From Kathak to Whacking: Taniya Adhikary's Dance Fusion Wins WhosNext 2023

Meet Taniya Adhikary, a 21-year-old journalism student at Bhawanipur Education Society College, whose journey from the shadows of shyness to the spotlight of WhosNext 2023 National Talent Hunt is nothing short of remarkable. Her dance style, a fusion of experimental whacking and Indian classical dance forms, not only reflects her talent but also carries the echoes of a powerful history.

From Shy Beginnings to WhosNext 2023 Win:

Despite her love for dancing, she was too shy to perform on stage. She shared, "During school events, teachers used to call students who performed, but they never called me because I was too shy to let people know that I love dancing. Not even my family knew about it." However, during an inter-school competition, she surprised everyone by taking the stage and qualifying for the semifinals. This was the turning point that ignited her passion for dance.

Photo Credit: Dynamic Frame

Taniya's Unique Dance Style:

Taniya has a unique dance style called experimental whacking, which is a combination of whacking and Indian classical dance, particularly Kathak. She was inspired by Kumari Suraj, who introduced this dance form to India. Taniya said that she saw Kumari Suraj and their crew, 'House of Suraj', perform on Dance Plus and was mesmerized by how they used their arms to express themselves and tell stories. This inspired her to explore more about it, and she discovered that Kumari Suraj brought this dance form to India. Whacking, which was formerly known as punking, originated as a way for oppressed communities to express themselves in the late 1970s and became a tool of liberation through dance.

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Undeterred by the challenges, Taniya dug deeper into underground battles, refining her skills to become a recognized name in the whacking community. Fusing whacking with her early love, Kathak, she created a mesmerizing dance form that resonated positively with audiences.

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Beyond the Dance Floor:

Taniya's art goes beyond the physical aspect of dancing. To her, it's a sacred form of liberation and a celebration of the soul. This philosophy is evident in her remarkable work, which includes featuring in Arijit Singh's music video 'Deh Shiva' where she effortlessly showcased her unique style.

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Lockdown Experimentation and WhosNext 2023 Win:

During the lockdown, Taniya's experimentation with dance led to unexpected appreciation. Her journey reached new heights when she received a last-minute invitation to WhosNext 2023. Despite initial doubts and logistical challenges, she seized the opportunity, booking a flight just days before the event.

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WhosNext Experience:

Taniya had an incredible experience at WhosNext. She described it as a dream come true, saying, "It was amazing to see creators from all kinds of genres and to perform on stage myself." 

The highlight of her evening was receiving lots of positive feedback about her performance and making new friends who were also winners. Taniya felt a strong bond with these new friends. 

The best moment of the night came when Taniya approached Sushant Divgikr for a photo. Sushant surprised her by asking for a photo with Taniya instead.

Photo Credit: Dynamic Frame

Taniya's story is an inspiration to all of us to embrace our talents and not let shyness hold us back. We all have a hidden hero inside of us, waiting to shine and make a difference.

Keep dancing, Taniya!