Gaysil Naubert Opens Up
A dancer, choreographer, singer and model, Gaysil Naubert will now be seen in Oscar-nominated filmmaker Kumar Raj’s next venture Yahan Ameena Bikti Hai.
Excerpts from an interview:
Tell us something about yourself.
Essentially I am a trained ballerina and have been trained in western classical dance. I started learning dance when I was in school and later in college I started doing different dance forms, one of which was Bollywood. I participated in a lot of dance contests and started winning them eventually (laughs). So by the time I was in college, I realised that this is the direction I want to move in. I was also studying to be a vet at some point and it was a very tough choice for me to choose between them. A lawyer or a doctor is what a family looks up to and nobody could even think that one can also make a career in the performing arts. I was studying science, but then at some point I knew that since I had been dancing since childhood, this is something I wanted to do. So I chose dance and I’m very happy that I made that choice. I did my Masters in Ancient Indian Culture and then did my thesis on dance. Everything I do is somehow related to dance.
I got my first break in Koi Mil Gaya with Hrithik Roshan and since then I’ve been doing small assignments. I was doing a lot of solos for choreographer Ganesh Hegde and he’s the one who recommended me for Koi Mil Gaya and gave me a chance to dance with Hrithik Roshan.
Are you satisfied with you success?
I am quite happy with where I am right now and I definitely want to do better and better. I’ve sharpened my dance skills in the past few years and have also formed my dance company called Gaysil and Company. I am doing a lot of live Bollywood events, but I’m also doing some fusion dance forms like Belly dancing fused with Indian classical Bharatnatyam and Kathak. So I’m happy with how things are materialising. I am also doing a film called Yahan Ameena Bikti Hai, which is based entirely on women’s rights where I’m doing a song in the movie. There are also two films in Tollywood that I’m doing.
What sort of change do you want to bring in the Indian cinema through your choreography?
I have my own style of dance; I want to bring my own style to it. I want to do something very different from other choreographers. I want to bring different dance styles and different dance forms into the Bollywood industry.
Who is your favourite choreographer?
I really like Saroj Khan. I love her interpretation of Indian classical dance because she brings the whole Indian classical element into it. What I love about her dancing is that she expresses every word of the song, every lyric through her dance. She really works hard on expressions as well.
Who is your favourite dancer?
As far as dancers go, I love Helen. She is very sensuous in a very elegant and sophisticated way, she’s got very beautiful and fast footwork and also if you see her takes, she was doing very fast movements and the cameras were following her which is amazing. I also like Madhuri Dixit.
What is the future of dance and choreography here in India?
I think dance is becoming so big right now that every person wants to learn different dance forms. Now people are really getting educated about dance and they have all started looking at it differently, which is a great thing.
Do you have any fear while performing?
I feel in India as far as the technicality is concerned, people should be more careful with the type of material they are using to build the stage – especially during live shows. As there are no retakes, if the stage is badly built, then it will affect the performance too. During international performances they are more concerned about the technicalities, while in India that is still missing. So that is my main fear while performing here and I would like it if people would pay a little more attention towards the technicalities.
What are the essential qualities to be a good dancer?
The most important thing for a dancer is to practice every day. You should always try to be a better dancer; you should never be satisfied with your dancing and that will improve your dancing skills. Discipline for a dancer is like your food habit. Discipline and hard work is the key to be a successful dancer.
Do you really think anybody can dance?
I think anybody can dance, but not everybody can dance well. Everybody has a different way of interpreting music. If you want to be a good dancer, it depends on how much you put into the training. So it is 50 per cent hard work and 50 per cent talent.
Do you have any wish?
I have so many (laughs). But all my wishes are actually coming true slowly and steadily. I just wish to do as many songs as possible – that is my main priority.
What is your fitness regime?
I follow a very strict fitness regime. On a free day, I workout for almost 6 hours and I think my fitness will take me to the level where I want to see myself. I am also really particular about what I eat.
