Working with Fatima Robinson, one of the biggest choreographers in America, Rujuta choreographed two dance numbers to accompany the songs from the film Slumdog Millionaire.

She was recently featured in a Bollywood/Hip-Hop dance instructional DVD, BYou2, with Sabrina Bryan of the Cheetah Girls. Sabrina, who was on the last season of ABC's Dancing With the Stars is seen teaching the Hip-Hop segment, while Rujuta teaches the Bollywood segment.

They have now come together to teach a fusion routine that mimics the style developed in Cheetah Girls 3. Rujuta worked on the Bollywood choreography for that telefilm, made by Disney. This DVD is currently being sold in all the top retail stores and websites throughout the US.

Back in New York after the Oscar events, Rujuta, who has also choreographed a dance item that Britney Spears uses in her current Circus Tour, muses her career opportunities and the challenges she is looking forward to. She also talks about the lessons she has learned from her guru, Saroj Khan, and teaching the elderly exercise with the help of Bollywood music and dance movements.

What are some of the challenges you are looking forward to?

I am looking forward to some interesting experiences. I think it will be interesting to work on a Hollywood film that may be totally Bollywood style, with many song sequences.

What do you mean by Hollywood film totally Bollywood style?

Not a film like Slumdog Millionaire, in which the songs are used fleetingly, except for the Jai Ho number.

In the picture: Rujuta Vaidya and composer A R Rahman

Text: Arthur J Pais

Listen to: Tasveer 8 x 10 songs
Also Read: Teaching Britney to dance, Bollywood-style!

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