created the style. Making a mockery of something someone had worked so hard to put together, seems incorrect.
The last film you choreographed was Happy New Year (2014). Have you left your career as a film choreographer behind?
I got a lot of work offers post Happy New Year, but my mother fell ill from 2019 and was hospitalised. So, I was only doing reality shows at the time. In June, I helped in choreographing [a song] for Sooryavanshi. I am an old-school choreographer and love to do songs with romance and montage. But right now, everyone wants to do hip-hop and other things, which I don’t find inspiring.
Also read: Geeta Kapur pens a heartfelt note for co-judge Nora Fatehi
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