Tell us about how you developed a love for dance
My history with dance is chequered. As a child, when I watched someone in my building do Bharatanatyam, I told my mother I wanted to learn it and did so for a few years. Later in life, I came across Padma Shri Dr. Ileana Citaristi, an Odissi and Chhau exponent, under whose guidance I learnt Chhau. I also joined Shiamak Davar’s academy and in 1999, started doing serious Latin ballroom dancing with Sandip Soparrkar. Having learnt the Argentine tango for 12 years, it is a dance form I am a senior artiste in. And now, my love for Cuban and African music took me to a workshop by choreographer Namrata Wittke, who introduced me to African rumba.

How did the performance this evening come about?
African rumba is a very earthy dance. You use your shoulders beautifully, as well as the chest and hips. It is sensual, aggressive and weaves in a love for rhythm. Namrata learnt it from the best of teachers in New York and shared the knowledge with us. And we thought it's time to showcase it in Mumbai.