Smita Diwan
At whatSHElikes, we celebrate bold, passionate women who dare to dream differently—and Vidushi Dsouza is no exception. From her early days in Bandra dance studios to securing a place at New York’s prestigious Pace University, her journey is a testament to talent, perseverance, and an unwavering love for movement.
In this interview, she opens up about her artistic evolution—training across Bharatanatyam, jazz, and contemporary, the mentors who shaped her, and the electrifying moments on stage that reaffirmed her calling. Now, as she prepares to take her craft to the global stage, she’s raising funds to turn this dream into reality. Join us in championing her ambition.
Read her story, share it forward, and if you’re moved to contribute, every bit brings her closer to that Broadway spotlight. Here’s to fearless women who dance—literally and figuratively—to their own rhythm
Also Read: Women in Science: Prachi Hatkar’s Journey to Protect India’s Marine Life
Q1. Your journey started at just seven —tell us about your childhood. Where did you grow up, and what kind of early exposure did you have to dance and the performing arts?
Funnily enough, what I remember most clearly from my childhood is standing in front of the TV (ever since I was 2 years old) and dancing to every song that used to play on 9XM and VH1. I think that’s where my love for dance began and in a way that was so natural! I don’t remember ever consciously making a decision to dance, it somehow was always in me. I grew up in Bandra and I was lucky that there were quite a few dance classes available at the time. My parents very quickly identified that I loved dancing and so I joined a Bharatnatyam class when I was 3 years old and did that until I was 7. It was then that I wanted to take dance more seriously and learn new styles of dance.
A day after my seventh birthday, I did my first ballet and jazz class at The Danceworx Performing Arts Academy. And let me tell you, I had no idea what ballet was – I walked on the road in my ballet shoes, with my hair fully open (a hair bun is a must for ballet!) and was clueless as to what I was supposed to wear. But it was in one of my first ballet classes that I remember learning an arabesque jump. Time stopped; gliding through the air, I felt an unexplainable excitement and joy. I remember telling myself – “I feel like a fairy, I want to do this every day!” Jazz on the other hand was immediately my favourite and it still is today. My exposure to dance was my dance classes, it was there that a whole new world opened up for me.
Q2. What first sparked your love for dance, and how did it evolve into this big dream of studying in New York?
Being in class every day made me fall in love with the work and commitment it takes to be a dancer (this is the Capricorn in me talking) For me, it was learning how to do something with as much precision and taking in as much as I could at a young age. A huge part of my love for dance is my teachers. I have been so lucky to have mentors that inspire me every day and who I have looked up to for 12 years. I don’t think I would have loved danced the way I do without them.
I have always been fascinated by Jazz dance – the musicality, the strength and the flair. It’s the style that I can truly be myself in and brings me the most joy. When I was 12, having trained for 5 years at that point, a very clear image popped up in my head – me with my dance heels on and performing my heart out on a New York City stage on Broadway and most recently, as a Radio City Rockette. And studying in New York City to me is the first step towards that.
When I was 13 years old, I attended The Ailey School Summer Intensive in New York City. It was my first time there and my first introduction to the dance world outside of India. The whole experience – training rigorously at The Ailey School for 6 weeks, going for open classes at Broadway Dance Centre and being a true New York City tourist – just made me want to be there as a dancer even more. The Institute of Classical and Modern Dance, where I have spent the past 7 years training, has played a big role in making me the dancer and performer I am today, and has encouraged to take on all my dance dreams.
Q3. You’ve trained across multiple forms—from Kathak to Jazz to Tap. How has blending Indian classical with Western styles shaped your identity as a dancer?
Very honestly, I have spent most of my years training and focusing on Western styles of dance whether it be jazz, ballet, contemporary, modern dance, musical theatre or tap. I have very recently been exploring the fusion between Kathak and contemporary as a performer. As Principal Dancer of the Indian Youth Dance Company, I have been performing a contemporary dance production titled ‘Sukshma’ choreographed by Neeraj Lohani, that has some Indian elements in it and has piqued my interest in exploring this more in the future. I am in no means a Kathak dancer, but I am very much looking forward to finding a way to honour my roots as a dancer while I pursue my dance education internationally. In July 2024, I went on my first solo trip to Europe (Amsterdam, Berlin and London) to attend various dance intensives. Apart from learning and being exposed to new approaches to movement, I realised how special an Indian dancer’s innate ability to tell stories is. It struck me how naturally storytelling comes to us and that we have a quality of movement and musicality that is very intrinsic and rare. It was during this trip that I thought about the opportunities Indian dancers are able to access in international dance companies and organizations, most often being the only Indian in the room. Through my career, I would love to play my part in contributing to a dance community that provides much easier access to dancers trained in India to international dance opportunities.
Q4. What does a “day in the life” of a committed dance student like you look like? How do you balance physical training, academics, and self-care?
When I was in school it was a very full day! School in the morning until 4 pm and then straight to dance till 9 or 10 pm. I wouldn’t have it any other way, I love nothing more than a really busy day (again the Capricorn in me talking). My academic performance was totally influenced by my dance training – in a very positive way! It taught me how to manage my time, to be consistent and dance class proved to be the safest and best environment to let all of the pressure go and just be! I did my 11th and 12th grade at St. Xavier’s College and for those two years, it was a lot of me running to catch a train back to Bandra, a quick break/studying on the train and straight in for class – 6 days a week. I am now nearing the end of my gap year and my schedule now looks completely different to what it was like when I was in school. I have much more time to try different things, new dance styles, branch out into the dance industry as well. Applying to universities for dance, rehearsals, training, internships, community service and trying to have a bit of a social life, has made this year fly by.
Q5. Tell us about a moment on stage—India or abroad—that made you feel, “This is why I dance.”
I am so lucky to have been given so many performance opportunities in India and internationally, especially for the past 3 years. There’s no place like a stage to be your most vulnerable and authentic – and preparing to dance on stage is the most rewarding. The hours spent in rehearsal, the doubt, everything becomes more than worth it when at the end of a performance I’m with my friends doing our curtain call. I always get emotional during curtain call and always find myself holding back tears because it is then that I am flooded by how grateful I am that I get to do this. So every time I do a curtain call, proves to me that this is what I want to continue doing. There’s no specific moment because all of them blur into one really happy memory.
Q6. Getting into the Sands College of Performing Arts at Pace University is huge! What do you hope to gain from this training that you couldn’t get elsewhere?
For me, its access and exposure. My ultimate goal is to be one of the few Jazz and Modern dancers trained in India to perform on Broadway and to be one of the first Indian Radio City Rockettes. The Sands College of Performing Arts is ranked #4 in the Top 10 list of colleges represented on Broadway. Known for its rigorous training in styles such as ballet, precision jazz, tap, contemporary and hip-hop, I will get the opportunity to hone my craft and deepen my study in ways I have long envisioned for myself. Pace University has a strong association with the Radio City Rockettes, with 18 of its graduates and current students as part of this dance company – my dream company. The dance program at Pace is also the first bi-coastal program of its kind, meaning that I get the huge benefit of living in the heart of New York City and also getting the opportunity to spend a semester in Los Angeles. This will give me access to the dance industry in two dance hubs of the world. I can’t wait to take on this next chapter in my dance education!
Q7. In today’s age of social media and AI, what does it truly mean to be a dancer? How do you stay authentic while navigating online visibility?
To be a dancer is to be human first, which is why I feel that AI can never replace the impact dance has on a dancer and an audience. The emotions you feel while watching a live performance cannot be described, movement has the power to inspire, to change and uplift and that cannot be easily replaced.
You have to put your whole self when you’re dancing, which is why each dancer is so different and that’s the way it should be. I don’t post on social media too much; I believe that training comes first always. So even if I do film a video, it’s never to post but to document. I do think that social media can make it very easy to compare yourself and your life as a dancer to others, I do fall into that trap many times and it is hard to get out of but I do remind myself that everybody is on their own path and that social media is very far away from real life. Social media is a great way to present yourself to the world and industry, to make connections and talk to like-minded dancers, but it is now that I have realised how great it is to spread the word. As soon as I posted my acceptance into Pace University and announced that my fundraiser was live, the whole dance community showed up for me. The support and encouragement have been nothing short of overwhelming in the best way! It has definitely shown me the positive aspect of social media.
Q8. You scored 98% in ICSE and 90% in HSC while dancing at a professional level. What’s your secret sauce for discipline and staying motivated?
I have always been very goal-oriented since I was a child. While I was studying for my boards, a to-do list was my best friend. I’d write down everything I had to complete and be very specific with what I needed to get done and I’d make sure that whenever I had time before school or before dance that I’d study. My 9th and 10th grade were during Covid, so I think that also really helped. And of course, dancing really elevated my academic performance because it teaches you more than just movement. Since, I didn’t have much time to study during the day, I knew that I had to be a 100% focused when I got down to it. When I think back, I actually didn’t put a lot of pressure on myself to get a high grade, I just told myself that what matters is that I did my best – again something that my dance teachers always remind me about. But for anyone that is contemplating whether to dance through exams, I’d say, ‘go for it! It’s the perfect stress buster and made the experience of studying for boards more fun than it is.
Q9. For young girls who dream of dancing professionally, what kind of early training, mentors, or platforms would you recommend they explore?
Training to me is the most important, it is the foundation of who you will be as a dancer. I am very grateful to have been learning in dance environments that have pushed me to grow and explore, to make mistakes and learn from them, and find my individual voice as an artist. There are many studios and teachers in Bombay that do this and much more! I have spent 7 years with the Institute of Classical and Modern Dance (ICMD) founded by Pia Sutaria, and I believe it is one the best places for young dancers to train. I have been able to learn a variety of different dance styles, perform in India and internationally and have worked with some of the most incredible teachers in India. Other platforms that I do recommend are Elevate Arts Conservatory founded by Arjun Menon (he’s been my mentor for the past 12 years and truly he’s the best there is!), The Movement Hub Studio founded by Kunaal Sangtani and independent teachers such as Neeraj Lohani, Tarini Tripathi, Shivani Mistry, Ashifa Vasi, Ammith Kumar Jainil Mehta, to name a few. It has been one of my greatest joys to have known them and worked with them, so if you want to dance professionally, here are the people that can help you get there!
Q10. How should aspiring dancers build their profiles—online and offline—to stand out and be taken seriously in the global dance scene?
I don’t think I have reached the stage just yet to answer this because I’m still learning and figuring out how to do this myself, but what I have learnt is that you have to stay true to yourself, the person you are comes out in the way you dance. My teachers have always told me to remember why I started dancing and enjoy it more than anything else. Dancing is fun! I feel as dancers we forget that, so it’s nice to remind myself that I have continued to do it because of the joy it brings me.
Q11. If you could say one thing to the people helping you fund this dream, what would it be?
You will be funding a dream that is 12 years in the making, a dream that will allow me to dream even bigger. I have the strongest support system, my family, willing to move mountains to enable my dreams. I have the most incredible mentors who have taught me what it means to be a dancer that leads with professionalism, passion and integrity. I have the work ethic and dedication it takes to be in the performing arts and I believe I have done everything in my power to take on this pivotal phase of my dance education. The only thing that will prove to bridge the gap between my present reality and the future life I want to build for myself as a dancer, is the additional financial support I am seeking. I hope to be a voice and example for young Indian girls that have a similar dream to mine that they can pursue their passion regardless of where they come from or how many tries it takes.
Your contribution, my dream fulfilled. If you resonate with my cause, please do contribute and spread the word. Our hope is to find an individual or organisation to sponsor my education for the next 4 years. We are doing everything in our power to make this happen, this is a team effort and we would be grateful to have you a part of this!
Link to Fundraiser.
