Whether you are a devoted Bollywood fan or not, you cannot help falling in love with environmental engineering graduate student Vinuta Chopra as she works her magic on the dance floor.
When it comes to understanding Chopra, most people have a single and incomplete story about her, and they remain blinded to her most alluring facets. Watching her on stage shows another side of her, and on the dance floor, she becomes complete.
The stage has a way of awakening an energetic and bold version of her. After witnessing her dance on stage, that is when you can safely and undoubtedly say you know about Chopra.
Dancing is her second nature, as she has danced for more than 20 years.
“I started dancing before I could even walk,” Chopra said. “However, I started training professionally when I was seven.”
Posted by ASU Andaaz on Wednesday, May 13, 2015
This nurtured dancing talent has opened various opportunities for Chopra. Before coming to ASU, she performed in musicals, flash mobs, stage shows and school events in India. One of the events included the Genesis talent show that is very popular in her country. These outstanding performances won her three dancing awards in Bangalore, India.
It didn't end there. Upon her arrival at ASU, she said she was selected in join the Andaaz dance group, which has performed at major events, including Jhalak 2015 at the University of Texas at Austin.
Computer science graduate Namratha Putta said dancing is as natural to Chopra as slipping on ice.
“You can see it in the way she carries herself on stage that she is doing something that is close to her heart,” he said.
Chopra said she believes she inherited the talent from her mother, who is extremely gifted in Bollywood dance moves.
“The passion is definitely a genetic trait, and I can proudly say I got it from my mother," Chopra said. "However, you can never really master the skill — there are so many dance forms to learn every day.”
Chopra said her specialty is freestyle and Bollywood dance, which is a fusion of traditional and classical Indian dances, emphasized by small hints of jazz, hip-hop and modern dance.
Bollywood dances incorporate a variety of Indian dances, including masala, bhangra, giddah and ghoomar.
On the same note, she said she is open to learning other dances as well. This eagerness propelled her to learn jazz, salsa and hip-hop dancing moves as well.
“I cannot say I am a great dancer — no one is bad at dancing," she said. "All that matters is dancing with all your heart and the rest will take care of itself.”
Finance senior Yifan Liu said Chopra is really professional, and that her dance group has won several awards at ASU.
“If you are looking for someone talented and professional, Chopra can be the one,” he said.
Chopra also said that outside of classes and her dancing career, she also enjoys reading, writing and cooking, but dancing by far surpasses everything else.
“Dancing is my soulmate," she said. "It has transformed my perspective towards life.”
She went on further to say that through pursuing her dancing career, she has learned to empathize with people and appreciate the beauty of life.
“This is why I want to learn as many dances as possible, and keep dancing until the age of 80,” Chopra said.
This silent aura of simplicity and positivism that surrounds Chopra seems to draw strangers and friends to her.
She has an innocent nature that no one could never resist.
“I call it passionate dancing,” she added. “It is the most contagious thing ever!”
Related links:
Andaaz dances to Bollywood America
Sun Devils celebrate each other at ASU's own Academy Awards-esque show, The Pitchfork Awards
Reach the arts reporter at smareker@asu.edu or follow @shantie_chido on Twitter.
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