Jesse, Sandip to perform at Prince William and Kate Middleton's Royal Wedding reception

Choreographer Sandip Soparrkar & his wife Jesse Randhawa

Mar 18, 2011, 11.07am IST

Sandip Soparrkar and Jesse Randhawa

Mumbai : Sandip Soparrkar takes another step to international limelight as he prepares to perform for the royal reception of Prince William and Kate Middleton. Kavita Kane speaks with the hotstepper to find out more.

Thanks to Pune boy, dancer-choreographer Sandip Soparrkar, the jhatkas of Bollywood will waltz within the high ceiling hall of Buckingham palace. He and his model wife, the sultry Jesse Randhawa have the honour to perform the last dance at the royal wedding reception of Prince William and Kate Middleton on 29th April, 6 O' clock in the evening.

"It is going to be a full five minute recital where I shall perform 'Bollywood waltz' — that is the dance style will be waltz but on slow Bollywood tracks," says the choreographer who had performed at popstar Katy Perry's Indian nuptials with British comedian Rusell Brand last year.

With the buzz strong that it will be either the current chartbusters Munni badnam hui and Sheila ki jawani which will ring through the royal nuptials, Soparrkar strongly rubbishes the rumours. "There is certainly no dhin-chak numbers in my list," he quickly clarifies.

"The songs I have chosen are all slow, romantic numbers form different films — 1947- A Love Story, Om Shanti Om, Maine Pyar Kiya , etc. I have selected 14 numbers out of which four will be selected by the organizers by the end of this month after which I shall choreograph the final dance number.

And no, I have not included any Rehman track," he adds considering that this eclectic music composer is another Bollywood favourite in the international circuit.

Asked on how he got this plum chance to perform in front of the British royals and 'the wedding of the decade', Soparrkar answers sheepishly, "I frankly don't know how this happened!" he chuckles.

Possibly his track record of having performed at 'Queen of Pop' Madonna's fiftieth birthday party and the Britney Spears's Womanizer music video which he has choreographed, helped. "The last time I heard from them was in 2004 when I received a letter of appreciation from Prince Charles for my work in promoting ballroom dancing in India.

I had last met the Prince of Wales when he visited the sets of Mangal Pandey, a movie I had helped choreograph."

The iconic royal wedding, to be held at the Westminister Abbey, understandably a lavish affair with a budget of 12 million pounds, will be attended by 600 of the world's most important leaders and celebrities out of which are 200 political figures and 100 foreign royals and the most famous names from the world of glamour and entertainment.

Soparrkar will perform the closing piece — the most exclusive show of the evening — at a dinner dance hosted by Prince Charles, which will be held at the Buckhingham Palace. "It is an honour to be invited for this wedding and here I have been asked to perform for the best part of the show!" exclaims an excited Soparrkar.

"Since our dance will be the last performance of the evening I am planning to highlight it with a high tempo music and dance ballet to end the evening in a grand flourish which ends on a high note!"

The choice of Bollywood at the royal wedding is unusual but keeping in mind the growing popularity of Hindi filmi dance-and-song prototype and the vast Indian populace in UK, the choice seems just right. Soparrkar is confident he will sizzle the floor.

"Waltz is a slow dance but the Bollywood music will make it high tempo. I have been blending Latin and Ballroom dances with Bollywood music in all the films I have choreographed, so this will be on familiar lines. I shall mix an authentic international dance form with filmy music and blend cultures in such a way so to be appreciated by everyone."

It seems that the dancing duo were approached some months ago and signed on once the price was exhaustively discussed. What was the astronomical amount he quoted? "I am not telling!" he grins to waltz off glibly.

His many moves

He performed at Popstar Katy Perry's Indian nuptials with British comedian Rusell Brand last year

In 2008 Sandip Soparrkar and Jesse Randhawa danced at Queen of Pop Madonna's fiftieth birthday party

He has choreographed Britney Spears's Womanizer music video (sourced :TimesofIndia)