UK INDIAN DANCE CONTEST 2004 - WINNERS
(20 April 2004)

Students from all over the South of England joined hundreds of hopeful dancers to battle it out at the UK Indian Dance Contest on Saturday April 17 2004 at Harrow Arts Centre. All the students, from Honey's Dance Academy, had been working on their performances for several months, perfecting their dance moves and making their dazzling costumes. Honey's now has ten centres across Greater London and film directors frequently source dancers & extras from the academy.

A number of high profile judges studied the performances of Indian dance forms, ranging from Bollywood, Indian Western, Indian Classical to Bhangra. Judges included Dr Malik - Editor of Yoga Magazine, Karen Jones - Arts Development Project Manager From the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, Suresh Kumar - Councillor of the London Borough of Redbridge, Mr Sira an actor and Sarita Sabharwal - radio and TV presenter.

Dancers could choose whether to perform solo or as part of a group. They then entered one of the three different age ranges: 4-7years, 8-12years, 13-adults. Winners were as follows:

4-7 YEARS: SOLO CATEGORY

1st - Shaleen Sayani, 7 ½, performed to Chamma Chamma from the film China Town.

2nd - Maansi Luhar, 5 - Pyar Daya Aaya Pyar Aaya from the film, Plan.

3rd - Saajni Shah, 5 ½, from Sudbury performed to Bhumro from the film Mission Kashmir.

4-7 YEARS: GROUP CATEGORY

1st - Cheeky Stars - Jahnvi Besherdas, 6, Shelini Kotecha, 7, Shauna Gulrajani, 7, Reshma Suthar, 6, and Serena Jivan, 5, performed to Papa Ki Pari Hoon Mein by Mein Prem Ki Diwani Hoon.

2nd - Star 6 - Jasmin Shah, 7, Isha Parekh, 4 ¾, Ayushi Rawal, 5, Simran Jayasinh, 5, Avanika Lal, 6 ½, and Rhianna Shah performed to It's Time to Disco from the film Kal Ho Na Ho.

3rd - Chandni's Little Stars - Diya Lakhani, 5, Kinjal Patel, 6, and Kajal Patel, 6 ½, performed to Mahive from the film Kal Ho Na Ho.

8-12 YEARS: SOLO CATEGORY

1st - Shainey Parmar, 9, performed to the song Pretty Woman from the film Kal Ho Na Ho.

2nd - Priya Amin, 9 - Kaliyon Ka Chaman from the album Babuji Top 10.

3rd - Darshali Shah, 9 - Gori Gori from the film Main Hoon Na.

8-12 YEARS: GROUP CATEGORY

1st - The Bad Bad Boys - Sunny Patel, 13, Rohit Handi, 11, and Shail Majithia, 11, performed their routine to Gumshuda.

2nd - It's Magic - Sisters Bhavika, 9, Vanisha, 12, and Roshni Patel, 8, Ashish Bholsod, 9, Disha Mandalia, 13, and Kiran Hirani, 12 - It's Magic from the film Koi Mil Gaya.

3rd - Ban Than Dancers - Roshni Vekaria, 10, Bhavni Garara, 8, Roshni Parmar, 10, and Roshni Vaghjiani, 11 - Ban Than from the film Krushektra.

13-ADULT: SOLO CATEGORY

1st - Hetal Kotecha, 22 performed to Rang De from the film Thakshak.

2nd - Yoshina Boodhoo, 16 - Meribenkeber.

3rd - Tejaswini Chavan, 22 - Breathless by Shankar Mahadevan.

13-ADULT: GROUP CATEGORY

1st - Samar - Father, Manoj Nathwani, and his two son's Samir, 12, and Amar, 15 - Ek Pal Ka Jina from the film Kaho Na Pyar Hai.

2nd - Bollywood Angels - Purvi Mozaria, 15, Merisha Dholakia, 15, and Preeya Popat, 15 - Aaja Mahi Remix by MC Metz and MC Trix.

3rd - Essence - Roshni Patel, 19, Dharmi Bhatt, 20, Nameeta Pandya, 21, Raj Appadoo 21, Bhavini Patel, 21, Monica Patel, 20, Arpeeta Patel, 19, and Reena Cruz, 20, - Ke Sera Sera from the film Pukar.