The much requested tutorial video to my master class is finally here! Now you can take my class in the comfort of your own home :) Like, comment, subscribe, and enjoy!
I'm going back to Calgary!
My Calgary/Edmonton dancers! I'll be returning to Calgary after judging the CAIG 2015 Dance Competition - this time to teach a master class! The class is hosted by Soul Feet Dance Productions on Saturday, August 29. There are two sessions - 10:30am and 12pm (which I believe is already sold out). Email soulfeetdance@hotmail.com to reserve your spot! Can't wait to dance with you Cowtown :)
Update: Both classes SOLD OUT in just a few days! Thanks so much - I'm so excited to dance with you all! :):)
My very own Bollyshake Banner!
I now have my very own banner on the Bollyshake homepage! Watch this space for lots of exciting new projects this month :) Thank you Bollyshake!
CAIG Dance Competition Rundown!
Over the weekend I had the privilege of judging the 2015 Canadian Ismaili Games Dance Competition. What's amazing and unique about CAIG’s (and last year's NAIG’s) dance competition is that groups and solo/duet acts compete up to THREE different times! I love this because it allows dancers to showcase their range in movement and genres of dance, as well as different artistic pieces. We as judges get to really know and understand the dancers over the course of such an intense competition.
I love judging these shows because I get the best seats in the house to watch our community’s most talented dancers on stage making me experience so many emotions – I was dancing in my seat one minute and crying the next (thanks a lot Umair).
To the organizing committee (Amyna & team): Thank you so much for having me judge this competition again! Thank you for your ever-so-gracious hospitality and for allowing me to give my two cents in the preparation process. I really enjoyed working with you on this. Congratulations on the HUGE success!
To my fellow judges, Scheherazaad & Joey: I had the best time judging with you two. I learned so much from the both of you over the past couple of days and appreciate how incredibly in sync we were all the time!
To the dancers: You all blew me away with your talent every day in this competition. I’m so happy that dance is really being developed and showcased in our community like this. Never stop dancing and remember I’m always a message away should you need any advice or even just someone to bounce your creative ideas off of. I sincerely hope I get to work with you in the future.
Until next year ;)
I'm judging dance at the Canadian Ismaili Games 2015!
I'm happy to announce that I'll be judging the Canadian Ismaili Games (CAIG) dance competition in Calgary! The show will take place over July 31 - August 2, 2015 with over 10 teams competing.
I judged the North American Ismaili Games (NAIG) in Chicago last year, and the teams put on an awesome show, so check it out if you're in the Calgary area :)
I'm Bollyshake's Dancer of the Week!
Thank you so much to Bollyshake for featuring me as their dancer of the week! Bollyshake is a really unique platform that I stumbled upon amidst a search for Bollywood dances online. It serves as a way to bring all types of Indian dance under one roof through video sharing. I wish something like this was around when I was growing up/training as a dancer because it provides a way for both professional and non-professional dancers to share their choreography and creative ideas with a community that values and loves Bollywood dance. If you haven't already, check them out/sign-up at www.bollyshake.com and check out my account at www.bollyshake.com/users/shereenladha. Can't wait to collaborate more with this awesome team!
Tum Hi Ho Choreography
I originally did this choreography for a gig, but my dancers were feeling it so much that we decided to film it nicely. Thanks to all these talented dancers and my videographer Safira Halani for once again making all my creative thoughts come to life.
Like, comment, subscribe, and enjoy! :)
New Master Class Video!
I held a Bollywood Master Class in Toronto yesterday afternoon! I'm so blessed to be able to work with such talented dancers. Check it out the video (shot & edited by Safira Halani) below!
Thanks to The Underground Dance Centre for having me!
Sign up for the next class here.
I performed at the Pan Am Games 2015 Opening Ceremonies!
What an unreal experience performing for the Pan Am Games 2015 opening ceremonies! I had the opportunity to dance and choreograph a bit of our little Bollywood section in the Pow Wow Carnival scene and after months of rehearsal, we finally performed in front of a full house at the Rogers Centre and the world! I feel so lucky to have been part of the Cirque du Soleil family and the Pow Wow dancers - such an amazing group who put their hearts into this scene to make it the spectacle it was. Pictures below!
New choreography video: Chittiyaan Kalaiyaan
My latest choreography video is finally here! I had so much fun choreographing this and dancing with the beautiful and talented Krystal Kiran (@krystalkiran). We met on set of The Love Guru in 2008 and I can't believe it's taken us this long to do something together!
The video was shot and edited by Safira Halani (@safirahalani) who, over the last few months, has quickly become my good friend and someone I can share all my creative ideas with - she just makes them come to life.
Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe on YouTube and as always, stay tuned for more :)
UPDATE: Vote for this video on Bollyshake's July contest here
The Aattam 2015 rundown from your Fusion Judge!
Last weekend I got the opportunity to judge the Aattam 2015 dance competition! Thanks to the Aattam team for having me, and congratulations to all the teams for putting on an amazing show.
I've been asked for a breakdown by a few teams so I'll tell you what I looked for in particular: The Fusion style was broken down into different categories - the most significant contributors to overall score being choreography and coordination. For the Fusion section, I looked for the basics in technique, but what really stood out to me was unique choreography and dancers that really FELT the choreography in execution.
As an ending note, I have to give a special shout out to the UTSC Assassinz for winning best fusion!
Pan Am Games 2015 Opening Ceremonies
So excited to be part of the opening ceremonies for the 2015 Pan Am games in Toronto! Check out a sneak peek of the show below, and stay tuned for more!
My first Bollywood Master Class!
I held my first Bollywood Master Class this past weekend in Toronto and these dancers KILLED my choreo! I held this class for charity and we raised over $250 for Save the Children, a Nepal earthquake relief fund.
I'm also happy to announce that my next Master Class will be held on July 12, 2015 in Toronto. Sign-up here.
Summer Beginner/Intermediate Classes
Come learn some Bollywood dance with me - I'll be teaching at Joy of Dance studios this summer!
My Beginner/Intermediate Bollywood class is every Wednesday at 7:30pm by drop-in or class package.
I'll also be hosting a Master Class on May 31 4pm-6pm for intermediate/advanced Bollywood. Sign-up for the Master Class here.
Hope to see you all there!
Schulich School of Business Formal 2015
As some of you may know, I have been in the process of completing my MBA at the Schulich School of Business for the last two years. My time at Schulich has been one of the most invaluable experiences of my life - I have met the most amazing people who have both inspired and challenged me every day. Through my time at Schulich I learned that pursuing both my professional career along with my dance career isn't something I should have been trying to actively separate as I have in the past. Rather, it's what makes me different, and what allows me to think from a creative standpoint when it comes to business strategy. The Schulich formal this year will mark the end of my time there, but I'll be taking away with me some amazing memories along with an MBA degree!
Oh yeah, I'll also be performing :)
Watch my latest Raptors half-time show performance!
Even though this was my fifth Raptors half-time show, it's always such a surreal experience! This time we performed back-up for Sunny Brown and Dres (from hip hop duo Black Sheep). Happy Vaisakhi everyone!
Let's Go Raptors!
Tomorrow will be the FIFTH time I'm performing for the Raptors half-time show! This time will feature amazing choreography by my friend Rohit Rumpal. Come out and watch! :)
Toronto Raptors annual Vaisakhi celebrations
In honour of the upcoming annual Vaisakhi Raptors game presented by Nav Bhatia!
The Clean Up Anthem is here!
Check out Superwoman feat. Sick Kick Music's new video!
Read MoreThe Toronto Raptors think we're Vine-Worthy!
Six seconds of the 2014 Diwali halftime show for the Toronto Raptors by Broken Dance!