He does a full circle, when contemporary dance choreographer Terence Lewis returns to theatre after earning a name for himself in Bollywood, where he made actors dance to his tunes in movies such as Lagaan, Jhankaar Beats and Aisha. Last, Terence was a co-judge in dance reality shows Dance India Dance and Nach Baliye season 5. But he doesn’t want to teach the ‘janta’ anymore, he says.
In Patiala on Wednesday to judge a dance competition — Kaun Banega Sabse Bada Dancing Star season 2 — Terence opened his heart out and gave insight to his new production, Scrambled Eggs.
“I wanted to talk to people about my experiences and journey so far. Through my production, Scrambled Eggs, I would be able to do so through the medium of dance. There are eight stories, each different from the other. Topics such as the co-existence of different languages, which is inspired from the Bible, and the intensity of relationships have been brought forth,” says Terence.
The avid dancer also claims that his theatre production would redefine contemporary dance form, which has so far been perceived as slow and romantic. “The dancers would be performing a very fast and edgy genre of dance. In fact, it’ll be like watching a Jackie Chan film live on stage,” he says.
Terence believes theatre is a very serious form of art that needs dedication and time. “I was so occupied with work in the last 10 years that I couldn’t devote any time to theatre. But, now I am back in my space,” he declares, and shares the reason behind naming his dance production Scrambled Eggs. “Just like an egg can be prepared in several ways, life too offers many options and choices with which one can shape it the way one wants to. Our show opens up with a lazy Sunday morning that shows me making eggs along with my dog, Diva.”
{{/usCountry}}Terence believes theatre is a very serious form of art that needs dedication and time. “I was so occupied with work in the last 10 years that I couldn’t devote any time to theatre. But, now I am back in my space,” he declares, and shares the reason behind naming his dance production Scrambled Eggs. “Just like an egg can be prepared in several ways, life too offers many options and choices with which one can shape it the way one wants to. Our show opens up with a lazy Sunday morning that shows me making eggs along with my dog, Diva.”
{{/usCountry}}Saying he finds bhangra and chhau (a martial dance form from Odisha) to be very vibrant folk dances, Terence also found the opportunity to learn a few bhangra steps when in Patiala. “I like the Punjabis’ bindaas attitude and brave spirit,” declared he.
Terence is known to have an eye for technical details and lays stress on following the right technique.
“A good dancer is the one who follows techniques coupled with passion. The zest for dance should come alive on stage,” he adds.
Meanwhile, Scrambled Eggs would be showcased in Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru and Kolkata and later in Europe and Japan before Terence goes back to television in October. “I want to do something concrete. For me, dance is not a medium of commerce, it’s my passion,” he signs off.