Dharmesh Yelande: I never felt the struggle, I enjoyed the dance

On International Dance Day, the journey of Dharmesh Yelande stands out — not as a story of overnight success, but as a quiet, persistent rhythm built over years.‘Many look at my story and say I have struggled’Long before he became a familiar face on shows like Dance Plus and Dance Deewane, Dharmesh was just a young boy in Vadodara, growing up in a modest, middle-class household where dance was neither a career option nor an obvious path forward. There were no studios, no formal training — just observation, repetition and an instinctive pull toward dance.Due to financial constraints, he took up small jobs to support his family, working quietly while holding on to a dream that few around him fully understood. He says, “Many look at my story and say I have struggled, but I don’t see it that way. I never felt I was struggling; I was enjoying what I was doing.”The first breakDharmesh’s first brush with recognition came through television. As a contestant on Boogie Woogie and later Dance India Dance, his raw talent began to find an audience. It was here that he earned the now-iconic label of the ‘flute dancer’, his performances set to flute music striking a chord with viewers and inspiring a generation of young dancers.But the journey to Mumbai — the city that would eventually amplify his dreams — was anything but easy. At a time when dance was not widely accepted as a viable profession, the move was a risk. “Earlier, dance was not a career, and for me to come to Mumbai from Vadodara was a huge deal. Many people around me felt that dance couldn’t be a career, but I fought for my passion,” Dharmesh recalls.To make ends meet, he worked as a peon and a background dancer in regional films, sending money home while continuing to chase opportunities. “I never thought I’d reach this point, I just wanted to open a few dance classes back then,” he admits.‘Dance has given me a lot’For Dharmesh, dance has been more than a profession — it has been a teacher. “Dance has given me a lot and also taught me a lot. I couldn’t speak in front of a camera. I learned it during dance reality shows. I got to act in films, which is again not my strong suit, but I learned. I am learning direction currently and all this is due to dance,” he says, adding, “I am satisfied with where I am today. I am not in any race for fame or money. I want to work and do things at my pace and keep learning.”From small dreams to big screensNearly two decades later, that modest ambition has unfolded into a career spanning television and cinema, including appearances in films like ABCD: Any Body Can Dance and Nawabzaade. Yet, success has not altered his pace or perspective.“It has been over 19 years since I started dancing and I have had a great journey so far. I just go with the flow in life and focus on the work that’s coming my way. When I look back and see how far I have come, it makes me feel good. At the same time, I like being grounded and living a regular life, which keeps me rooted,” he says.