MUMBAI: Star Plus is all set to bring the sixth season of TV’s most popular dance reality show Dance+. The show returns with Shakti Mohan, Punit Pathak and Salman Yusuf Khan as judges and Raghav Juyal as host while Remo D’souza will continue to lead the series.

TellyChakkar got in touch with the host of the show Punit Pathak. The talented lad shared what dance means to him, future projects and more.

Read on!

What qualities will you look for in a contestant?

Not only for this season, but every season the most important quality that I look for in a contestant is their honesty towards their art. It’s a quality that shows itself naturally through a dancer’s movements. You will feel the honesty as an honest artist will shine through and through. Assuming they have an inbuilt love for the craft and a sense of the beats, honesty, hard work and passion would be my top three qualities while judging a contestant. And last but not the least, to be on a show like Dance+, having that ‘Plus Factor’ is of utmost importance. A dancer needs to have something unique in order to shine amongst the rest. 

How is the team managing to shoot a reality show amid a pandemic?

Kudos to the entire management team, the production and the channel that so beautifully managed to pull off a show amidst a pandemic. Also, all of my colleagues will agree that we immensely missed the live audience on the sets which we could not have this season due to the pandemic. 

You are a source of inspiration to many youth of this country, who is your source of inspiration during such tough times (pandemic)?

A took huge inspiration from our frontline workers. At the moment, the rules are much relaxed and people are slowly getting used to the new normal while they get back to their normal routine but I have immense respect for the people who were continuously working all throughout the pandemic. They are the real heroes who have outshined all of us and made us feel like we are just a grain of sand on a beach full of so so much. Their life and their sacrifices can be compared to nothing. 

What is the definition of dance according to you?

I don’t think there is a specific definition to dance but if I have to, I would say its definition for me would be to be doing something with all my heart to touch many other hearts in the process. 

How do you keep yourself updated about the latest dance moves/choreography?

Honestly, the pace at which things are going, dance moves and choreography wise, it’s extremely fast and it really makes me feel like we have to be on our toes all the time, keep growing and exploring ourselves. Earlier, there was this concept of 2 minutes of fame which has now changed into 15 seconds of fame, given the reel culture. So yes, we have to be completely in sync with what’s trending, what is happening, which step is in the trends and what song works, not only in India but all over the world and for that, social media has proved to be a huge help when it comes to keeping ourselves up to date with everything dance wise. 

Which dance form do you wish to learn in the near future?

Dance as an art form is growing everyday which makes me feel like I should try to re-learn it all. I believe I am nowhere close to the dancers I see nowadays. Me and my fellow captains on the show always speak of how lucky we are to have come into the industry ten years down the road because the dancing culture in India today is insane and inhumane. So if I have to start learning today, I am a zero. I have to start from the bottom and maybe then reach to a place I wish to and this is with regards to any dance form in general. 

Tell us your favorite dance form?

My favourite dance form is something that I do. I do not believe there is a name to it. I feel and I go into a zone and I do it. Some people call it contemporary dance, some say it's abstract dance, some say it's contortion, so on and so forth but I do not think it's any of these. I try to do my own stuff and I also love doing it. Apart from that, I like dance forms that scream fun! 

What else do you see yourself doing next?

That would include a lot of things. I am also working on a number of music videos as a director. There are also a few other big projects lined up that I am not allowed to speak of yet but, hopefully soon you will hear of the news of my next big step because personally, it is a dream come true project for me. 

(Also  read: Dance+ is a real and unscripted show, says host Raghav Juyal)