Nakul Dev Mahajan

Nakul Dev Mahajan (born September 15, 1975) is an American Bollywood dancer and choreographer best known for his choreography on So You Think You Can Dance. He is the founder and artistic director of NDM Bollywood Dance Productions and Studios, a Bollywood dance company based in Artesia, CA.[2] Mahajan has served as a talent show judge for reality television productions.[3][4][5] His dance choreography is prominent in the Disney Junior animated series Mira, Royal Detective.[6]

Nakul Dev Mahajan
Born (1975-09-15) September 15, 1975
Agra, India
OccupationDancer, choreographer
Years active2003 - present
Current groupNDM Bollywood Dance Productions and Studios[1]
DancesBollywood dance
Websitewww.ndmdance.com

Early life and background

Born in Agra, India, in a Punjabi family,[7] Mahajan and his family immigrated to the United States in the 1960s.[8] Mahajan began formal dance training at age 17,[8] and graduated from the University of California, Riverside with a bachelor's degree in Sociology and Dance in 2002.[9]

Career
Michelle Obama joins students for a Bollywood Dance Clinic with Nakul Dev Mahajan, in White House, November 5, 2013

The work of Nakul Dev Mahajan has been influenced by classical indian dances and Western dance styles (hip-hop, Latin and jazz).[10] As a result of his efforts to teach and promote the Bollywood dance style, Mahajan has been called Hollywood’s Favorite Bollywood Choreographer[11] and an Ambassador of Bollywood Dance.[12] Mahajan appeared as a guest star (dancer) in season 3, episode 6 (Diwali) of The Office (TV sitcom),[13] led a Bollywood Dance instructional session prior to the 81st Academy Awards (2009),[14] and choreographed a flash mob style Bollywood scene for an episode of Fuller House (TV series) (2016).[15][16] Sonia Singh (author) and Mahajan co-authored the script for One Man Bollywood Show, a 2009 stage production performed by Mahajan.[8]

2015 World Choreography Award recipients (left to right) Chucky Klapow, Paula Abdul, Nakul Dev Mahajan, Renee Ritchie (not pictured), for the video 'Check Yourself'.

In 2011, Mahajan was the recipient of the University of California, Riverside Outstanding Young Alumnus Award.[17][18] Mahajan was selected to the "Wall of the World" panel of judges for CBS' The World's Best (reality talent competition).[3][4] In 2015, the World Choreography Award (Digital Media Format) was awarded for Check Yourself, a collaboration between Mahajan, Chucky Klapow, Paula Abdul, and Renee Ritchie.[19][20]

Dance Studios

In 2003, Mahajan founded NDM Bollywood Dance Productions and Studios, the first Bollywood dance school in the U.S.; the school has since served over 3000 students.[21][22] In 2015, 430 students and 20 members of the school's dance troupe performed Bollywood Travels (the annual student recital) for a total of 2700 audience members.[23] Mahajan serves as a guest instructor in the faculty of the Broadway Dance Center.[24]

Television

So You Think You Can Dance (U.S., 2008-2019)

Nakul Dev Mahajan's choreography introduced the Bollywood Dance style to the stage of So You Think You Can Dance (reality TV show) in Season 4.[25] Katee Shean and Joshua Allen's performance of Mahajan's routine for Season 4 was in YouTube's "Most Viewed" list for one week,[26] and was included in BuzzFeed's 2014 25 Best 'So You Think You Can Dance' Routines of all Time listing.[27] In subsequent seasons of the show, Bollywood performances were included regularly (see summary table, below).

Choreography for So You Think You Can Dance (U.S.)
Season Week Dancers Style Song Result Reference
4 5 Katee Shean
Joshua Allen		 Bollywood "Dhoom Taana" from Om Shanti Om Safe [28]
6 Top 10 Bollywood "JBJ" from Jhoom Barabar Jhoom [25][28]
9 Katee Shean
Joshua Allen		 Bollywood "Dhoom Taana" from Om Shanti Om Judge's Pick
(Nigel Lythgoe)		 [28]
5 1 Caitlin Kinney
Jason Glover		 Bollywood "Jai Ho" from Slumdog Millionaire Safe [25][29]
6 Top 5 Female Dancers Bollywood "Dholna" from Pyaar Ke Geet
9 Caitlin Kinney
Jason Glover		 Bollywood "Jai Ho" from Slumdog Millionaire Judge's Pick (Christopher Lil' C Toler) [25][29]
6
(2009)		 2 Mollee Gray
Nathan Trasoras		 Bollywood "Azeem O Shaan Shahenshah" from Jodhaa Akbar Safe [30][31]
4 Guest dancers, Nakul Dev Mahajan and NDM Bollywood Dance Productions Bollywood "Desi Girl" from Dostana N/A [31]
7 Russell Ferguson
Ashleigh Di Lello (injured,
replaced by Rachel ___)		 Bollywood "Spirit of Rangeela" from Rangeela Safe [31][32]
8 Mollee Gray
Nathan Trasoras		 Bollywood "Azeem O Shaan Shahenshah" from Jodhaa Akbar Judge's Pick (Tyce Diorio) [31]
7
(2010)		 2 Kathryn McCormick
Jose Ruiz		 Bollywood Marjaani Marjaani Kasama from Billu Safe [33]
4 AdéChiké Torbert
Marla ____ (substitution for Alex Wong)		 Bollywood Mourya Re from Don: The Chase Begins Again Alex Wong injured (withdrew) [33]
7 Billy Bell
Robert Roldan		 Bollywood Ganesh from Bombay Dreams Judge's Pick (Stacey Tookey);
Bell Eliminated		 [33]
9 Kent Boyd
Lauren Gottlieb		 Bollywood Om Mangalam from Kambakkht Ishq [33]
8
(2011)		 2 Iveta Lukosiute
Nick Young		 Bollywood Baawre from Luck by Chance Eliminated [34]
4 Group dance Bollywood Kata Kata from Raavan [34]
6 Clarice Ordaz
Robert Roldan		 Bollywood Aila Re Aila from Khatta Meetha Eliminated [34]
9
(2012)		 2 Witney Carson
Chehon Wespi-Tschopp		 Bollywood "Tandav Music" from Aatish Kapadi Eliminated
5 Kathryn McCormick
Will Thomas		 Bollywood Ooh La La from The Dirty Picture Safe
10
(2013)		 2 Malece Miller
Jade Zuberi		 Bollywood Radha from Student of the Year Zuberi withdrew [35]
6 Group dance Bollywood Pandeyjee Seeti from Dabangg 2
9 Amy Yakima
Alex Wong		 Bollywood Munni Badnaam Hui Darling from Dabangg 2 [36]
11
(2014)		 4 Valerie Rockey
Ricky Ubeda		 Bollywood Dilliwaali Girlfriend from Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani Safe [37]
6 Bridget Whitman
Brandon Bryant		 Bollywood/Disco Disco Khisko (remix) from Dil Bole Hadippa! [38]
9 Jessica Richens
Zack Everhart, Jr.		 Bollywood Ghaghra from Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani [39]
12
(2015)		 2 Lily Frias
Burim Jusufi
Gaby Diaz
Edson Juarez		 Bollywood Dhol Baaje from Ek Paheli Leela Jusufi Eliminated
Juarez Bottom 6		 [40]
6 Jaja Vankova
Alex Wong		 Bollywood Naacho Re from Jai Ho soundtrack Safe
13
(2016)		 2 Contestants & All-stars Bollywood Let's Nacho from Kapoor & Sons [41]
7 J.T. and Marko Bollywood Malhari from Bajirao Mastani [42]
14
(2017)		 2 Inyoung "Dassy" Lee
DuShuant "Fik-Shun" Stegall		 Bollywood Radha Nachegi from Tevar [43]
6 Kaylee Millis
Kiki Nyemchek		 Bollywood Gallan Goodiyan from Dil Dhadakne Do Millis eliminated [44]
15
(2018)		 2 Magda Fialek
Darius Hickman		 Bollywood Badri Ki Dulhania from Badrinath Ki Dulhania [45][46]
16
(2019)		 14 Sophie Pittman
Bailey Muñoz		 Bollywood Butterfly from Jab Harry Met Sejal [47]

So You Think You Can Dance (Canada, 2008)

Mahajan choreographed the group dance performance of Nagada, Nagada from Jab We Met in So You Think You Can Dance Canada (season 1).

Superstars of Dance

Mahajan coached team India at the Superstars of Dance on the NBC Network and choreographed six remaining crews at the 2009 ABDCrews (season 4).[48][49][50]

Dance India Dance

Mahajan was selected as a judge for the 2015 edition of Dance India Dance North America (filmed in Mumbai).[5][51]

Dance Moms

For the Season 6, Episode 5 edition of the reality TV show Dance Moms, Mahajan coached the Abby Lee Dance Company Team, when Abby Lee Miller unexpectedly failed to attend practice sessions and competition.[52]

The World's Best

Selected to the Wall of the World, a panel of global entertainment experts for The World's Best, a reality talent competition produced by CBS, Mahajan served as a judge.[3][4]

Cancer

Diagnosis

A 2012 diagnosis of Stage 2 testicular cancer and subsequent chemotherapy treatment interrupted Mahajan's career.[12][22]

Check Yourself

In 2014, Mahajan choreographed a section of Paula Abdul's performance in Check Yourself, a breast cancer PSA (public service announcement) production by Avon Products.[53][54] Abdul, Mahajan, Chucky Klapow, and Renee Ritchie received a 2015 World Choreography Award for this work, in the category Digital Format.[19][20]

White House Diwali Celebration

Following a tradition started by George W. Bush in 2003, an annual Diwali celebration takes place at the White House.[55] For the 2013 edition of the White House Diwali celebration, First Lady Michelle Obama hosted a Bollywood dance workshop instructed and choreographed by Mahajan.[55][56][57] A photo of Michelle Obama dancing a Bollywood routine alongside Mahajan was cited as one of the top White House photos of 2013.[58][59]

Miss America 2014 Pageant

Mahajan choreographed the Bollywood-Indian classical dance fusion routine performed by Nina Davuluri (2014 Miss America and the first Miss America of Indian descent) at the Miss America 2014 Talent competition;[60] the routine was set to the song Dhoom Taana, from the film Om Shanti Om.[22] Davuluri's performance of this routine marked the first time a Bollywood dance routine had been performed on the Miss America stage.[22]

Mahajan was named to The American Bazaar's Top 10 Indian American Entertainers of 2013.[61]

Film

As associate choreographer, Mahajan choreographed the Bollywood scenes in the 2019 film High Strung Free Dance (a sequel to High Strung).[62][63]

Animation

Mira, Royal Detective

In 2019, Mahajan embraced the opportunity to work as the Choreographer and Indian Dance Consultant for the production of Mira, Royal Detective.[64] Described as "an animated mystery-adventure series for preschoolers, inspired by the cultures and customs of India" ,[65] the Disney Junior series features original song and dance in each episode.[6] Tasked with showcasing the diversity of Indian culture through choreography, Mahajan created original dance sequences for the cast of animated human and animal characters, ensuring representation of northern and southern Indian styles of dance, as well as Bollywood productions.[65][66]

Mickey Mouse Mixed-Up Adventures

In two episodes of Disney Television Animation's computer-animated children's television series Mickey Mouse Mixed-Up Adventures, the characters embark on adventures that showcase Indian culture on a Bollywood film set and a trip to New Delhi. The Bollywood and Indian Dance choreography for these episodes was performed by Mahajan.[2][67]

Awards
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