Nimit Kotian is a Mumbai based Dance and Artistic Director/ Choreographer along with Content Creator.
He was nominated for Best Choreography Award (ITA)
WOD/ NBC WOD
1. Tell us more about your background and journey.
I am an artist & dance director, dance teacher, dance content youtuber. I believe in hard work and talent more than fame and money. Dance is something that has taught me so much in my personal and professional both. I love the idea of spreading the knowledge of physical workout and mental health in order to sustain in an entertainment career and business.
The journey began with participating in various dance festivals during my college days. After getting lot of appreciation for my art, I decided to land my feet on my first ever dance reality show as a contestant called "Just Dance" in 2012. I was 21 at that time.
Few years later, got to mentor and feature in Bindass Naach show, a non-fictional dance show in 2015. Me, Shantanu Maheshwari and Macedon Dmello together trained few selected dancers forming the crew name called "Desihoppers" led and mentored by Palki Malhotra for our dream competition called "World Of Dance".
Later I went on teaching all over India after leaving the dance crew to pursue my career as an individual artist. I created my YouTube channel in 2017 and now has +35 million impressions with 33k subscribers and few videos with + 5,00,000 views. Now I am a Dance Influencer and Founder of Niko Entertainment as well as Vitality Boot Camp, India.
2. When did you first decide you wanted to pursue dancing and how did you start?
As a hobby it started with auditioning to enter a dance group during my first year in Xaviers college. Got selected and performed my first ever Street Dance competition for Malhar in 2007. Since then developed by love for dancing at another level.
Professionally as a Back up dancer for singer for the first time in 2009.
3. Who is your favourite dancer and why?
So many great artist who have inspired me such as Hrithik Roshhan, Tight Eyez, Michael Jackson, Mr Wiggles and Prabhudeva to name a few. The reason is the most primary one - I feel the passion for their art, so real and pure.
Last but not the least, success does not mean number of followers or bank account balance. Success is how many lives you've changed in your life journey.
7. Which is your favourite book and why?
Not an avid reader but I like reading when it comes to gaining knowledge more than fictional based books
I am an artist & dance director, dance teacher, dance content youtuber. I believe in hard work and talent more than fame and money. Dance is something that has taught me so much in my personal and professional both. I love the idea of spreading the knowledge of physical workout and mental health in order to sustain in an entertainment career and business.
The journey began with participating in various dance festivals during my college days. After getting lot of appreciation for my art, I decided to land my feet on my first ever dance reality show as a contestant called "Just Dance" in 2012. I was 21 at that time.
Reached Top 21 judged by none other my dancing idol Hrithik Roshan followed by Farah Khan and Vaibhavi Merchant. Then officially got a chance to choreograph a dance fictional show for Channel V in Dil Dosti Dance and was nominated for the "Best Choreographer Award" in Indian Telly Award in 2013.
Few years later, got to mentor and feature in Bindass Naach show, a non-fictional dance show in 2015. Me, Shantanu Maheshwari and Macedon Dmello together trained few selected dancers forming the crew name called "Desihoppers" led and mentored by Palki Malhotra for our dream competition called "World Of Dance".
So we created the routine and got qualified for World Finals. Months of preparation went by, the countdown was ticking and had all of us biting our nails. Finally the day arrived, we reached. The day came, we went up on stage and gave our best.
After all the other countries finished performing, we were announced as the Winner of World Of Dance Finals 2015. We created history for India. After an year, I got casted as an Actor/ Dancer for my first ever hollywood film called "Heartbeats" directed by step up series writer - Duane Adler.
Later I went on teaching all over India after leaving the dance crew to pursue my career as an individual artist. I created my YouTube channel in 2017 and now has +35 million impressions with 33k subscribers and few videos with + 5,00,000 views. Now I am a Dance Influencer and Founder of Niko Entertainment as well as Vitality Boot Camp, India.
2. When did you first decide you wanted to pursue dancing and how did you start?
As a hobby it started with auditioning to enter a dance group during my first year in Xaviers college. Got selected and performed my first ever Street Dance competition for Malhar in 2007. Since then developed by love for dancing at another level.
Professionally as a Back up dancer for singer for the first time in 2009.
3. Who is your favourite dancer and why?
So many great artist who have inspired me such as Hrithik Roshhan, Tight Eyez, Michael Jackson, Mr Wiggles and Prabhudeva to name a few. The reason is the most primary one - I feel the passion for their art, so real and pure.
Surprisingly, they all still consistently dance amazingly regardless of their age. Rest in peace MJ. I am sure he must be dancing happily in heaven now.
4. Can you throw some light on opportunities one gets as a dancer?
Opportunities come and go. Dance teaches you discipline, how to be fearless, gives you hope and brings so much light in their life. It makes you unique and creative at another level if you really dig deep as a dancer. One can become a director, entrepreneur, speaker, motivator and what not. It ultimately unlocks several doors and brings the best version of you.
5. Is format training required or can one train themselves purely on the basis of talent?
Back in the days, there were no authentic dance schools. I did not get an opportunity to learn when I was small because of financial issues. There must be people who are dying to get trained but not able to learn due to poor finance background.
4. Can you throw some light on opportunities one gets as a dancer?
Opportunities come and go. Dance teaches you discipline, how to be fearless, gives you hope and brings so much light in their life. It makes you unique and creative at another level if you really dig deep as a dancer. One can become a director, entrepreneur, speaker, motivator and what not. It ultimately unlocks several doors and brings the best version of you.
5. Is format training required or can one train themselves purely on the basis of talent?
Back in the days, there were no authentic dance schools. I did not get an opportunity to learn when I was small because of financial issues. There must be people who are dying to get trained but not able to learn due to poor finance background.
I feel they should use the current available resources to train themselves. The passionate ones don't make any excuses and thus they get better by time. If someone gets the chance to get trained then I must say do it but with the right teachers who have vast knowledge about the art.
6. What piece of advice would you like to give to future and aspiring artists?
To all the new generation dancers, You all have so many ways to learn and grow yourself as an artist. Just make sure you surround yourselves with like-minded and goal oriented people.
6. What piece of advice would you like to give to future and aspiring artists?
To all the new generation dancers, You all have so many ways to learn and grow yourself as an artist. Just make sure you surround yourselves with like-minded and goal oriented people.
Last but not the least, success does not mean number of followers or bank account balance. Success is how many lives you've changed in your life journey.
7. Which is your favourite book and why?
Not an avid reader but I like reading when it comes to gaining knowledge more than fictional based books
- Chanakya Niti ( For his wise and sensible life rules/quotes. Applies both in personal and professional life.
- Rich Dad Poor Dad (Finance Literacy)
- The Power of Now
- Interviewed by - Aakash Nair
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