When everyone in the entertainment industry is trying their best to fit in, what is the one thing you can do to stand out from the crowdIJ Sahaj Singh thought a lot about it and finally came to the conclusion that as far as his profession of dance is concerned, he needs to create something that is a crowd-pleaser as well as something that will wow other dancers.
That is how the Urban Singh Crew was born. Currently in the top six of dance-based reality show Dance+, Singh started the crew only in November, 2015. Their popularity has definitely shot up since they came on the TV show, owing to their unique style of dancing that combines Bhangra with Hip-Hop, usually performed on hardcore Punjabi style music.
Explaining his thought behind the crew, Singh tells you: “My partner Jasveen Gulati and I wanted to create a unique concept that was unheard of in India as well as abroad. We chose to combine Bhangra and Hip-Hop because the amalgamation is highly entertaining to any viewer.” He adds that the ‘urban’ part of the crew is not just due to the Hip-Hop dance form but also because they are doing something that is new and stylish. Moreover, the music they use, the look they carry and their target audience is quintessentially urban, too.
The dancer from Delhi, who attended DPS, RK Puram, is a well-established choreographer at the mere age of 24. For the last three years, he has been running his own company called the Urban Dance Centre India in Delhi. “I’ve been doing a lot of work in the Punjabi entertainment industry, choreographing for their award shows etc. I have taught people like Gippy Grewal, Diljit Dosanjh and Neha Kakkar. My company performs with artists like RDB and Raftaar and we travel abroad to perform as well,” he says.
Singh is well aware that in the entertainment industry, the amount of work fluctuates a great deal. So, lagging behind in studies was not an option. “I always maintained a balance between studies and dancing while in school. Even after that, although I paid more attention to dance, I got my Communication degree from Manipal University via distance education. I knew that I had to have a back-up, despite my parents’ support,” Singh tells you.
The Urban Dance Crew currently has 11 performing members on the show, each handpicked by Singh, who is the captain of their ship as well as their choreographer. While some of the members were already part of his team at Urban Dance Centre, some others are freelancers or college graduates and students who were taught by him during their DU days.
They have been making waves with their unique style of presentation. In fact, their upcoming performance relates a story from 1897 where 21 Sikhs fought against 15,000 Afghans. Despite, technically, being the only Sikh in the crew, Singh says that since every member is from Delhi, they relate to the Punjabi culture deeply.