At the recently concluded India International Dance Congress held at Bengaluru, Hyderabadis bagged four titles. For Mahesh Katta and Mitali Sharma it was their first shot at IIDC and they were the second runner-up in the amateur category. While Mahesh is a Zumba trainer and choreographs for a lot of events, Mitali works with a multi-national. Mitali says, “Since there were not enough entries for Bachata, they merged it with Salsa, which has more weightage than the former; we did not expect to win. We thought we would only put up the show and come back.
Also, Mahesh and I are of the same height so when I put on heels, I stand taller than him. But we did not take it as a disadvantage. Mahesh adds, “As long as the dance show we put up is good, we don’t have to bother about anything else.” It was also the first competition for Mahesh, who admits to be “scared of competitions”. Paarijat Bose and Ezhil Velavendan won the first position in Bachata in the semi-professional category of the Asian Open Championship, their second award at IIDC. For them too, the height difference could have been a disadvantage but the Infosys colleagues took it in their stride.
Ezhil says, “I am 5’ 11” and she is 5 feet tall so height was a concern. But with time, we found ways to live with it.” Paarijat adds, “Now this has become an advantage and we got used to the chemistry.” All four of them had to finish their work commitments and find time for dance practice. Sometimes they would practise till late night and wake up early morning again to continue. They also designed their costumes. Ezhil adds, “One of our greatest inspirations and 20-time world champion, Alien Ramirez, gave us the trophy.”
Paarijat and Ezhil have qualified for the World Championship. “If we get sponsorship, even if the World Championship is held abroad, we could go and compete,” adds Paarijat.
Sanjay MJ has been a regular at IIDC. He bagged the second runners-up position in professional solo category and was also the second runner-up in the professional Bachata category with his partner Jags. “The professional category is the toughest as you have people with years of experience from all across Asia competing for the title. Jags and I wouldn’t get time every day, so we would meet over weekends and practise. We weren’t ready even till the last minute and were planning parts of the choreography while we travelled. Everything fell in place in the last minute,” says Sanjay.
IIDC is an expensive affair keeping in mind the registration fee, cost of staying in a different city etc. And the prize money of '10,000 doesn’t make up for it. “It is not about the money. As an artiste, for me, it is all about being there on that stage competing at that level. When people applaud you for your work, the respect you earn means more than the money,” says Sanjay adding, “I was also spellbound to meet Eddie Torres, the Mambo king. People, who’s work we generally look up to and follow on YouTube were there in front of us.”
