Sambo Mukherjee - Don’t Be Great, Be Part of Something Great. Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable (Dancer & Choreographer From India)

I truly believe hard work can beat talent. If there is comfort, then there is no growth. It is very important to train, understand how our mind, body, and soul works. Yes, self-growth is astonishing and can help you all, and eventually, it comes down to that. But we, before that need to learn, unlearn and then learn again. The process of failing is important. So there is no right or wrong way to train as long as we train.

1.Tell us more about your background and journey.

Sambo Mukherjee is a dancer, teacher, choreographer, actor, and director.

He is the member & lead Choreographer of the full stop crew, one of the oldest dance crew based in Kolkata, India since 2009.

He had the privilege of training with Prosenjit guy Kundu which eventually led to the formation of the Kundu house project (KHP), an international collective, practicing and competing in street & club styles with members from Delhi, Gujarat, Hyderabad & Paris. In 2020, KHP hosted An international series of events overseas, marking the first Indian hip hop event abroad.

He also co-founded souls on fire, a national teaching collective teaching & educating dancers with varied styles and choreographies all over the country. Garnering an audience base of over 400k, It is the most sought-after camp running successfully over three years with a verified YouTube page.

Starting off as the runner-up of the first National Street Reality Dance Show called ‘Channel V Footloose’ on Channel V India, he went on to conduct and participate in multiple underground battles and workshops, in the capacity of a performer, dancer, instructor, and judge namely Urban Dance Week(one of the oldest running camp), Artist league India, Breezer Vivid Shuffle, Power Of Desi Street (PODS), Evolution Goa, etc. He also taught in multiple countries like Nepal, Dubai, Sri Lanka.

He also participated and represented India in Juste Debout 2016 edition in Paris, France making him the only Indian to have participated in two categories (hip hop & locking). He has also taught a couple of classes on Madhuri Dixit’s televised dance program called ‘Dance With Madhuri’.

Featuring in multiple advertisements like Myntra, Amazon, Bajaj Allianz, as a movement director, talent, dancer, and choreographer. He has been associated with Brands like Puma & Redbull. Before a brief stint as an actor on the Adda Times web series name ‘Oh Mother’ season two, he was the choreographer and director of various music videos for bands like underground authority UA and Atlas and the Sky and AD for a homegrown music video. Currently H.O.D for a tech-thriller web series for Hotstar.

2. When did you first decide you wanted to pursue dancing and how did you start?

Dance and music have always been a part of my life. My late father was a writer, theatre actor and performer and mom was a beautiful talented classical dancer. They met in college and fell in love. Often my mother tells me and my brother this story of how she had an opportunity to go ahead with her dance career but got pregnant with twins, my brother and I.

And her dance life came to an end. Fast forward in school I was introverted and very naughty. I took part in a talent contest in junior school and the rest was history. Obviously, life wasn’t kind. I knew as a kid this gives me joy and this is something I aspired to do for the rest of my life. I even got a TC from my school where my brother was getting a Merit the same day.

I lost my father to cancer and left the city very young and honestly very lost. In a few weeks, I got a call from channel v footloose where I came 2nd and after the show got over I got an option to fly out to Kolkata or stay in Mumbai. I stayed in Mumbai and continued. I never really knew this would be the life I cost but always believed in pursuing dance. Dance is my lifestyle now

3. Who is your favorite dancer and why?

A very controversial question. But here is a diplomatic answer, No one. I’ve learned from a lot of dancers and creators of our time and fortunately learned, spent time, and are even friends with some of them. I appreciate art and all forms of it. My dance is inspired mainly by music and other aspects besides dance.

4. Can you throw some light on opportunities one gets as a dancer?

There are two types of dancers. Commercial\industry and underground. In a country like India dance is still considered taboo and has very few opportunities especially for the underground community. That being said, I always advise my people to channel and connect with more people and find balance in both worlds.

As a person who has been on both sides, I believe there are opportunities that you can create and inspire others to do so. Be like a seed plant yourself and grow with the nourishment of life which feeds you and if it doesn't work out, then branch out. You might not end up as a dancer but you are definitely helping dance grow.

5. Is format training required or can one train themselves purely on the basis of talent?

6. What piece of advice would you like to give to future and aspiring artists?

Don’t be great, be part of something great. Get comfortable being uncomfortable. Life is too short and unpredictable to not know your full potential. Enjoy the process, smile when you fall, and always be kind. My first guru told me once “ great dancing can take you places, but a good heart will take you far in life” focus on excellence and everything will fall in place.

7. Which is your favorite book and why?

The Artist’s Way by Julie Cameron is a powerfully provocative and inspiring work. David Goggin’s Can’t hurt me, his story illuminates a path that anyone can follow to push past pain, demolish fear, and reach their full potential.