Dancing youth Aishwarya wins IIG 2018 Grand Finale

Meet Aishwarya Vinu Nair, star of India's International Groovefest 2018

Fourteen-year-old Aishwarya Vinu Nair is not an ordinary teen. She is very passionate about dancing. Her interest is mainly in Indian classical dance forms and Bollywood dance. She has participated in several competitions across the UAE and India and won prizes. This grade 9 student of Indian International School, Dubai Silicon Oasis, belongs to a family of four. Her father Vinu Venugopal, mother Seena R Nair, younger brother Devnarayan Vinu Nair and herself. Her father works as Senior Business Development Manager with Farnek Services, mother is a Pharmacist with Sheikh Khalifa General Hospital, and her brother is in grade 4 at the same school as hers. The family hails from Alappuzha in Kerala. Aishwarya was born and raised in Abu Dhabi. Her parents have been working here in the UAE for over 16 years.

How did she develop her interest in dancing? Aishwarya replies, "I showed interest in dance right from the age of one. My parents noticed this when I participated in the baby show. I started to learn classical dance at the age of 6. I also started learning Bollywood dance at the same time. Gradually I started to participate in the youth festivals and other competitions held in the UAE," she says in an interview with Khaleej Times.

"It was a struggle during the initial days, but as I was very passionate about dancing, I kept on practising and started winning competitions. I now learn Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi and folk dance under Guru Suraj Sreechithira, Mohiniyattam under Guru Kalamandalam Aiswaria Ramesh and Bollywood dance under Kavitha Srinivasan. My parents have been very supportive and have always told me to pursue my dream of becoming a good dancer," she adds

India's International Groovefest (IIG) is an international competitive event that provides a global platform for dance enthusiasts across the world. The competition was open to all categories, and anyone who is passionate about dance could audition for the competition. "The founder and visionary behind India's International Groovefest is Megha Sampat of Padanyaas Entertainment. She is a professional Bollywood choreographer with decades of experience," notes Aishwarya.

The finale and a grand finale were held at Hartland International School. The finale had 50 solo contestants and 50 group performances selected through auditions and was judged by Vrushali Chavan, a professional Bollywood choreographer working with Farah Khan. The shortlisting came down to eight solo performances and eight group performances for the grand finale that was judged by eminent personalities like Sudha Chandran and Melvin Louis who is the brand ambassador for India's International Groovefest.

Aishwarya says, "It was an extremely tough competition. More than 500 dancers from seven years upwards from across India, GCC and South Africa participated in this mega dance competition. Extremely talented contestants from across the world with different dance styles made the judgement difficult. I never imagined that I would be part of such a big competition. Every one of them was special. It was tough to say who would qualify for the grand finale. I was performing Kuchipudi, a classical dance form."

After seeing the performance of other contestants, Aishwarya's only prayer was to get into the grand finale so that she could perform in front of the distinguished judges Sudha Chandran and Melvin Louis whom she always admired. "I was very excited to be selected for the grand finale. Once I got selected for the grand finale, I felt more confident. I was only thinking of going on stage and doing my best. It was once in a lifetime opportunity for me and I wanted to make the best out of it," she recollects.

"I can never forget the moment when they announced me as the winner of the Solo category. It was a dream moment which I will cherish all my life. This win for me is the biggest achievement till date, and I would like to sincerely thank my guru Suraj Sreechithira for his training and support and my parents for their continuous efforts. Without them, this would not have been possible," she emphasises.

The whole event was an excellent learning experience for Aishwarya. "It was a world of dance with tough contestants and a wonderful audience. The event was organised in such a professional manner that I have seen only in dance reality shows on TV.  The comments that I received from Sudha Chandran and Melvin Louis was nothing short of a blessing for me. It gave me a lot of confidence to aim higher," she says enthusiastically.

"Irrespective of the dance form, always enjoy your dance. Once you are on stage, own the dance floor. I am always told, not to think of winning a prize while going on stage. Go out there and do your best. The results will follow," she advises.

Aishwarya's thoughts.

Who is your inspiration?
I have always been inspired by actresses who dance well like Shobhana, Madhuri Dixit and Aishwarya Rai. When it comes to talent, all of them are amazing. The way they act, their dancing styles and their personality, all aspects are so brilliant.

What are your other interests?
Along with dance, my other passion is Karate. I hold a black belt in Karate from Japan Karate Shotokan (JKS). I continue my training with Sensei Renjith at Karate Kid Club. I've been learning karate from the age of 10. I have won several gold medals in karate championships held in the UAE at the national level.  

What are your plans?
I plan to continue my training in dancing and karate along with my studies. My dream is to be a part of India's Beauty pageant competitions one day.

What would you consider your strengths?
I believe my strength lies in my willingness to work hard and achieve goals. Other significant strengths are my gurus and parents who have always guided and supported to bring out the best in me.

Other achievements include...
Crowned Kalathilakam in the Youth Festival conducted by "Santhwanam." Crowned Kalathilakam in the recently concluded Geepas "Youfest 2018."

- suchitra@khaleejtimes.com