Shalini Saksena speaks with Ashley lobo about his latest project with Imtiaz Ali, choreographing a full-length ballet in Germany and his dance theatre

Tell us a about your project with Imtiaz Ali.

It is a fun song that I have choreographed for Shah Rukh Khan and Anushka Sharma.

How has choreography changed over the yearsIJ

Today, we are seeing a lot more international movement styles in films and TV. Even that however is still at a very basic level with only street and pedestrian contemporary dance being the main language. This is because a majority of dancers are untrained and the volume and level of trained professional dancers in the international genre is very limited.

Why is it that the steps have become more like one is doing gymnastics rather than in a flowIJ

That is typical of a young industry where you are trying to wow the audience as opposed to communicating artistically. This again is because of a lack of maturity in the artists and the development of the industry in this particular area.

Why Navdhara India, your dance theatre, when you are an established name in the industryIJ

India has no representation in the genre of contemporary dance borne from an international format like classical ballet. This style already has a huge built up audience overseas. All the representation comes from Indian classical, Bollywood or contemporary born from Indian classical or folk whose audience is very little. My thought was if we could tap into the larger audience using the international contemporary vocabulary format whilst maintaining an Indian thought and philosophy in content we could get more overseas audiences interested in Indian culture and dance as we are speaking their language on an Indian way.

We don’t see you on TV. Any reasonIJ

This year is a very busy year with me working on choreography for nearly four films, writing and directing two stage productions as well as touring nearly six countries with the company. Take on anything now would be impossible unless it’s in a very small window.

Your experience choreographing a full-length ballet in Germany.

It is going to be very interesting. The company has 24 professional ballet dancers from around the world. I have met them briefly and did a small workshop with them. They are all very good. I start work in September and October this year.

Is producing for stage different from filmsIJ

Stage is a fixed frame. Film the frame moves so the possibilities are very different. In either case basic content must always be strong. With film there are retakes but with stage there are no retakes. It has to be correct first go. With stage you can’t break up choreography with film you can shoot and perfect smaller sections. Having said that with film there can be very little mistakes as the camera magnified it. On stage you can still get away if smaller details are not all there.

Where does India stand when it comes to professional dancingIJ

In the Indian genres we right up there. In the international genre we are a good 20-25 years behind.

Does it make a difference to you whether you are choreographing for a younger actor or an older oneIJ

Not really. I work with whoever is with me to their strengths.

Advice to those who want to take up dancing as a profession.

Do it professionally and not as a hobby. Have a long term perspective on your career, especially when training. Never give up.