Recently, choreographer Sandip Spoarrkar won the Rabindranath Tagore Literary Prize 2020, this award is one of the prestigious ones in the country. And what makes this victory all the more special for Sandip is that he the first choreographer to win this award. Sandip won this award for his social initiative Dance for a cause and sharing his joy with Instafeed in an interview the choreographer speaks his heart out. Read on…
How did you feel when you heard about receiving this award?
When I got a call from Denmark regarding this award, first, I thought someone was joking with me. Because no dancer or choreographer has ever won this award. It is a very big thing for any dancer to receive this award. So first I thought some friends were making fun of me since it was time for the announcement. But when I received the press release of this for proofreading, that is when I realized that it is true. First time when this was announced I was very happy. Dance For A Cause is my initiative and receiving an award for it makes me feel very happy.
Sandip you have seen lots of ups and downs in your life, how did you manage to hold yourself through this?
I have always believed that dance is like a Laxman Rekha and like Karan’s golden cover, that keeps you safe. Till the time Sita didn’t cross the Laxman Rekha and Karan didn’t remove the golden cover, they were safe. Similarly, dance is like a protective cover that keeps you away from negative things. While wearing this, your failure or success will not influence you much. Dance gives you a balance and that is what I also did. Whenever I faced some downs in my life, I danced a lot, some for myself and some for other things. I danced a lot in my home so that I stay away from negativity.
Those who aspire to make a career in dancing what would you like to tell them?
Whoever wants to be a dancer or choreographer, I would like to tell them do whatever makes you happy. But do not leave your studies. I did a hotel management course and also an MBA in marketing, and both these things came in handy for me other than dance. Even your parents' blessings are important, you cannot succeed if you hurt them. In fact, try and convince them about it and then proceed. Don’t fulfill your aspirations of becoming a dancer like a reality show, but like dance only.
How did the lockdown impact you both personally and professionally?
I enjoyed a lot during the lockdown. I was traveling so much. But with the lockdown, I got to spend 6 to 8 months with my parents and I felt so nice. Revisiting old memories, cooking food for one another, talking about childhood, etc. Made the time worthwhile. But now that the lockdown is over and my parents have gone back to their other home, so I feel that if lockdown happens again it will be so nice.
Tell us something about your upcoming projects?
Some of my films were going to release, but due to the lockdown they got shifted to the next year. 4 of my films will release, during this time I lost 2-3 songs. I also have some stage shows, from them one is called Namaami Gange that I am doing with Hema Malini. We had started it in January-February, now after the lockdown, we will continue with it. After this there is another show that we plan to do, it is called Life Of The Karan. I hope 2021 brings lots of happiness for all of us.
You have been a judge on several TV shows, you have also worked on films, what from these according to you is more challenging?
Whatever I have done has been quite challenging in different ways. In the beginning when I did theatre I found it very difficult as compared to dance. After this when I started to choreograph things were different. Then I had a radio show called Aao Twist Karein, in that I faced difficulty in playing with my voice.
Written by Nawaz Kochra