RJ Syed Mohsin glides in on an IO Walk, rapping. “Are you all ready?” he calls out. Here, at Sir Mutha Venkatasubba Rao Concert Hall, the kids can’t stop screaming. They’re bouncing off their seats, and strains of ‘Closer’, a recent smash hit by The Chainsmokers, bring dancers to the stage.
A zombie act, a tiny tots ballet, teddy bears in hand, teenagers in gold, hip-hopping to Badshah’s ‘Kar Gayi Chull’ — the evening has it all. With the attractive strobe lighting and lustrous costumes that sparkle through the night, you’d think it was a nightclub. As the lady next to me screams her heart out to Ed Sheeran’s ‘Shape of You’, I’m starting to wonder if she thinks she is in a nightclub. But the crowd’s excitement is almost palpable, and who can blame them?
Dance master Balaji Badrinarayanan is adored by them all — from the students to their hordes of family members that have come to support the big night. Certified as ‘Master Trainer’ by CSTD, an Australian dance teachers’ association, he inspires the smiles, the energy, and the drive that is evident on stage.
“The dance scene in Chennai has really blossomed over the last few years and the support that we have from the families of the dancers is something else altogether,” Badrinarayanan tells us.
It’s the sixth annual showcase of the Spin Dance Studio and the variety of dances presented to the audience is astounding. Dancing to jazz, modern contemporary, and meticulously-crafted ballet, the children present a packed two-and-a-half-hour show. The dancers range from three-and-a-half-year-olds to senior students in their mid-20s, though adults are part of the studio as well.
Badrinarayanan has evolved the production over the last six years, and each year, he hopes to introduce something new to the stage. “We included a zombie dance, a theatre performance, and urban tumbling — a form of gymnastics, to this year’s showcase, and they all were very well received,” he says. With only a month of rigorous preparation for most students, the showcase is no easy feat to pull off.
It’s not enough though, and already eager for next year’s performance, Badrinarayanan sees the showcase as a work in progress. “I want to bring better technique to the stage next year and make the performances flawless.” And he doesn’t stop there.
“We were able to fuse both Western and Bollywood dance forms this time. I’d like to take it a step further and create a visual performance that really captivates you from start to finish.”
