If you have been in the dance circuit in Mumbai, chances are you would have known Terrence Lewis. But today, whole of India knows him. And that’s because of the new reality dance show, Dance India Dance on Zee TV.
As one of the choreographer judges in the serial, Lewis has become a household name. But the man has been around for many years now. Lewis runs a very successful dance school in Juhu, Mumbai and has had a successful run as a Bollywood choreographer and contemporary dance instructor in Mumbai.
About Terence Lewis
If you recall watching Antara Mali dance in the Ram Gopal Varma directed film, Naach or Rachel Shelley and Aamir Khan do the Viennese Waltz in Lagaan, then you should know that the two were choreographed by Lewis.
Apart from these he has also been the personal trainer for a host of Bollywood celebrities. His clients include the likes of Madhuri Dixit, Mallaika Arora Khan, Suzanne Khan Roshan, Gauri Khan, Antara Mali and many others.
But not many would know that the man is an exceptionally gifted dancer having trained in jazz and ballet and today is an acclaimed contemporary dancer.
He also trained at the Alvin Ailey & Broadway Dance School in New York and was the first Indian to win the prestigious Dance WEB Scholarship, representing India at Vienna, Austria.
Scholarship programme
In 2005, he started his academy, the Terence Lewis Dance Foundation. The foundation has been training dancers and also runs scholarship programmes for those who wish to take it up as a career option.
Called the Terence Lewis Dance Foundation Scholarship Trust (TLDFS), it offers one year diploma course which is part funded by the foundation. While the full programme is priced at Rs 1, 50,000, the students’ fee is to the tune of Rs 80,000.
This is an annual fee but for the convenience of the students, the foundation is open to taking the money in installments as well.
The course
The year-long programme will include training in various dance forms, both western and Indian-with a special focus on contemporary styles.
The students will learn Contemporary, Jazz Ballet, Ballet, Bharatnatyam, Kathak, Salsa, Hip Hop, Martial Arts and movement, Dance Theory and Pedagogy.
What is dance theory and pedagogy? Well, basically at the end of the year, there will be written examination where understanding of dance history and styles would be questioned.
Simply put, pedagogy is the science of teaching. This course would teach the students the techniques of teaching dance. Creative teaching to handle kids and adults to be precise.
Venue
While entries are being sort from all over the country, the training would happen in Mumbai. However, for outstation students, the foundation can facilitate lodging and food requirements.
Selection procedure
Starting June 15, 2009, the foundation will start taking in calls from participants. All you need to do is call the foundation and fix a time for the audition. You would be required to take a two-minute dance piece along.
There will be four rounds of audition in all based on which a bunch of 20 students would be selected.
There are no pre-requisites for entry, as in you do not need to be a trained dancer for instance. However, beginners are not encouraged as this course is meant for dancers with a certain level of maturity and competence. The selectors would naturally look for your interest in dance and the distinct quality you bring to the table like stage presence and appeal for instance.
The auditions would be on for two months before the final cut is made. The auditions are free and enthusiasts are expected to call and fix up a time. Each potential student would be allotted a maximum of 15 minutes. The timings for auditions are 10.30 am to 4 pm; four – five times in a week.
Career options
While dance as often seen as a hobby, the idea of a course like this is to train people to take to dance as a full-time occupation. Today, dancers are needed not just in Bollywood but in corporate shows as well. There is a big demand for professional dancers for corporate presentations.
The best dancers from this batch will be given the option to join Terence Lewis Dance Company.
So what are you waiting for? Go, grab your dancing shoes and get going.
