Dance, Sikkim Dance!

Robin Mukhia has Talent, Passion and also Enterprise

SAGAR CHHETRI

Dancing is fun, dancing is an art form and dancing can be more than just a hobby. 24-year-old Robin Mukhia of Tadong has proved just this. Starting out as a hobby to participating in dance competitions, he has now set up his own dance institute.

The talented dancer has just returned home after making it to the Television Round of popular reality dance show, Dance India Dance. Unfortunately, he could not make it to the Mega Round of the competition but is satisfied with his performance.
In the month of April this year, Robin got through the auditions held at Siliguri in his first attempt at DID and then moved ahead to the Kolkata round. His dancing impressed judges in Kolkata and he got to the Mumbai Round. At Mumbai, he reached the Television Round.
“The competition was really tough as the show has some of the best dancers from different parts of the country, so it was a good learning experience for me to reach till the TV Round,” he shares. He hopes to prepare better for the next season of DID.
“If I brush up on some international dance forms, I am confident that I will definitely do better in the next season,” says Robin. Although this was the first time he participated in DID, he has prepared and sent his students for DID auditions before. 
In 2012, Robin had also reached the Television Round of another popular reality show, India’s Got Talent.
Robin is the youngest son of Damber Bahadur Mukhia and Hasta Mukhia of Tadong, East Sikkim. He is also the recipient of the State Award in 2013 and the winner of the North East ke Superstar dance competition in 2011.
Starting at the young age of seven, Robin performed his first dance to the song “Kanchi Hai Kanchi” when he was in school. Soon, he got an opportunity to get trained by artists of Culture Department on Maruni Dance to perform for the Independence Day Celebration at Paljor Stadium.
Then, he toured almost all states with the Culture Department troupe performing the Maruni Dance. He won many prizes and recognition in various forums in and outside the State. Robin has expressed his gratitude to the artists of Culture Department for training and encouraging him and also for providing a platform.
After deciding to make his career in dance, he along with his friends started the Ekta Dance Group in 2005 performing in almost every programme in the State. Initially his family was not very supportive but his achievements and dedication towards dance softened them.
Robin took a one-year course in contemporary and other forms of dance from Shiamak Davar's dance institute in Mumbai in 2012. In 2014 he started his own Ekta Dance Institute at Tadong with a few students. Now he has more than 70 young dancers training under him. His Institute teaches Bollywood, contemporary, salsa, traditional and other forms of dance. He is opening a branch of his institute at Rangpo later this month.
Robin started his dance institute with the prize money received with the State Award.
“I am very happy that young children have been doing well and I have been working to provide more platforms for young talents to perform as well as training them to build their confidence,” he shares.
Although, Robin is the master of all forms of dance, he has been mainly known for his Nepali Maruni dance, Bollywood and contemporary dance forms.