With The Passage to Bollywood, ace choreographer Ashley lobo tells Monu Kumar that he wants to create an in-depth understanding of international dance forms through his academy and travelling shows
Choreographer Ashley lobo is getting accolades in South Africa for his musical The Passage to Bollywood, a story of a young boy who makes his way from the village to the city to live out his dreams. His journey finds him meeting various interesting characters, chief among whom is a gangster and a burlesque dancer. “The formulaic rags-to-riches story works among the star-struck diaspora. For the locals, it was an exposition of the colour that is India. Members of the audience danced in the aisles and shouted their appreciation long after curtain call. It is at times like these that you realise the soft diplomacy of our film industry,” lobo told us.
lobo and team will be performing over the next few weeks and mount 18 grand shows at the very popular Nelson Mandela theatre. “I think the key to any show’s success lies in its performers. They are all so natural. It’s like one big family so the warmth and camaraderie comes through clearly.”
For lobo, the success of the show is a vindication of sorts. “Growing up in a middle class Catholic family in Chembur and with my opera singer mother, my upbringing was different. I grew up on musicals, not Bollywood. My kind of dance and art was never appreciated, supported or endorsed that time. Recently the ICCR offered to take my kind of contemporary dance overseas to represent the country. This is wonderful as it represents a much more diverse India. I now feel vindicated and truly an Indian artist again,” he said.
“A few years ago, international dance seemed to have no real direction at home. Now that we have artists doing contemporary dance overseas, it is an amazing time for this dance form in India. Navdhara, my travelling company, is only in its second year. In its first year, we travelled to three countries and this year, we will be doing shows in seven countries.”
lobo was influenced in his early years by choreographer and film director called Bob Fosse. “His style is minimalistic and he says so much without doing too much,” he shared.
lobo started with musical theatre at the age of 15 courtesy his mother. Dancing became his passion and he never gave up whatever the odds, even doing odd jobs to fund his training in Sydney. “As a student of dance, money was scarce and time was limited. I had to get a job that gave me the flexibility of timings yet paid decently. I started with cleaning houses, restrooms and ended up working as a nursing assistant. That stint taught me a lot about humility, patience, sensitivity and compassion.”
What is his next big frontierIJ lobo wants to create an awareness of international dance styles in the country. “Information is limited and sketchy, so dancers follow the wrong training systems. What is trendy is followed but there is a lack of depth. Things are changing now with Navdhara.”
lobo has worked with almost all superstars of the film industry in their big ticket projects but he refuses to name a favourite. “I have enjoyed working with each and every one of them as they are all so different. There is so much to learn from each. My latest experience working with SRK and Anushka was fun and inspirational,” he said, signing off.