Media
FESTIVAL DIARY
An evening of dance
Shreya Bhandary & Pratibha Masand | TNN
Jazzed up
But the crowd assembled around the amphitheatre cheered their loudest best when a dance performance put up by the city-based Split Sole Dance Academy was presented in four parts. including jazz funk, old school and lyrical jazz. The crowd ‘oohed’ and ‘aahed’ every time 23-year-old Dheeraj Bakshi (the main performer) accomplished a perticularly difficult split or a pirouette without a hitch. Actor Sonam Kapoor was in the audience, wildly cheering on the troupe.
The "mumbaikar.com" Kala Ghoda Arts Festival reads :
The next to rock the stage came Split Sole Dance Academy (Jazz Funk which was described in the last blog) They managed to gain a lot of roars from the crowd. I think the performance speaks a lot for them rather than my words.
"The SSDA repertory is a team of highly proficient dancers presenting cutting edge choreography. Such beauty and excellence surely comes at the price of a split sole!"
A NIGHT OF JAZZ FUNK!
Shreya Bhandary, TNN Feb 6, 2011, 07.08am IST
Jazz and Hip Hop
The troupe from Split Sole Dance Academy stole the show with a unique 'jazz funk' performance. Dhiraj Bakshi, the academy's artistic director, said: "We tried to mix the technique of jazz with the rhythm of hip hop."
The Asian Age
Footnote
Sourendra Kumar Das, 25th February, 2010,
JAZZ METHOD + HIP HOP FUNK = JAZZ FUNK
Prior to the 1950s, jazz dance was referred to dance styles that originated from African American vernacular. Jazz has become one of the most popular dance styles in recent years, mainly due to its popularity on television shows, movies, music.
In India, this style was first brought down by Dhiraj Bakshi, founder of Split Sole Dance Academy (SSDA) in Mumbai. SSDA is a jazz-based dance academy with strong technique to teach different forms of jazz such as jazz funk, along with lyrical and contemporary dance forms.
Jazz funk is a recently evolved dance form in the 20th century. It is a combination of two genres; it takes the technique of jazz and the funk of hip hop.
What Mr. Bakshi teaches ii the LA style of jazz funk which is more of “Hit and Melt”. As a form it is visually close to hip hop but is more technically inclined, it has the element of jazz which is visible in the lines, pirouettes etc. It also shares the musicality of hip hop.
Mr. Bakshi does this recently evolved form of dance with a lot of spunk, attitude and style while being grounded to the old school technique.Mr. Bakshi does this recently evolved form of dance with a lot of spunk, attitude and style while being grounded to the old school technique.
Mr. Bakshi tells us more about his background and talks about how he took to dancing jazz funk. “Dance is an art form which was introduced to me at a very young age. I started to work towards becoming a trained dancer back then. We believe one must always dance as though they were a child a heart and a professional in style, master in technique and an explorer of the inner self and creative mind.” says Mr. Bakshi.
He has been trained in ballet, contemporary, jazz funk, lyrical and multiple ballroom styles. He has attended an array of workshops with international instructors from all over the world that includes Jann Freeman, Suraiya Franco, Jacqueline Bird, and the like who come from the very cultured background of dance and are reputed teachers worldwide. He feels this has given him a great deal of international experience and explosure in his work of art.
During his training years he realized a lot of facts about jazz funk. He was trained as a dancer in multiple dance forms like ballet, jazz, contemporary for the past decade. “I was introduced to jazz funk four years ago and I had an instant connection with it. What appeals to me about jazz funk is that it is a new evolved form which is done with a lot of spunk”, says Mr. Bakshi.
Mr. Bakshi states that there are various reasons for one to dance, love and be passionate about it. “We do all of this with two important elements, which is fun and discipline. They might be antonyms at some level but when put together they create miraculous work of art. Jazz funk helps you get rid of your inhibitions, helps you workout and remain fit. You work on your flexibility and strength at the same time, along with doing a cardio vascular exercise and you definitely enjoy it. It is essential for you to know the vocabulary of dance so that you are aware of what you are being made to do.” says Mr. Bakshi.
He has performed center stage at a number of shows, along with being a performer. Dhiraj has choreographed for varios college festivals in Mumbai like Malhar and innumerous stage shows. He has successfully conducted workshops in major cities of India like Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, and the likes. Recently, Mr. Bakshi conducted a workshop at Sophia College at their cultural festival Kaleidoscope and Salsa Fiesta, a dance festival. He is currently a dance faculty member at Terrence Lewis’ Contemporary Dance Company and has also trained company members of Salsa India Productions Ltd.
Mr. Bakshi feels a lot of India’s youth like hip hop as a dance form and want to learn and do things that are of international standards. “What they fail to understand is that there is little one can do without the right technical knowledge. Hence dance forms like jazz build the technique in a dancer which makes them sound and capable of doing more than one dance style.” said Mr. Bakshi.
Mr. Bakshi talks about his establishment that has conducted successful workshops and shows in major cities in India. “As we grow, we aim to spread the love and knowledge of jazz funk dance to all the cities and towns in India. Thankfully God has been kind. Mumbai as a city and India as a nation has been very warm and welcoming to this form of dance.” says the artiste.
Mr. Bakshi feels one thing that every dancer must know and understand is that Technique is a very crucial aspect of any dancer’s life and career. “There’s a lot of talent in the country and all around the world, it is essential to know the importance of technique which makes one a trained dancer and makes them capable of doing many different dance forms.” says Mr. Bakshi.
Mr. Bakshi’s current plan is to focus on training the company members and his students, establishing jazz funk as a dance style in spreading the awareness of this form in India. It is not surprising that this young and powerful dancer embodies both grace and splendor through his dance form.
FESTIVAL DIARY An evening of dance
Shreya Bhandary & Pratibha Masand | TNN
Jazzed up
But the crowd assembled around the amphitheatre cheered their loudest best when a dance performance put up by the city-based Split Sole Dance Academy was presented in four parts. including jazz funk, old school and lyrical jazz. The crowd ‘oohed’ and ‘aahed’ every time 23-year-old Dheeraj Bakshi (the main performer) accomplished a perticularly difficult split or a pirouette without a hitch. Actor Sonam Kapoor was in the audience, wildly cheering on the troupe.
The "mumbaikar.com" Kala Ghoda Arts Festival reads :
The next to rock the stage came Split Sole Dance Academy (Jazz Funk which was described in the last blog) They managed to gain a lot of roars from the crowd. I think the performance speaks a lot for them rather than my words.
"The SSDA repertory is a team of highly proficient dancers presenting cutting edge choreography. Such beauty and excellence surely comes at the price of a split sole!"
A NIGHT OF JAZZ FUNK!
Shreya Bhandary, TNN Feb 6, 2011, 07.08am IST
Jazz and Hip Hop
The troupe from Split Sole Dance Academy stole the show with a unique 'jazz funk' performance. Dhiraj Bakshi, the academy's artistic director, said: "We tried to mix the technique of jazz with the rhythm of hip hop."
The Asian Age
Footnote
Sourendra Kumar Das, 25th February, 2010,
JAZZ METHOD + HIP HOP FUNK = JAZZ FUNK
Prior to the 1950s, jazz dance was referred to dance styles that originated from African American vernacular. Jazz has become one of the most popular dance styles in recent years, mainly due to its popularity on television shows, movies, music.
In India, this style was first brought down by Dhiraj Bakshi, founder of Split Sole Dance Academy (SSDA) in Mumbai. SSDA is a jazz-based dance academy with strong technique to teach different forms of jazz such as jazz funk, along with lyrical and contemporary dance forms.
Jazz funk is a recently evolved dance form in the 20th century. It is a combination of two genres; it takes the technique of jazz and the funk of hip hop.
What Mr. Bakshi teaches ii the LA style of jazz funk which is more of “Hit and Melt”. As a form it is visually close to hip hop but is more technically inclined, it has the element of jazz which is visible in the lines, pirouettes etc. It also shares the musicality of hip hop.
Mr. Bakshi does this recently evolved form of dance with a lot of spunk, attitude and style while being grounded to the old school technique.Mr. Bakshi does this recently evolved form of dance with a lot of spunk, attitude and style while being grounded to the old school technique.
Mr. Bakshi tells us more about his background and talks about how he took to dancing jazz funk. “Dance is an art form which was introduced to me at a very young age. I started to work towards becoming a trained dancer back then. We believe one must always dance as though they were a child a heart and a professional in style, master in technique and an explorer of the inner self and creative mind.” says Mr. Bakshi.
He has been trained in ballet, contemporary, jazz funk, lyrical and multiple ballroom styles. He has attended an array of workshops with international instructors from all over the world that includes Jann Freeman, Suraiya Franco, Jacqueline Bird, and the like who come from the very cultured background of dance and are reputed teachers worldwide. He feels this has given him a great deal of international experience and explosure in his work of art.
During his training years he realized a lot of facts about jazz funk. He was trained as a dancer in multiple dance forms like ballet, jazz, contemporary for the past decade. “I was introduced to jazz funk four years ago and I had an instant connection with it. What appeals to me about jazz funk is that it is a new evolved form which is done with a lot of spunk”, says Mr. Bakshi.
Mr. Bakshi states that there are various reasons for one to dance, love and be passionate about it. “We do all of this with two important elements, which is fun and discipline. They might be antonyms at some level but when put together they create miraculous work of art. Jazz funk helps you get rid of your inhibitions, helps you workout and remain fit. You work on your flexibility and strength at the same time, along with doing a cardio vascular exercise and you definitely enjoy it. It is essential for you to know the vocabulary of dance so that you are aware of what you are being made to do.” says Mr. Bakshi.
He has performed center stage at a number of shows, along with being a performer. Dhiraj has choreographed for varios college festivals in Mumbai like Malhar and innumerous stage shows. He has successfully conducted workshops in major cities of India like Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, and the likes. Recently, Mr. Bakshi conducted a workshop at Sophia College at their cultural festival Kaleidoscope and Salsa Fiesta, a dance festival. He is currently a dance faculty member at Terrence Lewis’ Contemporary Dance Company and has also trained company members of Salsa India Productions Ltd.
Mr. Bakshi feels a lot of India’s youth like hip hop as a dance form and want to learn and do things that are of international standards. “What they fail to understand is that there is little one can do without the right technical knowledge. Hence dance forms like jazz build the technique in a dancer which makes them sound and capable of doing more than one dance style.” said Mr. Bakshi.
Mr. Bakshi talks about his establishment that has conducted successful workshops and shows in major cities in India. “As we grow, we aim to spread the love and knowledge of jazz funk dance to all the cities and towns in India. Thankfully God has been kind. Mumbai as a city and India as a nation has been very warm and welcoming to this form of dance.” says the artiste.
Mr. Bakshi feels one thing that every dancer must know and understand is that Technique is a very crucial aspect of any dancer’s life and career. “There’s a lot of talent in the country and all around the world, it is essential to know the importance of technique which makes one a trained dancer and makes them capable of doing many different dance forms.” says Mr. Bakshi.
Mr. Bakshi’s current plan is to focus on training the company members and his students, establishing jazz funk as a dance style in spreading the awareness of this form in India. It is not surprising that this young and powerful dancer embodies both grace and splendor through his dance form.
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