DID you not marvel at Aishwarya Rai when she danced Kajra Re, Kajra Re in ‘Bunty aur Babli’, or admired Malaika and Shah Rukh Khan dance on top of a train in Dil Se. You may have also really enjoyed Urmila’s Kambakht Ishq dance immensely. How many of us have tried out the steps, and wished we could dance as well? How many of us enjoy dance so much we wish we could make a career of it?

Well, take heart, because you can. Hasn’t Farah Khan done just that?

Dance today has been elevated from just a recreational activity or a performing art to a much sought-after profession, called choreography. In fact, choreography is more than just dancing. It is the art of creating stylised movements in space to express human feelings and emotions, in various dimensions.

Although choreography as a profession is fairly new, it has its genesis way back to the time when the movements of classical dances such as the Bharatnatyam and the Kathakali were the only ones to feature in the films and entertainment programmes. The nuances of dance have, however, changed with the passage of time. Today, even the renditions of nursery rhymes are well choreographed. And now, choreography is not just a profession that is creative and has artistic appreciation and fulfillment, but one that can bring you a lot of money, especially if you are good at your work.

Moreover, more than a decade of liberalization, coupled with a barrage of western images on MTV and other music channels has contributed to popularizing choreography as not just an art form, but a full-fledged profession.

Choreography and choreographers have today spread to almost every field of entertainment. The four major areas among these are: film and music video choreography; fashion choreography; event choreography; and conventional dance choreography.

Film and music video choreography involves directing complete song and dance sequences for feature films or for music companies. Film and video choreographers get to make artists, actors and actresses dance to their tunes. These choreographers, in fact, totally take over from the directors in directing complete dance sequences in the films. Or they direct complete music videos on their own. This is really the most popular form of choreography today. But for this, not only must you be good at dance and arranging dance sequences, but you must also have an in-depth knowledge of film locations and sets, light, costumes, make-up and of course, music. Saroj Khan, Farah Khan and Ganesh Hegde are amongst the popular film choreographers while Ken Ghosh is a very famous music video choreographer.

Fashion choreography is different in that fashion choreographers do not have to choreograph dances so much as the catwalks of ramp models. They have to teach the models to walk along with the music that is to be played for a fashion show or an event, in a way that not only looks aesthetically appealing but also glamorous and chic. Moreover, it should not distract audiences from the clothes or accessory that is being displayed. Basically, the models and their movements, the ramp, the lights, the styling, the background and the music, all have to be in tune and perfectly coordinated. Lubna Adams and Noyonika Chatterjee, for instance, are successful fashion choreographers.

Event choreography is another big activity today. This mainly involves choreographing corporate and general entertainment events. These could include choreographing song and dance performances at film award functions, beauty pageants, festivals, product launches and inaugural celebration parties and so on. Shiamak Dawar and Ashley Lobo are much in demand for event choreography. With the popularity of salsa dancing, choreographers like Kaytee Wangchuk have made a name for themselves.

Conventional dance choreography is what is traditionally seen at classical and folk dance dramas and such performances. Many classical dancers start off as dancers and later become classical dance choreographers, thereby carving a special niche for themselves in the world of choreography. Mallika Sarabhai and Radha and Raja Reddy are famous choreographers in this area.

A passion for dancing, exceptional rhythmic sense, coupled with an element of inborn talent for form and visualization are among the essential personal attributes required for becoming a choreographer. In fact, if you have a special aptitude, it can be recognized and tapped early on so that guidance from professionals can nurture and develop the skill.

Training in choreography is now offered by several institutions. Some dance schools offer training in various aspects of choreography and dance. However, a firm foundation for success can be gained by enrolling in professional dance courses for which examinations are conducted at diploma, graduate and postgraduate level by colleges, universities and institutions.

Various institutions and schools of dance offer one to two-year diploma courses in dance. For most diploma and short-term courses, the basic requirement is talent in dancing, and interest. These courses train you not only in the various aspects of dance, but also in things like kinesthetics, or the science of the human body. Many of the recognised choreographers and dance artistes have set up their own dance schools, where they not only conduct training programmes, but also select from their students, those talented enough to be taken on assignments for film, television or event requirements.

Besides talent and the skill at dancing, you should also have a knack for teaching dance. A great deal of versatility, an expressive face, the ability to emote strongly and also to interpret music and dance are other attributes that can be to your advantage.

There are plenty of job opportunities for choreographers today. They can work with television and film studios, theatre companies, modelling agencies and event management companies. Most choreographers however choose to work on a freelance basis with different directors/ choreographers. And the best way to start off would be by assisting an established choreographer. Many choreographers also get into training, and set up dance schools or conduct choreography workshops.

Earnings for choreographers vary according to the work being done and whether for a film show, or corporate event. Remuneration also depends largely upon the choreographer’s standing. A more popular choreographer can earn a lot more.

However, choreographers have to be really good dancers and they have to struggle for quite some time and prove their worth and establish themselves, before getting a good assignment. Even then, they have to spend a lot of time practising. Only the very talented prosper and earn money and fame. But when entertainment means big business, as is today, the future is extremely bright for those with nimble feet!

Prominent Institutions offering courses in Dance / Choreography include:

• Shyamak Dawar’s School of Dance, New Delhi and Mumbai.

• Danceworx Performing Arts Academy (Ashley Lobo), New Delhi and Mumbai

• Sangeet Natak Academy, Rabindra Bhavan, Opposite Mandi House, New Delhi.

• Faculty of Arts, University of Mysore, Mysore.

• Government College of Dance and Music, Bhubaneshwar.