Sandip Soparrkar


Sandip Soparrkar is an Indian Latin and ballroom dancer, Bollywood choreographer, actor, columnist, Radio Jockey and a Ted X speaker, who holds a doctorate in World Mythology Folklore from the United States and also an Honorary Doctorate in Performing arts from The National American University. He has been honoured with 3 National Excellence Awards and 1 National Achievement Award by the Government Of India and he is also the recipient of the prestigious Dada Saheb Phakle Award. He founded "India Dance Week", which combines Indian and international dance. He has also become a philanthropist with this Worldwide initiative "Dance for a Cause" where he uses dance, drama and music as a medium to raise awareness of various social issues in the society. At the British House of Commons, World Book of Records / Indo-British Cultural forum honored Soparrkar with the title of "Ballroom Dance Jewel". He is the only dancer choreographer of India who has a postage stamp issued by the Bhutan Government with his picture and with the logo of his worldwide initiative 'Dance for a Cause'. Apart from that he is the only Indian dancer and choreographer who has the honour of having two miniature dancing replica dolls of his by India Fine Arts Council and My Cute Mini for his extraordinary work in the field of dance and social work.
He is the Chairperson of India Fine Art Council and extensively promotes artists from all fields . He has been bestowed with the title of ‘The World Peace Ambassador’ by The World Peacekeepers Movement. He is the first Indian to be certified by the Ballroom Dance Training School, Bonn, Germany and has been honoured with the National Achievement Award and with three National Excellence Awards by the Government of India. He is also a recipient of the Prestigious Shakti Samman in a form of a Sword by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India.. He has also been bestowed with the highest honour in the films world 'Dadsaheb Phalke Award' by The Dadasaheb Phalke Film Foundation, the only award which is recognised by the Federation of Western India Cine Employees
The Government of United States of American along with Lions Club International honoured Sandip with the 'Visionary Award' for developing a Ballroom dance program for the blind. He is the first Indian Dance choreographer who was invited to the United Nations Headquarters in New York city to conduct a dance session for the United Nations Staff through the United Nations Staff Recreation Council and Society for Promotion of Indian Culture and Experience. He has also been honoured twice by Mr. Thomas Lankey, honourable Mayor of Edison, New Jersey, United States of America with a Proclamation citation regarding his initiative 'Dance for a Cause', the Proclamation was handed over to him by Honourable Minister Mr. Antonio Sabas and his wife Mrs. Megumi N Sabas. Highest State honour was given to Sandip by The State of New Jersey, USA in form of an 'Assembly Resolution' by New Jersey General Assembly, USA. The renowned 'Dance Today' Magazine, USA, rates Sandip as one of the '100 most influential dancers in the world'. In the history of any Bollywood film magazine Soparrkar is the first dancer Choreographer to grace a cover of a Bollywood Magazine – Films Today
Worldwide popularity of Soparrkar grew manifolds when international luxury watch brand Rolex appointed him as their 'Indian Youth Icon' and gifted him with their timeless masterpiece . His debut film as an actor 'I Am Not a Pornstar Nazar Sambhal Ke - Mind you Gaze' sensational poster was released at the prestigious World Film Festival in Los Angeles, USA amidst Hollywood icons
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles have written personal letters of appreciation to Sandip Soparrkar for promoting ballroom and Latin dance culture in India. He was the first Indian to be invited to judge the Asian Latin & Ballroom Dance Championship held at Colombo where 32 countries took part with 78 competitive dances. He is the first Indian who was invited to be on the jury of Sharm Shaikh International theatre festival for the youth, Egypt, along with other top theatre personalities from all over the world Soparrkar is a noted contributor to The Asian Age and Afternoon Voice newspapers.
His Radio Show in India on Radio Nasha, Radio One and Fever FM titled 'Aao Twist Karein with RJ Sandip Soparrkar' received the World Book of Records London, UK certification as the world's first radio dance show. Apart from that he is also Nominated as the 'Goodwill Ambassador' for World Book of Records USA.

Soparrkar is also one of the Board of Directors of the prestigious International Business School Washington which has its branches in The United States of America, France and India..

Early life and training

Sandip was born in Bhopal, second of the two children to Col Ajay Kumar and Rani Soparkar. He is half Gujarati and half South Indian.. He belongs to a very illustrious family, his great grandfather Dr. M.B Soparkar had the honour of being the personal doctor to Mahatma Gandhi, Vallabhbhai Patel and Morarji Desai. His maternal great grand father Raibahadur Srinivaslu Naidu was given the title of Member of British Empire and was the first Indian conservator forest officer during the British times. His grandfather Dr. K.M Soparkar was the first gynaecologist in the Indian Army and His maternal uncle Lieutenant General M.L Naidu has been bestowed with many accolades such as Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and Yudh Seva Medal from the Government of India. His another maternal uncle Mr. Anil Koshti has been given the title of Member of The British Empire. He is also the nephew of the celebrated Indian film actress Padmashri Vyjayanthimala Bali and the legendary dancer and Member of Parliament Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan Dr Sonal Mansingh address him as her 'Dancing Son'. His sister in law Flight Lieutenant Namrata Chandi Naidu was the first woman pilot to land a chopper at 18,000 ft high helipad in Siachen Glacier.
He started his career as a hotel management graduate. He completed his specialisation in world cuisine and started working as a cook. At the same time, he started learning Latin and ballroom dances. When he choreographed for the award-winning film Zubeidaa in 2001, he decided to take up dancing as his career option. In 2007, he was unmarried and yet adopted a child named Arjun.
His father Col Ajay Kumar Soparkar is in the Indian Army and mother Rani Soparkar is a teacher. He travelled all over the world while he studied dance to gain more knowledge about the authenticity of various dance forms. He holds a Hotel Management Degree, a master's degree in Business Management from the Symbiosis Institute,a PhD in World Mythology folklore from the Pacifica Graduate Institute, California and an honorary doctorate in performing arts from National American University, making him one of the most highly educated Ballroom Dancers in the World.
He married Indian super model and actress Jesse Randhawa in 2009 but they separated in 2016.

Career

In 2014, Soparrkar along with his wife Jesse Randhawa represented India at the Cannes Film Festival in France. The duo also performed at the International Marathi Film Festival Award held in Hong Kong. As "The Indian Ambassador of Dance" Sandip also represented India's dance community at the Madrid International Film Festival, the St Tropez International Film Festival, the Berlin International Film Festival, the Nice International Film Festival, the Global Film Festival, and the World Film Festival.
In 2015, Soparrkar starred alongside Bollywood actors Raveena Tandon and Tiger Shroff in "India Dance Week". The later editions of it attracted guests such as Govinda, Helen and Bappi Lahiri.
Soparrkar was named the cause ambassador for adoption in India by Catalyst of Social Action. He is also the brand ambassador for the rubix cube sport in India and face of American NGO "Miracle Foundation" which helps Indian orphanages. Due to his interest in singing, the Karaoke World Championship made Soparrkar an ambassador for this as well.
Magazines featuring Soparrkar on the cover include India Today, Femina, Citadel, Brunch, World Luxury, Sun, Luxurious Life, Alta Moda, Truly Asia, ArtScape, Graphiti, Good Homes and Living, Ferns, Fins and Feathers, Vibrant Events, Aaj Ki Delhi, Re Vista, Debut Life, Alta Moda, Style and Swag., BE Reality, Byoutiful, WOW and many more. He has been featured on the cover of Robert H Cherny's best seller book Second Tango. He has also shared his recipes in The Vegan Kitchen: Bollywood Style! and My favourite Dish, cook books by Anuradha Sawhney.
Colombian singer Shakira, American singers Madonna, Beyonce Knowles and Britney Spears, and soccer player Diego Madarona have all taken dance instruction from Soparrkar. Bollywood actors Hrithik Roshan, Ameesha Patel, Dino Morea, Kajol, Tabu, Manisha Koirala, Sonam Kapoor, Neha Dhupai and Priyanka Chopra have also been his students.
Bollywood went crazy for Sandip when he broke all stereo type and was featured on the cover of the prestigious Bollywood magazine 'Films Today' in its July 2018 cover the cover was shot at New Jersey Gardens in USA and was designed by renowned Indian fashion designer Chhaya Gandhi. It was the very first time in the history of any film magazine that a dancer choreographer had graced its cover. Being the first to get featured on a Bollywood magazine cover got Soparrkar the tag of being the 'Poster Boy' of the Dance World.

As a celebrated dancer and choreographer he has walked as the showstopper for many renowned Indian and international designer like Neeta Lulla, Padmashree Wendell Rodricks, Rina Dhaka, Sanjana Jon, Rohit K Verma, Deepak Shah, Gulam Ali, Dhruv Sehgal, Mehraab, Maheka Mirpuri, Shruti Mahesh, Chhaya Gandhi and more.
The nibble footed dancer has inspired many artists with his impeccable dance moves and style, renowned painter and photographer Benoy Roy painted tango inspired live size paintings of Soparrkar along with his dance partners Jesse Randhawa and Dipannita Sharma. Highly inspired by the lord Shiva look of Soparrkar well known Indian artist Nilesh Auti painted Soparrkar. Painter and designer Debabrata Pal too painted Soparrkar and actress Hema Malini live during their show Namami Gange in their Lord Shiva and Ganga look.

Controversies

Soparrkar's personal life came into international spotlight when the German Daily publication reported that he had a son out of wedlock with his German girlfriend. The woman filed a claim that custody of the child should have gone to Soparrkar.
As Soparrkar was the brand ambassador for adoptions in India, as well as the first single man in India to adopt, it is believed that he inspired his student Madonna to adopt an Indian baby.
After Soparrkar choreographed Britney Spears's hit single Womanizer in 2008 international media went into a frizzy talking about their affair which lasted just for few weeks
He drew criticism when he declined to perform at the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton at Buckingham Palace in 2009.
The creative dancer choreographer mixed live Bihu music and song and danced the traditional Brazilian Samba to it. Little did he realise that this fusion dance which he created did not go down well with a few cultural organisations in Assam. There were people on the streets asking for an apology from the organisers and the choreographer for hurting and insulting Assamese culture with such a fusion.
The local people ripped the Samba-Bihu Fusion apart calling it Bollywood dance and saying it was disrespectful to the North East Indian culture. The controversy and anger of people grew even more when Sandip Soparrkar refused to give an apology for what he had created. Sandip Soparrkar said "My dance was a blend of authentic Bihu Music and traditional Samba dance, i did not change the bihu music to fit samba dance nor did I change samba dance to fit into bihu music, they both were used in its pure form, they just blended in so well, it was not a bollywood dance at all like some people are saying."
Soparrkar is known to have a very colourful life with many gorgeous ladies walking in and out of his life, actresses Shilpa Shetty, Britney Spears, Sharbani Mukherji, Yana Gupta, DJ Julia Bliss, Nicole Alvares, Miss World Yukta Mookhey and many have been rumored to have been close to the handsome dancer personally and professionally.
He acted in a controversial film disturbing Indian sensibilities titled 'I Am Not A Pornstar Nazal Sambhal Ke - Mind Your Gaze', a sensational poster of the film was released by Hollywood icons Mel Nowak at the World Film Festival in Los Angeles, USA

Humanitarian Work

When Soparrkar became the first single man to adopt in India he was chosen as the 'Cause Ambassador' of Catalyst for Social Action an organisation that helps orphans and orphanages in India. He actively promotes the cause of Adoptions all over the world.
The renowned dancer was also chosen as the face of US based NGO The Miracle Foundation, an organisation that seeks to empower orphan kids and raise them in a family-style orphanage with personal attention
In 2008 he in association with Mrs. Parmenshwar Godrej launched 'Dance for a Cause' at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland highlighting the Global cause by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals of 'Save the Tiger'. Since then Soparrkar has brought light to various other causes such as AIDS, Organ Donation, Cancer Care, Acid Attack, Drug Abuse, Domestic Violence, Care for the elderly and many more. He has been honoured with the National Excellence award in 2017 by the Government of India in regards to the same. and also the Government of Bhutan issued a postage stamp honouring his worldwide initiative
He is also on the advisory board with Confluence India, an organisation that unifies skills, talents and leadership globally. Rising yarn prices, falling employment opportunities, declining wage rates, shrinking markets and idling looms, Indian weavers have nobody to take up cudgels on their behalf. Confluence is a registered body under Indian Trust Act 1882. Confluence offer a fascinating model which combines compassion and artistic acumen to scale solutions that are needed now more than ever. The mission and vision of Confluence is to organize these Handloom weavers into clusters and make them competitive by providing support for their long term sustainability.
He took his Philanthropist work ahead when in India he adopted 2000 young girls in association with NGO Lets All Help and M/s Wonderize and took the initiative to take care of the personal hygiene by distributing free sanitary pads and educating the girls in regards to menstruation hygiene and also propagating that 'No one sleeps hungry or be void of basic personal hygiene.' . While Talking to the Media Sandip Soparrkar Said, “Menstruation is considered a taboo to even speak about in India, so imagine the reaction to the idea of a man adopting women to propagate genital hygiene, it surly is shocking for many but, I believe we dancers are the doors to our society, we show what is needed and how it can be done. We all are aware that poor genital hygiene has been found to be an important factor for the development of dysplasia and cervical cancer, and the use of pads made from reused cloth increases that risk. I am thrilled that through NGO lets all help we will now be able to inculcate the importance of genital hygiene to these women and through them help many more.”

Notable performances

As a film choreographer
As a theater choreographer
As a music video choreographer
TV commercial choreography
As a film actor
As a theater actor