Tapping in Commitment

All the hard work ensured that these dancers tapped their way into the quarter finals of the reality show,India’s Got Talent which was aired on Saturday. The DanceOceans group auditioned for the show with a choreography piece which was a fluid blend of tap,stomp,and jazz. “We had planned a year back that our students should participate on a national platform like India’s Got Talent,so we started auditioning within the dance school to look for students with the required commitment and passion,” says Maushmi Samant,director and choreographer,DanceOceans. The 13-member group consists of members in the age group of 10 to 24. “It was quite an ordeal to gain confidence in tap dance in one-and-a-half months and then teach the rest of the group. Syncronisation and rhythm creation is very difficult in a group,” says 24-year-old-trainer and member of the group,Jeetu Pardesi. Students in the group were given special permission by their schools regarding examinations and attendance. But they still made it a point not to compromise on their studies,even while clocking 12-13 hours of practice everyday for the past six months. “I get up at 4 am and study till I have to get ready and go to school. I have to travel by train from Dehu Road,my home,to the dance class in Sadashiv Peth,so I have my lunch while travelling,” said 10-year-old Samridhi Singh,member of the DanceOceans group.