Puneet Varma (Editor)

Shiamak Style

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Shiamak Style is a dance form originated in India by choreographer and dance guru Shiamak Davar. It is a blend of Indo Contemporary and Modern movement with a strong Ballet grounding and performance-based visuals. A dancer performing this style can be compared to a peaceful warrior who is strong and yet peaceful and graceful in his movement.

Contents

A Shiamak Style class involves strength- and flexibility-based warm ups, passes and dance routines.

Origin

In the early 1990s Shiamak started his dance classes and combined his Indo Western upbringing into the dance he taught. Over the next decade, he formalized the style and set a syllabus that gave a refined definition to Shiamak Style. After the initial success in Mumbai, the style spread to over 14 cities in India and is now taught in Canada, Australia, United Kingdom and United Arab Emirates.

All Shiamak Style instructors are personally trained by Shiamak Davar, to then disperse and teach the style to students all over the world.

Exercises

Shiamak Style exercises involve many pliés, spotting exercises, lunges and stretches. The main focuses are improving core strength, strengthening muscles and toning the body. The exercises are dance based and are done as a choreography piece.

Shiamak Style focuses on repetition to improve the quality of movement. Shiamak has developed principles that are taught through the course for spacial awareness, range of motion, body alignment and posture.

Instructors are to teach the principles of Shiamak Style, which range from normal terms and how to execute them, to how to warm-up before a class.

Common Shiamak Style ballet terms are as follows:

  • chainé
  • chassé
  • pivot turn
  • pirouette
  • plié
  • coupé
  • passé
  • bras bas
  • pas de bourrée
  • tendue, degagé, and battement
  • relevé
  • ronde de jambe
  • Common Shiamak Style jazz terms are as follows:

  • ball change
  • fan kick
  • isolation
  • shimmy
  • barrel jump
  • dead-fall
  • attitude leg
  • jacking
  • References

    Shiamak Style Wikipedia