0:00:02 > 0:00:05In last week's programme, 18-year-old Rhys Antoni Yeomans
0:00:05 > 0:00:10gave the standout performance to win the BBC Young Dancer Ballet final.
0:00:10 > 0:00:13All the hard work, it paid off, I'm just over the moon.
0:00:13 > 0:00:15Like, I'm so shocked.
0:00:15 > 0:00:18He joins 21-year-old street dance winner Jodelle Douglas
0:00:18 > 0:00:21in the line-up for the grand final in two weeks' time.
0:00:23 > 0:00:27Tonight, five of the country's best Bharatanatyam and Kathak dancers
0:00:27 > 0:00:30compete in the South Asian Dance final.
0:00:30 > 0:00:34The winner will be guaranteed a place in the grand final
0:00:34 > 0:00:36and with it, the chance to perform right here
0:00:36 > 0:00:39on this world-famous stage at Sadler's Wells.
0:01:10 > 0:01:15November 2016 and following an initial selection process,
0:01:15 > 0:01:1811 dancers were invited to take part in the second round of the
0:01:18 > 0:01:22South Asian competition at Midlands Arts Centre in Birmingham.
0:01:22 > 0:01:25Their aim - to secure a place in the category final
0:01:25 > 0:01:28of BBC Young Dancer 2017.
0:01:29 > 0:01:33First, they have to impress a panel of leading dance experts -
0:01:33 > 0:01:38Sonia Sabri, one of the UK's foremost dancer choreographers...
0:01:38 > 0:01:40The standard has been exceptional.
0:01:40 > 0:01:43I'm always looking for a big flare,
0:01:43 > 0:01:46the finesse and the finishing of lines and there's a lot of that,
0:01:46 > 0:01:48so I think everyone is up to their game.
0:01:48 > 0:01:52..the distinguished teacher, dancer and choreographer, Piali Ray...
0:01:53 > 0:01:57We saw some very high quality performance,
0:01:57 > 0:02:01young dancers who had lot of clarity, confidence,
0:02:01 > 0:02:07and they showed a range of work that showed how versatile they were.
0:02:07 > 0:02:08Very impressed.
0:02:08 > 0:02:13..and acclaimed dancer and choreographer, Seeta Patel.
0:02:13 > 0:02:17It's genuinely inspiring to see young dancers at this stage
0:02:17 > 0:02:21of their career to be so mature and nuanced in their practice.
0:02:21 > 0:02:25The overarching thing that they all have is the presence,
0:02:25 > 0:02:29the artistry within their vocabulary of movement.
0:02:29 > 0:02:33The dancers each perform two solos, hoping to be one of the five
0:02:33 > 0:02:37selected to go through to the South Asian Dance final.
0:02:37 > 0:02:41I think we can 100% expect a really amazing show.
0:02:41 > 0:02:43And I was just talking to the other judges
0:02:43 > 0:02:45and we're glad we are not judging that round
0:02:45 > 0:02:47cos I think it will be really difficult for them
0:02:47 > 0:02:49to decide between them all.
0:02:49 > 0:02:51It's a very close competition, I think.
0:02:53 > 0:02:57The five dancers through to the final are...
0:02:57 > 0:03:0021-year-old Akshay Prakash from London...
0:03:02 > 0:03:06I took part in the competition to challenge myself.
0:03:06 > 0:03:10I'm feeling quite nervous but also excited.
0:03:10 > 0:03:14..from Watford, 21-year-old Jaina Modasia...
0:03:16 > 0:03:20Dancing touches my soul. It gives me a sense of freedom.
0:03:20 > 0:03:23So I want to be a freelance dancer and I want to grab any
0:03:23 > 0:03:26opportunity that I can whilst I'm young.
0:03:26 > 0:03:30..19-year-old Anaya Bolar from Birmingham...
0:03:30 > 0:03:34When you are on stage performing and doing something that you
0:03:34 > 0:03:35really love, the feeling, it's not...
0:03:35 > 0:03:40You can't really put a word to it. It's just a very beautiful feeling.
0:03:40 > 0:03:43..from Middlesex, 19-year-old Shyam Dattani...
0:03:45 > 0:03:49Kathak itself is a storytelling art. It's very expressive.
0:03:49 > 0:03:50When I was growing up,
0:03:50 > 0:03:53I found it quite hard to express myself and I feel like dance
0:03:53 > 0:03:58has given me that platform to really come out as the person that I am.
0:03:58 > 0:04:00..and completing the line-up,
0:04:00 > 0:04:0320-year-old Anjelli Wignakumar from Harrow.
0:04:03 > 0:04:06I just love being on stage and being able to perform.
0:04:06 > 0:04:09You get a really deep understanding of music and mythology and
0:04:09 > 0:04:11things, so you learn so much as well.
0:04:11 > 0:04:13Everything just comes together and it's just
0:04:13 > 0:04:15a really phenomenal feeling.
0:04:19 > 0:04:22In this South Asian final, the dancers are performing two of
0:04:22 > 0:04:26the most popular classical Indian dance styles.
0:04:26 > 0:04:27The first - Bharatanatyam -
0:04:27 > 0:04:29originated in the Hindu temples
0:04:29 > 0:04:32and court culture of southern India.
0:04:33 > 0:04:35The elements that one looks for
0:04:35 > 0:04:37is very strong footwork.
0:04:37 > 0:04:43I'll be hearing the rhythms really strongly, precisely delivered.
0:04:43 > 0:04:45It's a tough style, but it's really interesting.
0:04:45 > 0:04:48The lower half is really strong,
0:04:48 > 0:04:52allowing the upper half to really fly and do mad things.
0:04:52 > 0:04:55I find quite a lot of similarity between ballet and Bharatanatyam.
0:04:55 > 0:04:58Lot of it is done down in the demi-plie position,
0:04:58 > 0:05:00which we call araimandi.
0:05:00 > 0:05:04Another very specific visual element is the use of hand gestures,
0:05:04 > 0:05:06which are called hastas.
0:05:07 > 0:05:10The costume and the make-up, it's a part of the theatre of the
0:05:10 > 0:05:14form and then the use of the bells on the ankle accentuate the
0:05:14 > 0:05:16rhythmic aspect of the footwork.
0:05:18 > 0:05:21The other style we'll see is Kathak from northern India
0:05:21 > 0:05:25with its origins in the courts of Mughal rulers.
0:05:25 > 0:05:29Kathak dancers in ancient India were travelling bards known as
0:05:29 > 0:05:30Kathakas.
0:05:30 > 0:05:35A Kathak dancer kind of plays percussion with the feet.
0:05:35 > 0:05:37It's very sharp, geometrical,
0:05:37 > 0:05:39there's lots of wow factor
0:05:39 > 0:05:41through leaps and spins.
0:05:41 > 0:05:44The upper body moves in a very different way to the lower body
0:05:44 > 0:05:49because the upper body is the more emotional part of the dance.
0:05:49 > 0:05:52It's about feeling colours with your emotions and the lines
0:05:52 > 0:05:55then come out of your centre and go out.
0:05:57 > 0:06:00In classical Indian dance, these expressive skills are known as...
0:06:03 > 0:06:06Abhinaya tends to be translated as mime.
0:06:06 > 0:06:10It's about embodying certain feelings, certain characters
0:06:10 > 0:06:14and then expressing it and taking it to the audience.
0:06:14 > 0:06:16We tell stories without spoken words,
0:06:16 > 0:06:18but through the poetry of the music.
0:06:18 > 0:06:21There's something really powerful when you can connect to an audience,
0:06:21 > 0:06:23especially in something like Bharatanaytam or Kathak,
0:06:23 > 0:06:28which is telling stories inherently within the form.
0:06:28 > 0:06:31Today, South Asian dance is a powerful presence on the
0:06:31 > 0:06:32British dance scene,
0:06:32 > 0:06:34its influence extending into contemporary dance
0:06:34 > 0:06:37with choreographers like Shobana Jeyasingh
0:06:37 > 0:06:38creating innovative, new work.
0:06:40 > 0:06:43South Asian dance can be utilised in contemporary ways
0:06:43 > 0:06:46in the same way that ballet is, in the same way that contemporary is
0:06:46 > 0:06:48towards ballet. It's nice to see it in its true form,
0:06:48 > 0:06:51but also nice to see it developed into other areas of dance.
0:06:53 > 0:06:55Two years ago, Vidya Patel's performance
0:06:55 > 0:06:59in the final of BBC Young Dancer attracted the attention of one
0:06:59 > 0:07:02of the UK's most celebrated contemporary choreographers,
0:07:02 > 0:07:03Richard Alston.
0:07:05 > 0:07:09She was incredibly charismatic and the whole audience just went
0:07:09 > 0:07:10wild for her.
0:07:12 > 0:07:15Richard invited Vidya to join his dance company to perform in
0:07:15 > 0:07:18a new production - An Italian In Madrid.
0:07:18 > 0:07:23'What really I wanted to do was take another dance language and
0:07:23 > 0:07:25'see if I could'
0:07:25 > 0:07:27let it be part of my company's work.
0:07:28 > 0:07:32The show premiered last year at Sadler's Wells to critical acclaim.
0:07:36 > 0:07:40The combination, you know, of her and the rest of the company
0:07:40 > 0:07:42and the music, I just thought it was electric.
0:07:42 > 0:07:45It was really fantastic. And, you know, she's still so young
0:07:45 > 0:07:47and she had that audience in the palm of her hand.
0:07:52 > 0:07:53APPLAUSE
0:07:53 > 0:07:56It was an amazing experience to perform with the company,
0:07:56 > 0:07:59just to finally get on stage after rehearsing for
0:07:59 > 0:08:00so many weeks, it's been great.
0:08:02 > 0:08:05There's so much that I've learned from that. Performing with them...
0:08:05 > 0:08:09and I can't thank the opportunity enough because it's opened
0:08:09 > 0:08:10so many doors for me.
0:08:17 > 0:08:20It's January and four of the dancers hoping to follow in Vidya's
0:08:20 > 0:08:23footsteps are in Newport to meet the mentors who will guide them
0:08:23 > 0:08:25through the competition.
0:08:27 > 0:08:30Unfortunately, Akshay injured his ankle playing football shortly
0:08:30 > 0:08:33after winning his place in the final and it's uncertain whether
0:08:33 > 0:08:36he'll be able to continue in the competition.
0:08:37 > 0:08:41Working with the four dancers and sharing their expertise are
0:08:41 > 0:08:45dancer, choreographer and Kathak specialist Sonia Sabri...
0:08:45 > 0:08:47How I want the audience to feel as well,
0:08:47 > 0:08:49I think that's very important for me.
0:08:49 > 0:08:51..along with choreographer and Bharatanaytam expert
0:08:51 > 0:08:53Mira Balchandran Gokul.
0:08:53 > 0:08:57You are in your own headspace and you are trying to take your
0:08:57 > 0:08:58audience with you there.
0:08:58 > 0:09:02Something I wanted to suggest is to really walk through the
0:09:02 > 0:09:06space, just to feel the space under your feet and to kind of be
0:09:06 > 0:09:10aware of the dimensions because the more familiar you are with
0:09:10 > 0:09:13your space, the more likely you are going to settle into it.
0:09:13 > 0:09:16You have to own that space, you have to make it your home,
0:09:16 > 0:09:18you just have to master it, really.
0:09:20 > 0:09:23All our dancers have been tasked with preparing two solo pieces
0:09:23 > 0:09:26and a duet for the category finals.
0:09:26 > 0:09:29Now they get an opportunity to work through their solos
0:09:29 > 0:09:31with their specialist mentor.
0:09:33 > 0:09:35In her session with Kathak dancer Jaina,
0:09:35 > 0:09:38Sonia focuses on her stage presentation.
0:09:38 > 0:09:42Jaina is a wonderfully animated dancer.
0:09:42 > 0:09:45She has a lovely, quirky energy.
0:09:45 > 0:09:49I've been working on really fine-tuning her performance,
0:09:49 > 0:09:53particularly for a large stage and for an audience.
0:09:53 > 0:09:57I kind of took a step back and said, "If I was an audience member
0:09:57 > 0:10:01"and I had no knowledge of Kathak, would I have understood that?"
0:10:01 > 0:10:05And that's where you realise, "OK, just show that in a bit more detail."
0:10:05 > 0:10:08I definitely feel like I'm going in the right direction.
0:10:08 > 0:10:11I feel a lot more confident with my pieces.
0:10:12 > 0:10:14In another part of the theatre,
0:10:14 > 0:10:17Bharatanaytam dancer Anaya is being mentored by Mira,
0:10:17 > 0:10:21who advises how she can bring more precision to her pieces.
0:10:21 > 0:10:25She sparky, she's really nimble and we worked on characterization
0:10:25 > 0:10:28because obviously they're doing all of these Abhinaya pieces.
0:10:28 > 0:10:32I want the eyes also to show fear like that.
0:10:32 > 0:10:34Yeah, that's it.
0:10:34 > 0:10:37'She needs to just give herself time to have little punctuation marks
0:10:37 > 0:10:40'to get clarity within the piece that she's doing.'
0:10:40 > 0:10:42I just need a pause.
0:10:42 > 0:10:43'If that clarity is there,'
0:10:43 > 0:10:45then the space for the artistry...
0:10:45 > 0:10:46Otherwise it gets a bit dramatic.
0:10:48 > 0:10:52She wanted me to really play with the dynamics
0:10:52 > 0:10:57and trying to put more of my personality into the dance,
0:10:57 > 0:11:00trying to make my steps clearer.
0:11:00 > 0:11:02So it's a lot to work on.
0:11:04 > 0:11:07In his workshop with Sonia, Shyam is challenged to show more contrast
0:11:07 > 0:11:11in his Kathak pieces whilst making the most of his performance space.
0:11:11 > 0:11:14He's quite dramatic, which is great,
0:11:14 > 0:11:18but at the same time, it's good to really shine the softer,
0:11:18 > 0:11:21'more intricate values of dance as well.'
0:11:21 > 0:11:22Still, still, still!
0:11:22 > 0:11:25'So, today, we've been working on the expressional inside
0:11:25 > 0:11:27'and how we can use that both'
0:11:27 > 0:11:29for abstract and for narrative.
0:11:29 > 0:11:32We need to see variety. Again, the audience needs to be hooked.
0:11:32 > 0:11:34The judges need to be hooked.
0:11:34 > 0:11:38It's been really, really exciting to have a different perspective.
0:11:38 > 0:11:40Try to think about popping the bubble again.
0:11:40 > 0:11:41You never actually get there,
0:11:41 > 0:11:44but the aim is to try and pop it from within.
0:11:44 > 0:11:49She kind of scrutinized every section of my dance,
0:11:49 > 0:11:52saying how I should freeze in time at some points,
0:11:52 > 0:11:56make time stop and then become a whole whirl of movement again.
0:11:56 > 0:11:58There's a lot that I've had to consider
0:11:58 > 0:12:02and had to change about the way I am expressing myself.
0:12:03 > 0:12:05Anjelli is a Bharatanatyam dancer.
0:12:05 > 0:12:09Mira suggests ways of fine-tuning her storytelling.
0:12:09 > 0:12:13Anjelli has a very lovely, expressive quality.
0:12:13 > 0:12:15She said she really wanted to work on the Abhinaya piece,
0:12:15 > 0:12:17so we started off on that.
0:12:17 > 0:12:19People are sitting there, they don't know the story and so you
0:12:19 > 0:12:23have to create that excitement, establish the tone for the piece.
0:12:23 > 0:12:26'It's great to have a fresh pair of eyes to kind of critique your
0:12:26 > 0:12:29'dancing because she is trying to help me'
0:12:29 > 0:12:34with the kind of contrast of different atmospheres in the piece.
0:12:34 > 0:12:35Stretch everything.
0:12:35 > 0:12:38'We've worked on some postural aspects as well.'
0:12:38 > 0:12:40The audience are going to see you from all angles,
0:12:40 > 0:12:45'so you just have to be absolutely wonderful whichever way you turn.'
0:12:45 > 0:12:46So get nice length.
0:12:46 > 0:12:49She gave me a few tips on trying to lengthen my body,
0:12:49 > 0:12:51lengthen my arms and legs.
0:12:51 > 0:12:54It's quite insightful and hopefully will make me look less
0:12:54 > 0:12:56short and stubby on stage.
0:12:58 > 0:13:01Armed with advice from their mentors and with the category finals
0:13:01 > 0:13:06fast approaching, the dancers put the finishing touches to their repertoire.
0:13:06 > 0:13:08How does that feel?
0:13:08 > 0:13:11And with the all clear from his doctor, Akshay meets his
0:13:11 > 0:13:15mentor Mira for a last-minute workshop session.
0:13:15 > 0:13:17Akshay was very clear.
0:13:17 > 0:13:20He wanted to work on one specific piece that has a lot of jumps.
0:13:20 > 0:13:25We've worked on re-adapting to retain the dynamic quality
0:13:25 > 0:13:27of the jump, retain the feel of it,
0:13:27 > 0:13:30but not actually jump on the ankle he is injured.
0:13:30 > 0:13:32Are you OK with that?
0:13:32 > 0:13:36Yeah, but you need to programme your mind to do that.
0:13:36 > 0:13:39Re-adapting it kind of puts you off-balance because the mind
0:13:39 > 0:13:43plays horrible games, you know, as you are prepping for a performance.
0:13:43 > 0:13:46I have become super paranoid, I would say.
0:13:46 > 0:13:50Whenever I go outside, every step I take are baby steps.
0:13:50 > 0:13:55But also I'm doing exercises to strengthen my leg.
0:13:55 > 0:13:58It's just to make sure that on the day when I do half sits,
0:13:58 > 0:14:02which is essential in Bharatanatyam, I am able to feel comfortable.
0:14:03 > 0:14:05You OK?
0:14:05 > 0:14:08Despite the injury still causing some discomfort,
0:14:08 > 0:14:11Akshay is determined to continue in the competition.
0:14:14 > 0:14:17The Lowry Arts Centre, Salford Quays,
0:14:17 > 0:14:20and it's the day of the South Asian Dance final.
0:14:22 > 0:14:25With their mentors on hand, the dancers have one last chance
0:14:25 > 0:14:28to run through their programmes as they familiarise themselves
0:14:28 > 0:14:32with the space, lighting and television cameras.
0:14:32 > 0:14:33OK, OK.
0:14:33 > 0:14:37All they have to do now is to impress three of the UK's top
0:14:37 > 0:14:39South Asian dance experts.
0:14:42 > 0:14:45They are choreographer, performer and academic,
0:14:45 > 0:14:47Chitra Sundaram...
0:14:47 > 0:14:50In classical forms, we just don't have good and bad,
0:14:50 > 0:14:52we have right and wrong.
0:14:52 > 0:14:56So one of the hardest things to do is to be innovative
0:14:56 > 0:14:59and yet stay within the demands of the form.
0:14:59 > 0:15:02I will certainly be looking to see where that young dancer
0:15:02 > 0:15:05has found a little space which they've made for themselves.
0:15:06 > 0:15:11..Kajal Sharma, performer, teacher and leading exponent of Kathak...
0:15:11 > 0:15:15We have very strong technique in Bharatanatyam and Kathak,
0:15:15 > 0:15:20but actually, the inner dance is what I'm looking for.
0:15:20 > 0:15:23Their passion, their heart dancing with their body.
0:15:24 > 0:15:27..and our general adjudicator, judging across all four
0:15:27 > 0:15:30BBC Young Dancer categories, the critically acclaimed choreographer
0:15:30 > 0:15:33and dance producer, Shobana Jeyasingh.
0:15:34 > 0:15:37They've got to make sure that they are giving
0:15:37 > 0:15:40a very accurate reading of the technique.
0:15:40 > 0:15:44It's that kind of pull between how much you let go and invest your
0:15:44 > 0:15:48personality and how much you discipline yourself, so you
0:15:48 > 0:15:51can do justice to the very precise rules that you have to follow.
0:15:51 > 0:15:56So one of the things I look for is how far down that journey is
0:15:56 > 0:15:57the dancer.
0:16:04 > 0:16:07First to perform in this final, 21-year-old Bharatanatyam dancer,
0:16:07 > 0:16:09Akshay Prakash.
0:16:14 > 0:16:17Akshay is training to be a doctor in Romania.
0:16:17 > 0:16:19Whenever he's home in London,
0:16:19 > 0:16:22he takes time to practise his dance at The Bhavan Centre.
0:16:23 > 0:16:27The Bhavan is one of the largest institutes in the UK for
0:16:27 > 0:16:32classical Indian arts. It's been my second home.
0:16:32 > 0:16:34After I was born in hospital,
0:16:34 > 0:16:36I was brought to Bhavan by my parents.
0:16:36 > 0:16:41And I've been dancing since I was four, five.
0:16:41 > 0:16:44HE SPEAKS HIS OWN LANGUAGE
0:16:44 > 0:16:48Akshay studies Bharatanatyam under his father, the renowned guru
0:16:48 > 0:16:50Sri Prakash Vadagudde,
0:16:50 > 0:16:54who has been teaching at The Bhavan for over 35 years.
0:16:54 > 0:16:56He's very hard-working,
0:16:56 > 0:17:00concentrating towards his dancing and dedicated.
0:17:00 > 0:17:04You can't come up in dance if you don't work hard.
0:17:04 > 0:17:08- HE SPEAKS HIS OWN LANGUAGE - Take it easy with the right.
0:17:08 > 0:17:12I recently received an injury while I was playing football with
0:17:12 > 0:17:13a few friends.
0:17:13 > 0:17:16I've got a hairline fracture on my fibula,
0:17:16 > 0:17:18which is the side of the leg.
0:17:18 > 0:17:22My father and I have been working on strengthening my right leg
0:17:22 > 0:17:24and now I'm recovering.
0:17:24 > 0:17:29We've been incorporating different ideas into the dance that put less
0:17:29 > 0:17:31pressure on the right leg.
0:17:32 > 0:17:37I hope to graduate and then come back to the UK and then work
0:17:37 > 0:17:41as well as still learn dance.
0:17:41 > 0:17:44Hopefully, part-time dancer, part-time doctor,
0:17:44 > 0:17:48which is impossible, but it's something I hopefully can achieve.
0:17:49 > 0:17:52This is actually my first time during the competition.
0:17:52 > 0:17:55Usually I always do a performance for an audience
0:17:55 > 0:17:57who are interested in the art form,
0:17:57 > 0:18:00whereas in a competition, you are showing this to
0:18:00 > 0:18:04a wider audience who are not familiar the technique
0:18:04 > 0:18:06and the stories that you perform,
0:18:06 > 0:18:11so it gives me the chance to express the beauty of Bharatanatyam.
0:18:15 > 0:18:18With previous winner of the South Asian category Vidya Patel
0:18:18 > 0:18:21looking on from the audience, here is Akshay Prakash
0:18:21 > 0:18:23with a piece called Anjana,
0:18:23 > 0:18:26which tells the story of the monkey god Hanuman.
0:18:27 > 0:18:31UP-TEMPO MUSIC PLAYS
0:18:33 > 0:18:36In this piece, you are showing comedy, which is very unique,
0:18:36 > 0:18:41in a sense, because a lot of Bharatanatyam don't show humour.
0:18:41 > 0:18:45It shows three different characters and the dancer's challenge is
0:18:45 > 0:18:48to show those characters differently.
0:18:48 > 0:18:52SOUTH ASIAN MUSIC
0:20:31 > 0:20:33APPLAUSE
0:20:37 > 0:20:42For his duet, Akshay was joined by Sivahami Sivashankar
0:20:42 > 0:20:43to perform Sangamam.
0:21:06 > 0:21:09Akshay ends his programme with Shiva Stuti, a technical piece
0:21:09 > 0:21:12that conveys the abilities of Shiva, the God of Dance.
0:23:07 > 0:23:09CHEERING
0:23:09 > 0:23:13Akshay Prakash opening this South Asian dance final.
0:23:13 > 0:23:16You can see Akshay's and all of tonight's performances
0:23:16 > 0:23:18in full on our website...
0:23:25 > 0:23:27Akshay opened the evening
0:23:27 > 0:23:28on a very strong note.
0:23:28 > 0:23:33He's got a gift for being able to personify and embody
0:23:33 > 0:23:36these big characters.
0:23:36 > 0:23:39He really amazed the audience by doing this
0:23:39 > 0:23:41incredibly fast piece of dance,
0:23:41 > 0:23:44because he was able to be incredibly soft and graceful,
0:23:44 > 0:23:49and then powerful with huge leaps which he controlled brilliantly.
0:23:49 > 0:23:52I was really nervous for Akshay. We discussed he won't jump,
0:23:52 > 0:23:56but of course, he did! And he was great.
0:23:56 > 0:23:59I did a lot of moving, a lot of getting myself pumped,
0:23:59 > 0:24:03just to build that adrenaline in my body and mentally discipline myself,
0:24:03 > 0:24:05saying that everything's going to be fine -
0:24:05 > 0:24:09"You're not going to feel any pain when you go on stage."
0:24:09 > 0:24:12Next to perform, the first of two Kathak dancers
0:24:12 > 0:24:14- 21-year-old Jaina Modasia from Watford.
0:24:18 > 0:24:20MUSIC PLAYS
0:24:20 > 0:24:25I've been dancing for nearly 18 years now, and I feel like
0:24:25 > 0:24:29it has grown in me, so the older I have become,
0:24:29 > 0:24:34the more aware I have become of how much I love it and how much
0:24:34 > 0:24:37it's been a passion, not just a hobby.
0:24:37 > 0:24:39If Jaina looks familiar,
0:24:39 > 0:24:41it's because she was a category finalist
0:24:41 > 0:24:43in BBC Young Dancer 2015,
0:24:43 > 0:24:46when she was 19 and still studying at university.
0:24:48 > 0:24:52I've had a lot going on in my life, so my focus was trying to
0:24:52 > 0:24:57balance the two, whereas now, dance is my sole purpose.
0:24:58 > 0:25:01She's done it once, so she knows how tough it is,
0:25:01 > 0:25:05but at the same time, it will help her that she has been there once.
0:25:06 > 0:25:10Away from dance, a healthy rivalry with her sports-mad brother
0:25:10 > 0:25:12helps keep Jaina on her toes.
0:25:14 > 0:25:15We do spend a lot of time together,
0:25:15 > 0:25:19and he's very much into his fitness as well, so when we're
0:25:19 > 0:25:23both up for it, we do go for an occasional badminton match.
0:25:24 > 0:25:27I think she should just stick to dancing, to be honest.
0:25:27 > 0:25:29Remember, wrists. That's it, better.
0:25:30 > 0:25:32Yes!
0:25:32 > 0:25:34'Jaina's definitely got a competitive spirit about her,
0:25:34 > 0:25:36'on the court, off the court.'
0:25:36 > 0:25:39She's been doing really well in dance since she was a small kid,
0:25:39 > 0:25:42but she's always had that little spirit about her
0:25:42 > 0:25:43that she wants to improve.
0:25:43 > 0:25:46That's better. 'She wants to be the best at everything.
0:25:46 > 0:25:47'She tries to be the best at badminton,'
0:25:47 > 0:25:51even though she might not be as good as me, but no, that's fine.
0:25:51 > 0:25:52'He does support me a lot.
0:25:52 > 0:25:54'He always tells me, "Oh, aren't you meant to be dancing?"
0:25:54 > 0:25:57'He knows that when I am sitting in front of the TV,'
0:25:57 > 0:25:59I'm not meant to be. So, yeah,
0:25:59 > 0:26:03he really does give me that kind of motivation to get up and go.
0:26:05 > 0:26:09For me to get through to the Grand Finals would mean the world.
0:26:09 > 0:26:12That IS my aim. I'm aiming very high.
0:26:12 > 0:26:16No, but I would love to represent South Asian dance and I think
0:26:16 > 0:26:20I would give it my blood, sweat and tears to do.
0:26:20 > 0:26:24Jaina begins her performance with a piece entitled In Akbar's Palace.
0:26:27 > 0:26:33It's a very technical piece. It's in teental, a 16-beat cycle,
0:26:33 > 0:26:36and it's got a lot of spins, chakkars.
0:26:36 > 0:26:38It's got a lot of fast footwork,
0:26:38 > 0:26:43and obviously using our hands to create those lines.
0:26:45 > 0:26:48FAST-PACED SOUTH ASIAN MUSIC
0:28:20 > 0:28:22CHEERING
0:28:28 > 0:28:32Jaina's duet, Seven Heaven, was choreographed by her teacher
0:28:32 > 0:28:35Sujata Banerjee, and is performed with Peter Camilleri.
0:28:37 > 0:28:40GENTLE SOUTH ASIAN MUSIC
0:28:54 > 0:28:57For her final solo, Jaina performs Krishna,
0:28:57 > 0:28:59a piece more traditionally associated
0:28:59 > 0:29:01with the Bharatanatyam style.
0:29:02 > 0:29:06I'm playing Lord Krishna's mother, Yashoda,
0:29:06 > 0:29:09showing the love that a mum has for her son.
0:29:09 > 0:29:13The way she plays with him, how she feeds him,
0:29:13 > 0:29:16and within that I show the other aspect of a mother,
0:29:16 > 0:29:20where she's hard-working - she's doing some housework and stuff.
0:29:23 > 0:29:26SOUTH ASIAN MUSIC
0:31:10 > 0:31:11CHEERING
0:31:17 > 0:31:20You couldn't help being drawn to her just because of
0:31:20 > 0:31:23her personality, and she has a huge stage presence.
0:31:23 > 0:31:26I thought it was quite courageous of her to perform
0:31:26 > 0:31:30a very popular piece from the Bharatanatyam repertoire.
0:31:30 > 0:31:33It was lovely to watch her explore that in Kathak
0:31:33 > 0:31:35without losing her form.
0:31:35 > 0:31:37Overall, I'm pleased.
0:31:37 > 0:31:40Regardless of not getting it or getting it,
0:31:40 > 0:31:43hopefully I did Kathak justice.
0:31:45 > 0:31:47Still to come - 19-year-old Shyam Dattani...
0:31:48 > 0:31:51..and 20-year-old Anjelli Wignakumar.
0:31:54 > 0:31:57But first, it's 19-year-old Anaya Bolar from Birmingham.
0:32:00 > 0:32:03Anaya is the second of three Bharathanatyam dancers
0:32:03 > 0:32:06competing in this category final.
0:32:06 > 0:32:10I have been dancing for...15 years.
0:32:10 > 0:32:12It's something I was always surrounded by,
0:32:12 > 0:32:16especially my mother being my teacher, so it's kind of got
0:32:16 > 0:32:20to the point where it's something I can't quite live without.
0:32:20 > 0:32:25I especially love the storytelling aspects of my art form,
0:32:25 > 0:32:29because you go on stage and become whoever you want to be.
0:32:31 > 0:32:34Anaya also made it through to the category finals of
0:32:34 > 0:32:36BBC Young Dancer back in 2015,
0:32:36 > 0:32:39and decided she wanted to compete again.
0:32:39 > 0:32:44Last time, I was always questioning myself and what I wanted to do,
0:32:44 > 0:32:48whether I wanted to be a physiotherapist or
0:32:48 > 0:32:50if I wanted to be a full-time dancer.
0:32:50 > 0:32:54I realised that dance is something I'm very, very passionate about,
0:32:54 > 0:32:57and it's something I DO want to pursue,
0:32:57 > 0:33:01so I have been working very hard these past few months
0:33:01 > 0:33:03to really improve myself.
0:33:03 > 0:33:07I've improved my style, improved my steps.
0:33:07 > 0:33:09She wants it this time.
0:33:09 > 0:33:12She's putting a lot of hours in on her own.
0:33:12 > 0:33:13She's not there yet,
0:33:13 > 0:33:18but I can see that she's very confident and very committed.
0:33:18 > 0:33:22I've been working on being more calm on stage and not looking
0:33:22 > 0:33:25so tense, which is an old habit of mine.
0:33:26 > 0:33:30I'm just nervous and actually super-pumped.
0:33:30 > 0:33:32SHE EXHALES AND LAUGHS NERVOUSLY
0:33:32 > 0:33:34But I'm using that kind of nervousness,
0:33:34 > 0:33:36that "Oh, there are going to be judges there"
0:33:36 > 0:33:38to really push myself a lot harder.
0:33:40 > 0:33:42Anaya's first piece tells the story of
0:33:42 > 0:33:46a fateful game of dice between rival cousins, and involves Draupadi,
0:33:46 > 0:33:49one of the key female characters from the Hindu epic The Mahabharata.
0:33:52 > 0:33:55HIGH-TEMPO SOUTH ASIAN MUSIC
0:33:56 > 0:34:00The main thing in this dance is I'm playing multiple characters,
0:34:00 > 0:34:04so the most fun part is changing from different characters.
0:35:23 > 0:35:26Anaya also performed a technical piece called Chattarang.
0:35:52 > 0:35:55For her duet, Anaya presented a new work,
0:35:55 > 0:35:58choreographed by Subhash Viman Gorania.
0:35:58 > 0:36:03It features contemporary dancer Kaine Ward and is titled Woven.
0:36:03 > 0:36:06I've never worked with a giant piece of rope, so when our choreographer
0:36:06 > 0:36:11said, "Just wrap it round you and now pull it from her and spin."
0:36:11 > 0:36:15And at first you're like, "Eh, this is slightly terrifying."
0:36:15 > 0:36:17On top of that, doing a lot more contact work
0:36:17 > 0:36:19is something I've never done before,
0:36:19 > 0:36:22so when we were being introduced to that
0:36:22 > 0:36:26in the choreography, I was like, "OK! This is new."
0:36:26 > 0:36:30But eventually, you just grow to love it.
0:36:32 > 0:36:34DREAMY MUSIC
0:39:05 > 0:39:08Anaya Bolar and her duet partner Kaine Ward.
0:39:13 > 0:39:14She stood out.
0:39:14 > 0:39:18Full of technicality, beautiful stances, hand movements -
0:39:18 > 0:39:20strong contestant.
0:39:20 > 0:39:26The piece I really thought she came into her own in was Woven.
0:39:26 > 0:39:28She took it to the next level.
0:39:28 > 0:39:32I would say that was the highlight of tonight's competition.
0:39:32 > 0:39:36All those rehearsals and all the fears I had of things
0:39:36 > 0:39:39going wrong, and then when we finally got to do it,
0:39:39 > 0:39:41I was so happy. It was so satisfying.
0:39:43 > 0:39:45Next to perform in this final,
0:39:45 > 0:39:4919-year-old Kathak dancer Shyam Dattani from Middlesex.
0:39:54 > 0:39:58Shyam has been busy working with his teacher Urja Thakore
0:39:58 > 0:40:01on three Kathak pieces he hopes will demonstrate his passion
0:40:01 > 0:40:02for the dance form.
0:40:02 > 0:40:06I feel like Kathak is the truest expression of myself,
0:40:06 > 0:40:10where I can come out the most and express my inner feelings.
0:40:10 > 0:40:13It's also something I can share with people so easily.
0:40:13 > 0:40:16It's the best way for me to show my feelings.
0:40:16 > 0:40:18You're holding the Earth. Earth cannot be...
0:40:18 > 0:40:21'The important thing Shyam needs to needs to remember is focusing'
0:40:21 > 0:40:24on his strengths, but at the same time, he needs to calm down.
0:40:24 > 0:40:26He gets really excited
0:40:26 > 0:40:28and he can overdo certain things.
0:40:28 > 0:40:31I think I've told him this thousands of times.
0:40:31 > 0:40:35I'm saying it now on camera, so hopefully he'll listen!
0:40:36 > 0:40:38CHOIR SINGS
0:40:41 > 0:40:43Shyam regularly attends
0:40:43 > 0:40:47the Bhaktivedanta Manor Hare Krishna Temple in Watford.
0:40:47 > 0:40:48In the run-up to this final,
0:40:48 > 0:40:52it offers him a chance to escape the intensity of rehearsals.
0:40:54 > 0:40:57I just love going there because it's such a serene setting,
0:40:57 > 0:41:02and it's somewhere where I can take a break from the craziness
0:41:02 > 0:41:04that is normal day-to-day life.
0:41:06 > 0:41:08'I have a group of five best friends,
0:41:08 > 0:41:10'and I would not have met them if I hadn't gone to the manor.'
0:41:10 > 0:41:13When I was applying to university last year, they said,
0:41:13 > 0:41:16"No, Shyam, you should just follow your passion,"
0:41:16 > 0:41:19and after a year I realised what they were saying was true.
0:41:19 > 0:41:23So it's actually down to them that I'm on this journey.
0:41:23 > 0:41:25We always kind of knew that Shyam was
0:41:25 > 0:41:27a dancer and we really appreciate that
0:41:27 > 0:41:31he is passionate about what he does. It's nice to see.
0:41:33 > 0:41:36In the last week of preparation I've been trying to hone in
0:41:36 > 0:41:40to what Sonia was saying in our workshops about trying to push
0:41:40 > 0:41:42the boundaries of my dance.
0:41:42 > 0:41:45I remember she gave me this analogy of
0:41:45 > 0:41:48a bubble and saying I should always be trying to pop that bubble.
0:41:48 > 0:41:51Really stretching my arms out, using the space,
0:41:51 > 0:41:53and I've been really trying to focus on that.
0:41:53 > 0:41:55CHEERING
0:41:55 > 0:41:59Shyam's first dance is Udaan, which literally means "to fly."
0:42:01 > 0:42:06It's a technical piece and it involves a lot of pirouettes,
0:42:06 > 0:42:11a lot of footwork. Intricate timing, playing with the 14-beat time cycle.
0:42:11 > 0:42:16And I really want myself to come out on stage as I am
0:42:16 > 0:42:18as a person and really enjoy it.
0:42:20 > 0:42:22FAST-PACED SOUTH ASIAN MUSIC
0:43:51 > 0:43:53CHEERING
0:43:55 > 0:44:00For his duet, Shyam was joined by Ishira Shah to perform Yamal.
0:44:39 > 0:44:42Shyam's final piece is Ganesh Vandana,
0:44:42 > 0:44:45which demonstrates the devotional aspect of Kathak,
0:44:45 > 0:44:48paying homage to a deity.
0:44:48 > 0:44:51Mine is the god Ganesha, who is a remover of obstacles,
0:44:51 > 0:44:54and I'm really trying to show myself
0:44:54 > 0:44:58as a devotee and really submit myself to Ganesha in the piece.
0:44:58 > 0:45:02MUSIC: Vigneshwara Dharani Dhara by Suresh Wadkar
0:47:02 > 0:47:06I'm looking for someone who is totally involved.
0:47:06 > 0:47:08I found that in Shyam.
0:47:08 > 0:47:13He had a very good blend of the soft and the powerful,
0:47:13 > 0:47:17and he really took command of the space and covered it
0:47:17 > 0:47:19in a very masterful way.
0:47:19 > 0:47:22I'm really happy with my second solo. I really think I brought
0:47:22 > 0:47:26the devotional atmosphere to the auditorium, and I'm really hoping
0:47:26 > 0:47:30that the judges were moved by, as much as I am, by this piece.
0:47:32 > 0:47:36Last to perform in this final, 20-year-old Bharatanatyam dancer,
0:47:36 > 0:47:38Anjelli Wignakumar from Harrow.
0:47:43 > 0:47:46At the moment, I'm at Imperial College studying medicine,
0:47:46 > 0:47:49and I'm in my third year now.
0:47:49 > 0:47:52It is quite intense, it's quite stressful sometimes,
0:47:52 > 0:47:54but it's what I've wanted to do for so long,
0:47:54 > 0:47:57and I really, really do enjoy it.
0:47:57 > 0:48:01Hopefully, one day, I actually graduate, become a doctor.
0:48:01 > 0:48:03That would be good.
0:48:03 > 0:48:06Despite the pressures of full-time medical studies,
0:48:06 > 0:48:10Anjelli's love of dance means that it remains a huge part of her life.
0:48:10 > 0:48:14I've just never considered not dancing. It's so lovely
0:48:14 > 0:48:17to just escape everything and express yourself through
0:48:17 > 0:48:20movement and through acting.
0:48:20 > 0:48:24Rehearsals have been more about how we can get it really sharp
0:48:24 > 0:48:25and precise.
0:48:25 > 0:48:29Things like keeping your central core all together
0:48:29 > 0:48:34and making sure that your limbs are kind of flowing from your core.
0:48:34 > 0:48:37It's important when you're performing because you want it
0:48:37 > 0:48:39to look elegant, you want it to look graceful.
0:48:39 > 0:48:43Go with the flow of the music. Keep singing inside.
0:48:43 > 0:48:44Absolutely vital.
0:48:44 > 0:48:49I always insist on how to perform for the music.
0:48:49 > 0:48:51It's not just moving the body and arms.
0:48:51 > 0:48:52It should come from within.
0:48:52 > 0:48:55It requires a great degree of passion.
0:48:56 > 0:48:58You can see that when she performs.
0:49:01 > 0:49:03When Anjelli needs a break from all her studies,
0:49:03 > 0:49:06she heads for the hockey pitch with her medic teammates.
0:49:06 > 0:49:07One, two, three!
0:49:07 > 0:49:09- ALL:- ICMF!
0:49:09 > 0:49:11A few of them have actually come to performances,
0:49:11 > 0:49:15and it's nice because they've never seen that kind of dance before.
0:49:15 > 0:49:17All in the car, going, "What are we going to see?"
0:49:17 > 0:49:20And then her costume was all amazing, and...
0:49:20 > 0:49:23The music as well. There was, like, a live orchestra.
0:49:23 > 0:49:25- It was really incredible.- Yeah. - We'll be supporting her
0:49:25 > 0:49:28the whole way. We're all really proud of her.
0:49:30 > 0:49:31Yeah.
0:49:31 > 0:49:33Where you're standing now.
0:49:33 > 0:49:36The preparation's been quite intense. Just sort of working
0:49:36 > 0:49:41on finer details, but also thinking about basics - keeping lines clean
0:49:41 > 0:49:43and trying to show off your unique points.
0:49:43 > 0:49:45But I'm also working with live musicians
0:49:45 > 0:49:50and I really feel like you can feel their energy and bounce off that.
0:49:50 > 0:49:53I just kind of hope that what I've been doing in rehearsals
0:49:53 > 0:49:56comes up on stage and it all goes well.
0:49:57 > 0:50:00Anjelli's first piece is a homage
0:50:00 > 0:50:02to the grand lord of dance, Shiva.
0:50:06 > 0:50:09I have to switch between pretending to be Lord Shiva
0:50:09 > 0:50:12and the narrator of the dance.
0:50:12 > 0:50:16Getting the change slick and convincing, it's quite difficult.
0:50:16 > 0:50:18The differences are quite subtle.
0:50:18 > 0:50:19But I've been trying to work on it
0:50:19 > 0:50:22and hopefully it sort of comes across.
0:50:22 > 0:50:26MUSIC
0:52:08 > 0:52:10APPLAUSE
0:52:15 > 0:52:20Anjelli's duet piece was performed with Piriyanga Kesavan.
0:52:20 > 0:52:22MUSIC
0:52:51 > 0:52:54To end, Anjelli performs Javali,
0:52:54 > 0:52:57which tells of the love between Radha and Krishna.
0:52:57 > 0:53:01I'm actually a friend of Radha, and I'm just explaining how lovesick
0:53:01 > 0:53:04she is at the moment due to their separation.
0:53:04 > 0:53:07Because the overall mood of the piece is quite sad, I've got
0:53:07 > 0:53:11to be able to maintain that level of sorrow throughout the piece.
0:53:11 > 0:53:14MUSIC
0:54:40 > 0:54:45Anjelli Wignakumar bringing this South Asian dance final to a close.
0:54:45 > 0:54:49And if you'd like to see all of tonight's performances in full,
0:54:49 > 0:54:51you'll find them on our website...
0:54:56 > 0:55:00Anjelli opened with a very stunning piece on the god Shiva.
0:55:00 > 0:55:04Beautiful poses, well held, very, very strong.
0:55:04 > 0:55:08And it was, I think, her piece of the evening.
0:55:08 > 0:55:10You know, you really felt her confidence and her kind of
0:55:10 > 0:55:12mastery of technique.
0:55:12 > 0:55:15When I finished, and I heard the audience applauding,
0:55:15 > 0:55:18it was just really nice because it means that someone out there
0:55:18 > 0:55:20in the audience, at least even one person, appreciated it.
0:55:20 > 0:55:22So it's just nice to hear.
0:55:23 > 0:55:26Now, before we hear the result, here are the judges with their
0:55:26 > 0:55:29thoughts on the dancers in this final.
0:55:29 > 0:55:33It was a tough decision because they had pushed themselves and
0:55:33 > 0:55:36entertained us and impressed us.
0:55:36 > 0:55:39Believe me, it was very difficult for all of us to decide
0:55:39 > 0:55:42because the standard was very high.
0:55:42 > 0:55:46Everyone was competing in some bits better than others.
0:55:46 > 0:55:50Every single dancer was extremely talented.
0:55:50 > 0:55:53You know, in a way, it's a bit sad that one has to choose one,
0:55:53 > 0:55:57but, you know, they all had the quality of winners, I think.
0:56:02 > 0:56:06And here to announce the winner, Shobana Jeyasingh.
0:56:06 > 0:56:07Hello, everyone.
0:56:07 > 0:56:10I hope you had a wonderful evening.
0:56:10 > 0:56:14Myself and my fellow judges, Chitra and Kajal, certainly have.
0:56:14 > 0:56:18I really want to totally congratulate all the young
0:56:18 > 0:56:21dancers who we saw here today. Who...
0:56:21 > 0:56:23APPLAUSE
0:56:26 > 0:56:30..you know, who have shown such single-mindedness,
0:56:30 > 0:56:33dedication and perseverance.
0:56:33 > 0:56:36So, anyway, here's the moment that we've all been waiting for.
0:56:36 > 0:56:42So the winner of the BBC Young Dancer 2017 South Asian
0:56:42 > 0:56:44dance final is...
0:56:45 > 0:56:46Shyam Dattani.
0:56:46 > 0:56:48CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:57:07 > 0:57:09Shyam had a really special quality to him.
0:57:09 > 0:57:14More than anything else, he looked as if he owned the material,
0:57:14 > 0:57:16that he owned the technique.
0:57:16 > 0:57:19And so you kind of just enjoyed looking at him as a performer.
0:57:21 > 0:57:27Shyam's dance was more like personification of his dedication.
0:57:27 > 0:57:30He was not dancing to please someone,
0:57:30 > 0:57:33he was dancing very naturally.
0:57:33 > 0:57:37- And he had command. - There was a very strong technique.
0:57:37 > 0:57:39Very strong partner work.
0:57:40 > 0:57:45Good relationship with the audience, as I felt as an audience member
0:57:45 > 0:57:47how I was being drawn into his work.
0:57:47 > 0:57:50And that's what made him stand out for me.
0:57:50 > 0:57:52CHEERING
0:57:52 > 0:57:58I'm speechless. Honestly, I genuinely didn't think that this would happen, and I'm really
0:57:58 > 0:58:02honoured that I'm able to represent South Asian dance in this way.
0:58:04 > 0:58:08Competing with other dancers is out of this world.
0:58:08 > 0:58:09It's a dream come true.
0:58:11 > 0:58:16Shyam Dattani, winner of the South Asian dance final. Huge congratulations to him.
0:58:16 > 0:58:18Next week we arrive at the last of our category finals,
0:58:18 > 0:58:22where five dancers compete for the contemporary title.
0:58:22 > 0:58:25We'll also discover who's been selected as the wild card
0:58:25 > 0:58:28from across all four categories, giving us the full line-up
0:58:28 > 0:58:32for the grand final of BBC Young Dancer 2017.
0:58:37 > 0:58:40There's no rules with contemporary dance, really.
0:58:40 > 0:58:43Every time I feel the need to let it all out, I just dance.
0:58:43 > 0:58:48I'm just excited, I'm nervous, I can feel it building up.
0:58:48 > 0:58:53Being down to the last five is a huge honour.
0:58:53 > 0:58:56It's an incredible experience and one that is very hard to put
0:58:56 > 0:58:57into words, I think.
0:58:57 > 0:59:00It's about a minute before the performance and I'm thinking,
0:59:00 > 0:59:02"Is it too late to do a runner?"