"I simply dance it out" - Vanshika Mehta

Abhirup Dey May 07, 2020


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1. Tell us about your journey and background.

Hello, first of all. So I have been into dancing since I was a 7 year old. All passionate about dancing and learning new forms that would exhilarate me. I was in grade 11 when I started my own YouTube channel. To be very honest, it took me a lot of courage and motivation to gather guts and upload my first video. My friends have been a great support who pushed me to go ahead and just do it. My motive has never been fame or money, it was just my passion that made me for for it. At a very personal level, my friends and I shared the video and ‘The high Rated Gabru’ went viral. It was a boom. God knows how it reached a million in a very short span of time. Number of subscribers, comments, likes or views did not help me expand my channel but the love that I received from the audience was something that I’ll cherish forever. 

After a long break now, I have finally started uploading new videos again and I really hope It reaches much wider audience.


2. When did you first decide that you wanted to create content and how did you start?

It was never something that I was looking forward to but I was a keen observer of some dance cover videos posted on YouTube. We shot our first video at one of my friend’s terrace, it was a spontaneous dance performance. My family had no idea what I was planning, also I did not have any such equipments for the shooting purposes at that time. So my friends comes to the rescue by shooting me on her iPhone. It was a very casual shoot. After that, I gained some subscribers. 

Now, all my videos are shot and edited by my elder brother. The channel is something very close to my heart, something that I feel I have earned. 
It is true to say, I can > Can I


3. Is vlogging and YouTube content creation a financially sustainable career? 

My first video has been a good luck for me but due to the copyright strike, I did not receive any money. Gradually, I stopped posting videos because of my high school studies. 

No doubt YouTube is a great career for many YouTubers. But I myself believe in the phrase ‘Dance it out’, I just express my emotions via dancing, and thinking less of the commercial aspect. 

YouTube has its own algorithms which needs to be followed to maintain the financial sustainability.


4. Who is your favourite creator and why? 

I am a big fan of Shivani Bhagwan and Chavvi Ma’am of Bfunk. They also make dance videos, their style is really appreciable. Also, the most viewed channel from my column would be DancefitLive. Almost all videos of them are shot quite professionally, showcasing other dancers in their team. The choreography is flawless. I love them as dancers. 


5. How and where do you find inspiration to churn out content? 

Dance is an art which comes from within. In my experience, if I plan on preparing a dance piece, it surely takes time. But if a particular song hits me enough, I simply #DanceItOut. Some songs just touch your soul, you simply feel them and express your emotions. Performing on a song that is of audience choice could be challenging in a way, but I do keep myself updated with the many dance performances being posted on social media. I am a regular follower of some dance pages of talented artists. 


6. What does you typical day look like?

Everyday is different. On the days when I get to work, I am more into it. Days when I am free, I would be chilling the whole day. You can find me dancing on my happiest as well as worst days. Dance is a part of my routine, keeping me super active. Somedays I dedicate my several hours on social media watching new dance content, fascinating myself, trying something new. 


7. Which is your favourite book and why?

I hardly read books, or I would say I’m not a book lover. I still remember dancing during my examinations to avoid sleep. Everytime I’d feel lazy, I’d dance and stay awake to study. I don’t even remember the last book I read.


8. What piece of advice would you like to give to future and aspiring creators?  

Well, I would say, just do it. No brand promotions, though haha. 
Initially, not every YouTuber gets thousands or million views. Not every creator make perfect videos. 

But there is always a start. Not getting good views, good comments might be a social burden but criticism is a part of it. Learn from it. People will see you, it is important to respect the audience, reply to them. Keep love, Ignore hate. Be you, your content defines you. Also, it is very important to be active on YouTube. 

Consistency is the key. Regular updates help in expanding the channel. Remember, it takes time to build the empire, once built, managing and expanding it is another task. 


- Vanshika Mehta

Interview By - Haseeb Haroon