'India is a storehouse of budding dancers'

LUDHIANA: There was a time when dancers drew stares from people. However, with changing times, the profession of dancing has evolved and now dancers are among the best paid and loved in the industry.
These views were expressed by dance master Remo D’Souza. He was talking to mediapersons at the launch of his new institute here on Thursday.
Talking to TOI, Remo said, “Dancing was never considered a good profession in India.It was considered a form of expressing devotion or a form of entertainment only enjoyed by the upper class. But now, this art form is appreciated by a large segment of people.” He further said, “Dancing is a great stress buster. By jiving to music, one feels relaxed after a hard day at work. In my dance institute, many people come not only to learn dance professionally but also take a break from a hectic day.”
Remo said it was high time that dance should be adopted as a full-fledged profession. “Many children hailing from poor families have great dance skills and end up making a lot of money. If you are a good dancer, you surely get noticed.”
He further said, “Earlier, parents never approved of their kids taking up dancing as a profession. But now, they want their children to learn and perform well. This is a major reason behind the success of dance talent hunt shows on the small screen.”
Discussing the cost of training, he said, “As I hail from a small city, I want to give a chance to children of small towns and cities. This is the reason, I decided to start my institute in Ludhiana. I will also ensure that not only rich kids but those from poor families, who have talent but not the means to afford such classes, get a chance to exhibit their creativity.” Stating that Indian kids had huge potential, he said, “Im sure that the next Michael Jackson will be from India.”