I'm Jai Kumar Nair
“Sing like no one’s listening, love like you’ve never been hurt, dance like nobody’s watching, and live like its heaven on earth.” – Mark Twain
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The writer was absolutely right when he said it… especially, about dance… for if 'music is food for your soul, dance is the rhythm for your spirit’ is what I believe in.
And that’s what Jai Kumar Nair is all about, that’s me.
I embarked on my dance journey at a tender age of 10. The praise I received for my performances at cultural events ignited a realization that dance was my true passion.
Coming from humble beginnings, my path was far from easy. However, fueled by a burning desire and unwavering determination, I set out to pursue my dreams. Soon, I found myself sharing the stage with my mentors, traveling across the country and even internationally to perform alongside seasoned professionals. This bolstered my confidence and I continued to showcase my talent, always striving for excellence.
At the age of 15, I received formal training at Shiamak Davar's Institute for the Performing Arts. Working tirelessly, I quickly made strides in my career. By 2001, I was selected as an instructor by Shiamak Davar himself, teaching and assisting at my dance school in Mumbai and Delhi. From there, there was no turning back.
In 2003, I decided to venture into freelance dancing, collaborating with renowned Bollywood choreographers such as Tobby Fernandes, Pony Verma, Pappu Malu, and Ganesh Hegde. In 2005, I established my own dance school in Santacruz, Mumbai, India.
My breakthrough moment arrived in 2007 when I clinched the prestigious Boogie Woogie Mahayudh Solo Championship Trophy. This marked the beginning of my remarkable journey, leading me to participate in India's biggest dance reality show, Dance India Dance Season 1, in 2009. I emerged as one of the finalists, securing a place among the top four dancers in the country. This achievement propelled me into the global spotlight, and since then, I have never looked back.
I went on to serve as a mentor in various dance shows, including DID Lil Masters in 2010 and DID Super Moms in 2013. I graced the stages of Dance Ke Superstars and Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa in seasons 4, 5, 8, and 9, where I choreographed esteemed actors such as Renuka Shahane, Sanaya Irani, Helly Shah, and mentored talents like Darsheel Safary and Avneet Kaur. Additionally, I had the honor of judging a national television dance reality show, Dance Kerala Dance, on the Zee Kerelam Channel.
Considering these accomplishments as milestones in my dance journey, I now take my passion further with the Jai Kumar Dance Institute (JKDI). My aim is to train and inspire dance enthusiasts from all walks of life. For me, dance is not only about performance but also about finding personal joy and sharing it with others. It has the power to uplift emotionally, spiritually, and physically. So, step up and set the dance floor ablaze, because I live to dance. Do you?