Bollywood dancer answers BBC's call

22 January 2010

BOLLYWOOD dance is heading to the small screen thanks to a choreographer Honey Kalaria's involvement in a reality television show for dancers, writes ANNA NALBORCZYK.

Honey, Bollywood actress, model, dancer and founder of Honey's Dance Academy - which runs classes in Ilford, Seven Kings and Upton Park - has been hand-picked by the producers of BBC show So You Think You Can Dance? to teach its contestants.

The show searches to find Britain's best dancer by challenging the male and female finalists to master a different genre every week, before the two with the least votes get the boot.

Thirty-something Honey, who lives in Gants Hill and has worked on West End show Bombay Dreams and television shows such as Blue Peter and Top of the Pops, has choreographed a Bollywood-style dance for the contestants and has been working with them this week.

She said: "It's so exciting to be involved in this show.

"Bollywood dancing has a lot of intricate moves and the dancers will have to use their eyes and facial expressions to come across as real Bollywood dancers."

As well as gaining the accolade of Britain's favourite dancer, the winner will take home £100,000 and perform on the American version of the show in Hollywood.

Honey added: "It will be so much fun because they are professional dancers and they should pick up the moves quickly.

"But it's also important that they perfect the Bollywood style, it's not just about performing the routine correctly."

Honey has just finished working with Bend it Like Beckham director Gurinder Chadha on her new film, It's a Wonderful Afterlife, and is always on the lookout for new talent.

She said: "When we set up the dance academy in 1997, Bollywood was big in the Asian community, but relatively unknown everywhere else. But since then it's exploded in popularity.

"I'm always busy looking for young dancers and actors for Bollywood films, adverts and shows, and I really enjoy helping people to achieve their dreams."

So You Think You Can Dance is broadcast every Saturday on BBC1 at 6.30pm and 8.20pm. Honey expects her Bollywood dance to be shown either this weekend or next.