Bollywood Dhamaka with Jainil Mehta [Dance Workshops & Conversation Series]
Event Details
Date: Friday, March 12th
Time: 6pm PT / 9pm ET
Duration: 1 hr
Location on the Festival Map: ‘Pavilion’
Instructor: Jainil Mehta
In partnership with MELA Arts Connect
This Session
A beginner-intermediate level Bollywood dance class - a popular style of Hindi Cinema that is a blend of western and eastern styles of dance. It is a very huge part of the Indian popular culture, also danced in weddings, parties, social gatherings, etc. So put on your filmy self forward and let's dance
Biography
“Build your dreams as they are not just fantasies; DREAM TO DANCE”
Originally from Mumbai, India, Jainil Mehta began his dance journey at the age of five, performing in his living room. Building short phrases with his house help at such an early age ignited a passion in him for dance composition, direction and performance.
Before moving to Los Angeles for college, he trained at Shiamak Davar International in Mumbai, India for thirteen years. Jainil is now completing his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance, and has acquired a variety of skills including budgeting, accounting, entrepreneurship, stage lighting, tools for digital design, sound editing, motion picture cinematography and video editing, to name a few. He has learned and performed works by esteemed choreographers like William Forsythe, Jiří Kylián, Jodie Gates, Barak Marshall, Alejandro Cerrudo, Dwight Rhoden and Matthew Neenan.
Jainil’s inner movement quality, expressions and love for storytelling come from his strong Indian roots and culture. He tries to bring his leadership, business and artistic capabilities together and has self-produced, choreographed and directed three productions in Mumbai. Jainil has choreographed for Big Wild’s music video “6’s to 9’s” and Falguni Pathak’s “Jode Rahejo Raaj.” While also being a social media influencer, he has taught many dance classes online and in person across India as well as Pakistan, China, Singapore, United Kingdom, Europe, Australia and the United States to over 1000+ students.
Jainil wants to create the first-ever accredited higher education dance program in India through global exchange, interdisciplinary learning and partnerships. His goal is to give dancers, dance-makers and creators a chance to develop their own artistic choices and artmaking process, hence helping them create a unique identity and career for themselves. Jainil continues to grow and constantly pushes the bar of excellence with his strong focus and unparalleled passion.
About Mela Arts Connect
MELA Arts Connect is a cultural consultancy and production company for South Asian performing arts. MELA's mission to amplify South Asian performing arts and culture, particularly within the mainstream performing arts sector and build cultural equity within the sector. Founded and led by Heena Patel, MELA Arts Connect has facilitated the commissioning and/or presentation of numerous South Asian productions and artists such as Kathakaar, Bollywood Boulevard, desi:NOW, Raghu Dixit, Indian Ocean, Mystic India, Shilo Shiv Suleman, and more at venues such as Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, NJPAC, Wolf Trap, Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Yerba Buena Gardens Festival, and The MET.
About Product of Culture
Product of Culture is a WOC founded and funded collective that amplifies brown brands and creatives with strategy, content, and experiences rooted in culture. We build opportunities for brown brands and creatives to connect and collaborate with each other and elevate their work through culture-forward spaces, stages, and stories. Our brands include The Founder’s Summit, the South Asian Film Festival of America and Product of Culture Shop.
***This event is included in the following tickets:
Dance Workshops & Conversation Series
In partnership with Mela Arts Connect - The Dance Workshops Pass provides you with access to all dance workshops and discussions.