Gargi's journey to becoming a professional dancer is as unconventional as it is inspiring. Unlike many dancers who start young, Gargi discovered her passion for dance during her college years, amidst the global pandemic. Today, she's not only performing on television shows but also nurturing the next generation of dancers. Let's dive into her fascinating story!
WORK
Role at the company
Dancer
Working at
SDIPA
Location
Bangalore, India
EDUCATION
Studied from
NMIMS
Graduated with
B Com
Subjects in 12th
Commerce
Gargi, your journey is quite unique. Can you tell us how you became a dancer?
It's funny how life works sometimes! I never danced in school or college. In fact, I wasn't even accepted into my college dance club. But during the COVID lockdown, while I was still in college, I stumbled upon a dance video on Instagram. Something about it captivated me, and I felt compelled to try and mimic the moves. That first attempt sparked something in me. I loved it so much that I started doing more and more. With nowhere to go during lockdown, I found myself learning dance by watching videos and mimicking them. It became my escape and my passion.
That's fascinating! How did you transition from dancing in your room to making it your profession?
Well, it wasn't a straightforward path. I was in my final year of college, and placements were going on. But I didn't feel like sitting for them. I was so engrossed in dance that I couldn't imagine doing anything else. To convince my parents, I took the GRE as a backup plan. But what I really wanted was to pursue dance seriously. I applied to Shiamak Davar's one-year dance program, which is notoriously difficult to get into. To my surprise and delight, I was selected!
Tell us about your experience in Shiamak's program.
It was the most challenging yet rewarding time of my life. We danced all day, every day. The program taught us eight different dance forms in a group of 40 students. It was intense, but I loved every moment of it. The program also gave me opportunities to perform in dance shows, which was an incredible experience.
And now you're teaching and performing professionally. How does that feel?
It's really great. I'm teaching dance in Bangalore under Shiamak's banner, which allows me to share my passion with others. I'm also working as a background dancer in various dance shows on television. It's exhilarating to be on stage and in front of the camera, doing what I love.
Your story is truly inspiring. But I'm curious, what were your aspirations before dance came into your life?
Oh, that's an interesting story! When I was in 5th or 6th standard, I looked at photos of IIT Guwahati because by brother wanted to be a software enginer and decided I wanted to be an engineer as well. I even joined Resonance, a coaching institute, in 7th grade to prepare for the JEE exam. I stuck with it for three years before realizing it wasn't for me. There was this incident where I was selected for the best batch, called 'Vishesh', but I asked to be moved to the previous batch because I found the curriculum too difficult. Ironically, I was doing fine there, but that experience made me realize engineering wasn't my calling.
So what did you do after that realization?
I decided to take commerce in 11th grade, thinking it would be a fresh start. I ended up liking it much better than PCM (Physics, Chemistry, Math). That led me to pursue a Bachelor's in Commerce from NMIMS. I enjoyed the degree, but the prospect of a desk job didn't excite me. Little did I know that dance was waiting just around the corner to change my life completely!
What a journey! Any final words for aspiring dancers or anyone thinking of switching careers?
I'd say, don't be afraid to try new things, even if they seem out of character for you. You never know where your true passion lies until you explore. And when you find something that makes your heart sing, pursue it with all your might. It might not be easy, but it will be worth it!
Thank you for sharing — we'll post your story on our website and if anybody has more questions, they will schedule a call with you.
