"Ballet, jazz, tap, modern and urban dance forms have emerged from each other even though they are completely different in their movements and style. The human body, after all, is the same," says Tanushree Dhaundiyal. She speaks from experience, for, before going on to train in four of the five styles she mentions, she devoted seven years to mastering Odissi. Dhaundiyal co-founded the Bandra-based TR Dance Company with industry veteran and tap expert Rahul D'lima 10 years ago. This evening, students of the academy will present a showcase of the styles they have trained in at an event titled Paris to New York.

"Paris is where ballet was institutionalised, and jazz became well-known in New York. Between the two continents, we have the story of the evolution of tap, modern-contemporary and urban dance styles as well," shares Dhaundiyal, as she takes us through a brief history of the forms. "Ballet was born in the royal courts of Europe, and though it is a beautiful art form, it is also very strict. You need to have a petite frame to be a ballerina, and dancers with broad hips, for instance, cannot train in ballet," she tells us.