The role of Indian dance reality shows in defining meanings of Contemporary dance among Indian dancers / Aparajita Burjwal (2021)

Dance reality shows are extremely popular in India. They attract massive audiences
who love to sit in front of their television screens and watch dancers from diverse
backgrounds enthrall everyone with their moves. They also feature contemporary dance
prominently, albeit in a way very different from the genre of Indian contemporary, that
developed pre and post Indian independence. Owing to their popularity, reality shows
inevitably share an important relationship with dancers. This research aims to gain a
deeper understanding of the role of dance reality shows in defining meanings of
contemporary dance among Indian dancers using a qualitative approach. Fourteen
participants consented to participate in focus group interviews, while two in-depth
interviews were carried out. The data was analyzed using thematic analysis as
prescribed by Braun & Clarke (2013). Autoethnography was also used to situate the
researcher’s personal experiences in the larger context. The results reveal a strong
relationship between the participants and the shows, albeit a critical one. While most
participants reject the depiction of contemporary dance on the shows, they admit to
being attracted to them initially as they offered new and different dance styles. The
recommendation of this study is to diversify dance education in India, and dance
content on reality shows to promote collaboration and critical engagement between the
two.