Choreographer Sashin Kandhai is giving Indian and South African dance a platform on the reality TV show “Dance Naija Dance” on Zee World on DStv.
Kandhai, who was raised in Chatsworth in Durban, is now based in Johannesburg.
The 30-year-old studied for a bachelor of social sciences in media marketing and dramatic arts from 2011 to 2013 at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. But his heart, he said, lay with dance.
“Dance and choreography, together with a host of other things related to the entertainment industry, are my bread and butter. I’ve worked hard over the years to ensure I could turn to my passion.
“To be honest, I have never had formal dance training. The arts was never a career option for me as a young brown boy, so I never attended dance schools while growing up. However, the heart wants what it wants, and so I pushed past all the naysayers and chased my dream.
“I was always a quick learner and my body always understood movement, so I made it my mission to learn as much as I could from as many people as I could. I performed with senior dancers, some of the best choreographers in business locally and internationally, and artists who were inspirational and masters at their craft.
“Through years of experience I was able to gain the knowledge, create my own style of dance and choreography, and I won three dance championships along the way.”
He said he knew he wanted to dance after his paternal grandmother played videotapes of Bollywood from the ’60s.
“I was mesmerised by what I saw and often copied what actors like Shammi Kapoor did in his songs. It was my world of escape and my happy place. That was when I knew I wanted to be a part of this world.
“To perform, to entertain, to bring joy to audiences. I wanted to be like Shammi. I wanted to be a star. Funny enough, the dream began with me wanting to be an actor, which is still on my to-do list, but dance and choreography found me first. It became a lifestyle which has given me some of the most rewarding and wholesome experiences.”
Earlier this year, Zee Entertainment launched “Dance Naija Dance” in Nigeria. This show is an extension of its success in India, Singapore and across more than 50 countries in Africa last year. The reality dance competition aims to find the best dance crew in Nigeria.
“On the show, we have our resident DJ, two hosts and two judges. We also have two choreographers; one who specialises in the African style of dance and another who specialises in Bollywood/Indian dance styles. That’s where I come in.
“It is my job to be an ambassador for Indian dance and facilitate the fusion of Afro and Indian music and dance, while also throwing in some South African spice. We are called mentors because that is what we are to the teams competing. We guide, motivate and mould them into the best versions of themselves on and off the ‘Dance Naija Dance’ stage.”
His TV journey began last year when Zee Entertainment developed “Dance Africa Dance” with Urban Brew Studios. They approached him to be part of the show as a choreographer and mentor.
“The show was the first of its kind and something new for me, so I gave the project everything I had and more. I remember being at a local pageant last year when a member of the Zee team asked if I would be open to going to Nigeria for a month. I said ‘yes’, thinking what are the chances, and 20 episodes later here we are. I am eternally grateful.”
Kandhai said he enjoyed working with the different dance crews on the show.
“We started the show with 16 teams who battled to the finale. Watching them fall in love with Bollywood music and Indian dance was beautiful. They were open to learning from me and were appreciative of everything I had to offer.
“Towards the end of the project, I found myself not just being a choreographer but a friend, a teacher, a disciplinarian, a counsellor. I basically became a dance dad to the teams.
“They are talented performers and masterful storytellers. One of the best parts of this journey was sharing our stories through dance and learning from each other as we went along. You have to watch the incredible performances they have given on this show.”
“Dance Naija Dance” screens on Zee World on DStv channel 166.
Kandhai is currently working in film.
“I have just wrapped up work on a feature film which I spent the last few months choreographing in Durban. You will hear more about that in the months ahead. My next adventure takes me to Dubai. There are a few things in the UAE pipeline, but I’m most excited about the theatre work I will be doing. It’s a project that is out of my comfort zone as a choreographer and it will also allow me to do some acting.
“After that, perhaps another dance show in another African country? Having recently turned 30, I have new goals and personal and professional plans. With God’s grace, the next 10 years will be even more rewarding than the last,” said Kandhai.
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