If you're a dance enthusiast or watch dance competition shows on the small screen, Terence Lewis' name should ring a bell. Metrolife caught up with this good-looking choreographer, who's well known for his unique contemporary dance style and his passion for the art.
So what brought Terence to dance? "The stage, of course! More than the art itself, it was the need to be noticed as a kid that brought me to dance. I wanted my share of attention, and being one of the eight children in my family, I wanted to stand out, make more friends, and be looked at as the 'happening kid'," says Terence.
Dwelling more on the art, Terence feels that everyone should dance.
Elaborating on the philosophy of 'AnyBody Can Dance' (ABCD), Terence elucidates, "There are many people who feel that dancing is just not for them.
They feel that to be fit, one needs to exercise, swim or do something physical. Dance is an emotional experience, and it's something that makes one feel more human. It's a way to express oneself, and it is important for everyone to have a media to express himself or herself physically and emotionally. Dance is that one-stop solution."
Terence feels the contemporary dance scene in the country and the City is changing.
"Not everyone can digest contemporary dance, since it's a very different experience. But this is slowly changing. In Bangalore, having dance companies like Attakkalari, and the likes, which explore dance from another level, contemporary dance is picking up," Terence says.
Ask him if he's doing more film projects and Terence shakes his head.
"I don't like choreographing for films, and I've left the film industry for good. I like dance to be in a flow and not cut into 10 to 15 second sequences. In films, every scene has to have many retakes and that's not something I enjoy doing. I did films for the experience of it and I've had my share," he says.
Terence did enjoy working with actors like Madhuri Dixit and Hrithik Roshan. Being the judge of 'Dance India Dance', for the third season in the row, Terence thinks such dance shows help in promoting fresh talent.
"Just look at what the winners are up to. Most of them have turned into mini-celebrities in their own towns and cities.
Some are getting film offers while others are getting scholarships to top schools to explore dance further. I only hope that this sudden fame and attention doesn't get to their head and spoil them," he says.
Terence's other interests include reading and he loves practising yoga. Bangalore happens to be one of his favourite cities.
"I love the weather here and the people here are very nice and cultured. I would make any excuse to be here in the City.
There are way too many places to hang out here, but one of my favourites is the Central College Park and the most happening place is M G Road," says Terence.
So what brought Terence to dance? "The stage, of course! More than the art itself, it was the need to be noticed as a kid that brought me to dance. I wanted my share of attention, and being one of the eight children in my family, I wanted to stand out, make more friends, and be looked at as the 'happening kid'," says Terence.
Dwelling more on the art, Terence feels that everyone should dance.
Elaborating on the philosophy of 'AnyBody Can Dance' (ABCD), Terence elucidates, "There are many people who feel that dancing is just not for them.
They feel that to be fit, one needs to exercise, swim or do something physical. Dance is an emotional experience, and it's something that makes one feel more human. It's a way to express oneself, and it is important for everyone to have a media to express himself or herself physically and emotionally. Dance is that one-stop solution."
Terence feels the contemporary dance scene in the country and the City is changing.
"Not everyone can digest contemporary dance, since it's a very different experience. But this is slowly changing. In Bangalore, having dance companies like Attakkalari, and the likes, which explore dance from another level, contemporary dance is picking up," Terence says.
Ask him if he's doing more film projects and Terence shakes his head.
"I don't like choreographing for films, and I've left the film industry for good. I like dance to be in a flow and not cut into 10 to 15 second sequences. In films, every scene has to have many retakes and that's not something I enjoy doing. I did films for the experience of it and I've had my share," he says.
Terence did enjoy working with actors like Madhuri Dixit and Hrithik Roshan. Being the judge of 'Dance India Dance', for the third season in the row, Terence thinks such dance shows help in promoting fresh talent.
"Just look at what the winners are up to. Most of them have turned into mini-celebrities in their own towns and cities.
Some are getting film offers while others are getting scholarships to top schools to explore dance further. I only hope that this sudden fame and attention doesn't get to their head and spoil them," he says.
Terence's other interests include reading and he loves practising yoga. Bangalore happens to be one of his favourite cities.
"I love the weather here and the people here are very nice and cultured. I would make any excuse to be here in the City.
There are way too many places to hang out here, but one of my favourites is the Central College Park and the most happening place is M G Road," says Terence.