Choreographer Geeta Kapur: I prep before going on set, or I’d look foolish

Geeta Kapur

It's not uncommon to hear Geeta Kapur go, "Stupendo fantabulously phantasmagorically magical" when she is overwhelmed by a performance. But Geeta Maa, as people fondly call her, is equally critical while judging dance reality shows. As a judge, she believes it is her duty to nudge dancers in the right direction. After wrapping up the fourth season of Super Dancer, the choreographer-dancer is now moving on to the second season of India's Best Dancer. In a chat with mid-day, she discusses how the reality shows are as much a learning experience for her as for the contestants.

Edited excerpts from the interview:

Judging reality show after show, do you run out of compliments to give?
Everybody is different, so no two compliments will be the same, especially if they're genuine. I believe in being honest. Back in the day, we knew of only four styles; right now, the kids are experimenting with so many dance forms. I prep at home before going on the set, or I'd look foolish. If I see a unique [dance form] and don't know of it, I discuss it with the dancers or the super gurus for more knowledge. In the last dance show, Tushar [Shetty, choreographer] did Chicago style-step. I asked him what it was because I knew of Chicago, the city. I then discovered that Chicago Hip-Hoppers has created their own step and named it thus.

In Super Dancer, they introduced 75 different dance styles in a special episode. How many did you know of beforehand?
I didn't shoot for that episode, but I caught up on it on television. I knew a lot of them, but there are only a few that I can do. I know a lot theoretically, but practically I am not good at many of them.

Over the years, have you tried out any new styles besides classical dancing, which is your forte?
I have tried contemporary and a fusion of hip-hop. While doing films, we used to fuse a lot of ideas and styles. Bollywood [dance] is not exactly rigid. So, I learnt to break the discipline and pick up more styles, and became good at it, which is why I [still get] work offers.

In the past, judges have often said that they feel unworthy of judging some contestants. What is your stand?
I feel honoured because it is rare to get such an opportunity to observe and learn. I never say, ‘Hamari aukat nahin hai', but I feel grateful that the contestants are accepting [our verdict] despite knowing that if they call us on stage, [we may not be able to do it]. Anurag dada [Basu] blatantly says that he is scared they might just ask us to come on stage and do it. I feel I could [match steps] with them. Right now, I am not doing performances because I have a slipped disc. Once it heals, I want to learn [styles] that don't look ugly on me.

Do you feel any dance style would look "ugly" on you?
I have only tried things within my limitations. Sometimes, I have also tried things knowing that they may not look good on me. At such times, I could sense my body language is not correct, or the required discipline is not there. When your body is not adapted to a [dance] style, the awkwardness shows. It also [may amount to] disrespecting the people who created the style. Making a mockery of something someone had worked so hard to put together, seems incorrect.

The last film you choreographed was Happy New Year (2014). Have you left your career as a film choreographer behind?
I got a lot of work offers post Happy New Year, but my mother fell ill from 2019 and was hospitalised. So, I was only doing reality shows at the time. In June, I helped in choreographing [a song] for Sooryavanshi. I am an old-school choreographer and love to do songs with romance and montage. But right now, everyone wants to do hip-hop and other things, which I don't find inspiring.

Also read: Geeta Kapur pens a heartfelt note for co-judge Nora Fatehi