On International Dance Day, actor Vaquar Shaikh shares his thoughts on the significance of dance

As the world marks International Dance Day today, we catch up with the talented actor Vaquar Shaikh, who is currently seen in Anupamaa, Silence 2: The Night Owl Bar Shootout, shares his thoughts on the significance of dance and its impact on his life and career.

"Dance is definitely a lot of fun; it brings joy and is a great mood lifter and stress buster," expresses Vaquar Shaikh. "I used to really enjoy dancing to many Hindi songs, especially Govinda's songs. They were quite stress-busters and released happy hormones for me."

Reflecting on his dance journey, Vaquar reveals his formal training during college days under the guidance of renowned teacher J.J. Rodriguez in Colaba. "He used to train people in various formal dances like jive, foxtrot, salsa, rumba, samba, and I wanted to learn rock and roll," he shares. "I spent about three months learning the basics and advanced dance, including rock and roll."

When asked to rate himself as a dancer now, Vaquar humbly assesses his skills. "I would say I am okay, but I haven't danced much lately. There is rhythm in my body, but I need to polish myself. With dedicated rehearsal for 4-5 months, I could easily rate myself a 5 on a scale of 1-10."

For Vaquar, dance is not just a hobby but a valuable skill for actors. "Any art of expression is very good for an actor," he emphasizes. "Dance is essential; it enhances body balance, rhythm, and overall performance. Just like actors train for fights or dialogue delivery, dance training enriches our performances."

In his recent show Anupamaa, Vaquar has been involved in several dance sequences. "In my show, dance sequences are a regular feature. Over the last few months, I've participated in at least four to five dance sequences," he mentions. "Dance and song sequences undoubtedly enhance the viewing experience for audiences."

Reflecting on the trend of dance reels on popular songs, Vaquar acknowledges their growing popularity. "Dance reels are an 'in' thing right now. I create many dance and song reels myself, and they are loved by many. Some of my highest-viewed reels are dance reels," he shares.