Nakul Dev Mahajan

American dancer and choreographer
The basics

Quick Facts

IntroAmerican dancer and choreographer
PlacesIndia
isDancer Choreographer
Work fieldDancing
Gender
Male
Birth15 September 1975, Agra
Age49 years
The details

Biography

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 Dance Productions and Studios, a Bollywood dance company based in Artesia, CA.

Early life and background

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

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). As a result of his efforts to teach and promote the Bollywood dance style, Mahajan has been called Hollywood’s Favorite Bollywood Choreographer and an Ambassador of Bollywood Dance. Mahajan appeared as a guest star (dancer) in season 3, episode 6 (Diwali) of The Office (TV sitcom), led a Bollywood Dance instructional session prior to the 81st Academy Awards (2009), and choreographed a flash mob style Bollywood scene for an episode of Fuller House (TV series) (2016). Sonia Singh (author) and Mahajan co-authored the script for One Man Bollywood Show, a 2009 stage production performed by Mahajan. In 2011, Mahajan was the recipient of the University of California, Riverside Outstanding Young Alumnus Award.

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. 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. Mahajan serves as a guest instructor in the faculty of the Broadway Dance Center.

So You Think You Can Dance (U.S., 2008-2015)

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. Katee Shean and Joshua Allen's performance of Mahajan's routine for Season 4 was in YouTube's “Most Viewed” list for one week, and was included in BuzzFeed's 2014 25 Best 'So You Think You Can Dance' Routines of all Time listing. 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.)

SeasonWeekDancersStyleSongResultReference
45Katee Shean
Joshua Allen
Bollywood"Dhoom Taana" from Om Shanti OmSafe
6Top 10Bollywood"JBJ" from Jhoom Barabar Jhoom
9Katee Shean
Joshua Allen
Bollywood"Dhoom Taana" from Om Shanti Om’’Judge's Pick
(Nigel Lythgoe)
51Caitlin Kinney
Jason Glover
Bollywood"Jai Ho" from Slumdog MillionaireSafe
6Top 5 Female DancersBollywood"Dholna” from Pyaar Ke Geet
9Caitlin Kinney
Jason Glover
Bollywood"Jai Ho” from Slumdog Millionaire’’Judge's Pick (Christopher Lil' C Toler)
6
(2009)
2Mollee Gray
Nathan Trasoras
Bollywood"Azeem O Shaan Shahenshah" from Jodhaa AkbarSafe
4Guest dancers, Nakul Dev Mahajan and NDM Bollywood Dance ProductionsBollywood"Desi Girl" from DostanaN/A
7Russell Ferguson
Ashleigh Di Lello (injured,
replaced by Rachel ___)
Bollywood"Spirit of Rangeela" from RangeelaSafe
8Mollee Gray
Nathan Trasoras
Bollywood"Azeem O Shaan Shahenshah" from Jodhaa AkbarJudge's Pick (Tyce Diorio)
7
(2010)
2Kathryn McCormick
Jose Ruiz
BollywoodMarjaani Marjaani Kasama from BilluSafe
4AdéChiké Torbert
Marla ____ (substitution for Alex Wong)
BollywoodMourya Re from Don: The Chase Begins AgainAlex Wong injured (withdrew)
7Billy Bell
Robert Roldan
BollywoodGanesh from Bombay DreamsJudge's Pick (Stacey Tookey);
Bell Eliminated
9Kent Boyd
Lauren Gottlieb
BollywoodOm Mangalam from Kambakkht Ishq
8
(2011)
2Iveta Lukosiute
Nick Young
BollywoodBaawre from Luck by ChanceEliminated
4Group danceBollywoodKata Kata from Raavan
6Clarice Ordaz
Robert Roldan
BollywoodAila Re Aila from Khatta MeethaEliminated
9
(2012)
2Witney Carson
Chehon Wespi-Tschopp
Bollywood"Tandav Music" from Aatish KapadiEliminated
5Kathryn McCormick
Will Thomas
BollywoodOoh La La from The Dirty PictureSafe
10
(2013)
2Malece Miller
Jade Zuberi
BollywoodRadha from Student of the YearZuberi withdrew
6Group danceBollywoodPandeyjee Seeti from Dabangg 2
9Amy Yakima
Alex Wong
BollywoodMunni Badnaam Hui Darling from Dabangg 2
11
(2014)
4Valerie Rockey
Ricky Ubeda
BollywoodDilliwaali Girlfriend from Yeh Jawaani Hai DeewaniSafe
6Bridget Whitman
Brandon Bryant
Bollywood/DiscoDisco Khisko (remix) from Dil Bole Hadippa!
9Jessica Richens
Zack Everhart, Jr.
BollywoodGhaghra from Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani
12
(2015)
2Lily Frias
Burim Jusufi
Gaby Diaz
Edson Juarez
BollywoodDhol Baaje from Ek Paheli LeelaJusufi Eliminated
Juarez Bottom 6
6Jaja Vankova
Alex Wong
BollywoodNaacho Re from Jai Ho (film) soundtrackSafe

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).

Cancer

Diagnosis

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

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. Abdul, Mahajan, Chucky Klapow, and Renee Ritchie received a 2015 World Choreography Award for this work, in the category Digital Format.

White House Diwali Celebration

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

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; the routine was set to the song Dhoom Taana, from the film Om Shanti Om. Davuluri's performance of this routine marked the first time a Bollywood dance routine had been performed on the Miss America stage.

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

Dance India Dance

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

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.

Awards

  • 2011 University of California, Riverside Outstanding Young Alumnus Award
  • 2015 India Empire Awards: Excellence in Performing Arts
  • 2015 World Choreography Award (Category: Digital Format), with Paula Abdul, Chucky Klapow, Renee Ritchee

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