ABOUT KC
Karishma’s story is that of perseverance. Few would face the amount of rejection she faced and fight onward and upwards. One could joke that albeit for a good ethical cause, she has the relentlessness of an internet stalker or of a cat who sees her treats on the other side of the glass door.
She shattered the glass door and ceiling though.
A dancer, a choreographer, a mentor, a judge and a director. Somewhere between the labels, “Plus-size Dancer” and “Dance Plus Judge”, a star was born.
Karishma Chavan – First of her name, Mother of cats, Breaker of Stereotypes, Khaleesi on the dance floor - last 2 episodes excepted, though she did - metaphorically only - ‘burn them all’ haters. 😉
They said she didn’t fit in. Everything was too small for her, they said. They were right.
So, she went ahead and created a space of her own, a style of her own, a footprint of
her own with over 12 reality shows, 54 advertisements and 20 films.
A BA in Political Science, her dance education comprises: Siamak Davar’s
Institute of performing arts. Salsa India. Broadway Dance Centre.
Bharat Natyam.
And on job experience of over 14 years from the age of 18 as a back up
dancer and assistant choreographer (films and television) and
Choreographer / Director (films and television).
TV REALITY SHOWS:-
Aja Mahi Ve, Nach Baliye Season 4, Dancing Queen, Jhalak
Dikhlaja Season 3 and 4, Zara Nach ke Dikha,
Dance Premiere League, Zara Nachke Dikha, Just Dance,
Nach Baliye Shreeman vs Shreemati, Dance ke Superstars,
Halla Bol, Dance Plus.
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FILMS (ASSISTED AND CHOREOGRAPHED):-
Veere Di Wedding, Khoobsurat, Tumhari Sulu,House Arrest, ABCD,
Race 2, Bang Bang, Hasee toh phasee, Kick, Boss,Dolly ki Doli, Tevar,
Galli galli mein chor hai, Humshakals, Shanghai, Gang of Ghosts.
A confident child with dance IQ, was subjected to the systemic oppression that a marginalized body type faces to this day, in the field of dance. Rejected by dance school after dance school, despite being better than the rest by a margin the size of, we put it proudly, herself!
As a dancer, when a state-of-the-art Dance school prioritizes your appearance above your potential, it crushes your spirit along with your dreams. Karishma went through her own struggles with loving and accepting her body, and eventually broke the vicious cycle of trying to fit in, facing ridicule and trying harder.
She went on from being a background dancer to assistant choreographer
to choreographers like Harshall Vitthal, Remo Dsouza and Ahmed Khan,
to lead-boss-lady choreographer to being a reality show judge to
choreographing and directing songs for movies. Each of these
professions is valuable and she excelled and expanded her
knowledge as her journey went on and continues to till date.
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Karishma has so far worked with several successful names in
Bollywood - Jacqueline Fernandes Sonam Kapoor,
Shah Rukh Khan, Amitabh Bacchan, Ranveer Singh,
Akshay Kumar, Kareena Kapoor, Deepika Paudikone,
Vicky Kaushal, to name a few. Sonam and Rhea Kapoor,
gave her her first break as an independent
choreographer with the film Khoobsurat.
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She has tremendous respect for those few good
people in the industry and along her journey who
saw her for her professional capabilities and didn’t
cater to industry stereotypes.
She carries the same torch forward and only looks for
talent when she teaches, no biases.
She knows how she felt the day she had to, as a back-ground dancer, sit out of a shoot with her heartthrob Akshay Kumar because the costume didn’t fit. She knows how cathartic she felt the day she was directing him, a career coming full circle, her hard work bore fruit that day.
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A born leader with immense talent, this website is one more step by Karishma to make dance accessible to anyone and everyone who loves it.