| |
| LEVEL SIX |
HORROR ROUND
Against the backdrop of horror music mixed from various tracks Indian & Western, the contestants create an ambience of fear and terror through a combination of lighting, costumes and choreography and endeavor to instill tension and panic in the viewers.
FESTIVAL ROUND
This round features dances based on festivals from different Indian states, such as Karthika, Sree Krishna Jayanthi, Diwali etc. The choreography of the dances should be able to capture the vibrant energy, colour, enthusiasm and fervour that mark such festivals.
DJ ROUND
DJ Savio plays a mix of 3-4 songs from his repertoire for around 5 minutes that may include a dashing English album number that slows down to a gentle Malayalam melody which unexpectedly accelerates to an electrifying Hindi disco . The competitor who has no clue about the songs that are in store for him has to use his wits and ingenuity to match steps and style to the mood of the song.
|
| LEVEL FIVE |
INDIAN FOLK
Folk dances are simple, earthy dance forms of rural origin, which are usually performed by ordinary people. Consisting of uncomplicated, elementary steps, these non-classical dance forms are full of vigorous movements and vibrant energy. Most are spontaneous exhibitions of joy to celebrate the arrival of rain, the beginning of harvest or the celebration of a festival, performed by dancers attired in colourful costumes of vivid hues.
The contestant is required to execute the folk dances from different States of India, in tune to its appropriate music which may be from an album or film, dressed in the traditional costume of the dance.
BLACK & WHITE EXPRESSIONS
This is a round that showcases classics from the black &white era of Indian films. It was an age in which overstatement was the order of the day ; hence the actors overacted and the emotions were exaggerated . The candidates have to replicate not only the settings, the characteristic costumes and elaborate hairdos but also the choreographic style and the loud emotions of the age .
|
LEVEL FOUR |
ROMANCE IN DECEMBER
This round features couples dancing to romantic numbers from Malayalam, Tamil and Hindi movies, set preferably against a backdrop of snow.
Though love songs are a staple of most Indian films, romance in winter seems to have more ‘tender’ overtones: hence the emphasis on December affairs d’heart. The delicious cool of December days when the whole world is painted in amorous hues, acts as an aphrodisiac that sets the heart racing –the songs may be of the love-dovey sort with the pair cavorting in the snow or more ardent numbers in which the hero woos his lady love.
GOLDEN NINETIES
The round which gives prominence to evergreen numbers from the decade of the Nineties, is confined exclusively to selections from Malayalam movies.
This was the golden era of the disco songs in Malayalam, ushered in by young heroes like Rehman, Raveendran etc who popularized these racy dances .
The contestants were expected to reproduce not only the characteristic steps, but also the rather ‘shiny’ costumes with the bell bottomed pants, big collars etc.
|
| LEVEL THREE |
ME & WE
Me & We is a round in which the contestant is backed up by a team of 7-9 dancers and they perform simultaneously on stage. This round is intended to test how good the participant is at adapting his steps to and coordinating his moves with the rest of the team, as they dance in tandem.
In solo dances, the competitor has the whole stage to himself, so that even if his movements are not executed in the correct position, it may escape notice.
By contrast, in group performances, each dancer has his own personal space which alters constantly with different dance positions and formations; moreover, the team is not confined to the back of the stage but may come on to the foreground and centre depending on the choreography . Therefore the contestant has to not only keep his steps in time to the music, but should also avoid bumping into others or stepping on their toes, as they execute complex synchronized moves or difficult choreographic positions.
MUMBAI RE-LOADED
Old favourite film songs are being transformed by the process of re-mixing in which, the pitch, tempo, playing time etc is changed to render it more dynamic.
In Mumbai Re-loaded, the contestant has to match his steps and style to the re-mixed adaptation of classic Hindi film songs. This is extremely challenging since the song combines the melody of the original and the tempo of the altered version. |
| |
| LEVEL TWO |
WILD WILD WEST
It showcases the archetypal ‘cowboy’ dances of the American Frontier that are performed, attired in the typical cowboy gear of jeans, buckled belt, boots & Stetson .The wild west dances consists of gliding steps that go with the boots, in which the feet never leave the ground. The round may include other western dances such as Salsa, hip-hop etc.
SEMI-CLASSICAL / CONTEMPORARY
Contemporary dance forms that evolved as a reaction to the rigidity of classical dances are highly flexible & versatile interdisciplinary dances that blend the techniques of different styles. Highly innovative & creative, they combine the dynamism of jazz, the grace of the ballet & the athleticism of the kalari. Revolving around a concrete central theme, the main thrust is on acting or the expressiveness of the face.
|
| LEVEL ONE |
BEING MYSELF
Is the curtain raiser round that gets the show off the road, in which the contestant makes his/her debut on the stage .
A dancer may have been trained in diverse dance forms, but may have a marked preference for any one genre . The round does not specify any form, but leaves the selection to the competitor. Thus, instead of tying the contestants down to a particular dance style, the round sets him at liberty to select his personal favourite.
By leaving the door open to their choice, it offers the participant a chance to ‘be himself’, to display his best at the very beginning of the programme. The contestant gets a running start to the competition & offers an appetizer of his talents while the judges & viewers get a feel of his caliber.
RHYTHM OF CHENNAI
Is based on the ‘Dappaankuthu’ of Tamilnadu, a distinctive local dance of Chennai. An unconventional dance form, it is marked by informality in every feature- the steps are unstructured & repetitive, the costumes casual with the performers clad in a lungi, an almost unbuttoned shirt & a kerchief wrapped around their wrist.
Played to the lusty beats of a percussion instrument, it is characterized by the sheer power of its movement and the dynamic energy of its steps. The fastness of its rhythms & dynamism of its beat made it hugely popular in Tamil films; the punchy numbers call for live wire performances from its contestants. |
|
