FAQs

1. What does SDIPA stand for?
SDIPA stands for SHIAMAK DAVAR'S INSTITUTE FOR PERFORMING ARTS PRIVATE LIMITED.

2. Does Shiamak teach himself?
Shiamak’s institute runs classes throughout India and Abroad. It is not physically possible for him to teach at all places and thus he has experienced and dedicated faculty at all his centers.

3. Is Shiamak going to be there for any of the classes?
Shiamak has personally trained all our instructors. However, as the principal of the institute, it is not possible for Shiamak to teach every class.

4. My child is 2/3 years old. Can I enroll her?
No, the minimum age for kids is 4 years.

5. My child is 6 ½ years old. Which class should I enroll her for – kids or juniors?
You may enroll her for the Children class and request the instructor to evaluate her. If the instructor feels that your child should go to a Juniors class, he/she will inform you accordingly after the class.

6. I am sixty years old and love dancing. Can I join up?
Yes, at SDIPA we encourage everyone to enjoy dance and that helps to improve your fitness level as well. Although the minimum age limit is 4 years there is no restriction on the upper limit. All we will need is a no objection certificate from your family physician confirming that it is safe for you to participate in our exercise and dance program.

7. I have just delivered a baby and have put on a lot of weight. Can I join?
Will I lose weight? Yes, however you will have to get a no objection certificate from your family physician confirming that it is safe for you to participate in our exercise and dance program. Although SDIPA’s dance classes are not specifically aimed at weight loss you will lose weight as you tone up your muscles during the program, and do a lot of free movement across the floor as well.

8. My child is physically and/or mentally challenged. But he loves to dance and I would like to enroll him for your program. Can I?
Yes, SDIPA’s motto is “have feet – will dance”. Please go to the enrolment desk to register the student.

9. What Should I wear in class?
Leotards and tights/jazz pants for women/girls. Bicycle shorts and a tight vest for men/boys. If you are more comfortable in a track pant and t-shirt, please feel free to wear the same. Even a salwar kameez is fine for those who are particularly shy. As long as you wear something that allows free and comfortable movement.

10. Do you give a certificate?
A certificate of participation is issued to students who perform on stage at the summer funk or winter funk shows.

11. Are the instructors male or female?
Most of our classes have at least one male and one female instructor in class.

12. Is it okay for classical dancers to join western dance class?
Variety is the spice of life. In fact Shiamak always combines various styles of dance to create something new like indo jazz and Bollywood jazz. So the classical background will definitely help you to appreciate and enjoy our classes even more.

13. What is summer funk/winter funk?
SDIPA’s summer/winter funk is a one of a kind program training students in Jazz, Hip-Hop, Rock n Roll, Afro Jazz, Salsa, Bollywood Jazz ™, Indo Jazz™ styles of exercise and dance. During the summer workshop students are taught a complete dance routine and trained in the various disciplines of stage performance. As a finale to the workshop each and every participating student performs at SDIPA’s summer funk shows which are professionally organized by SDIPA.

14. What style of dance do you teach?
Although SDIPA teaches the basic jazz technique of exercise and dance, the content of each program varies according to the age group and level. At the adult and junior beginner level, students learn jazz funk – an energetic and graceful western dance which you might see in popular music videos of international artistes like Michael Jackson, Britney Spears, or Shiamak Davar. Adults may also be introduced to another dance style, such as Hop, Rock n Roll, Afro Jazz, Salsa, Bollywood Jazz ™, Indo Jazz™, according to the ability of the class.

15. How can I learn any style in just 6 days in your samplers?
The sampler is designed to introduce you and give you an overview of the style. In the 6 classes you will learn the basic dance moves and combinations of the particular dance style which you can eventually rearrange and make your own combinations too.

16. Why don't you have continuous classes for 15 – 20days during vacations?
It is scientifically proven that any exercise or dance routine works best if there is a 24 to 48 hour gap between two sessions depending on the type of activity. The body needs to rest for the activity to have its desired effect. Keeping this in mind, our classes are scheduled twice a week. During summer students are free and hence we schedule it thrice a week. Also, students want to take up other activities in summer and hence most of them prefer the alternate day schedule.

17. Why is the class for kids only 45 mins?
Research has proved that children have a limited attention span of upto 45 minutes. If you see even the class period in school for a particular subject of 35 to 45 minutes. Hence the class for kids/juniors is kept to 45 minutes only.

18. How do you teach our children dance in just 12/15 classes?
Shiamak has trusted, trained professionals teaching at his institute who teach and train students in a thorough and systematic manner. Our motto is “Have feet. Will dance” and we do our best to live up to it.

19. How do you have 12 year olds and 30year olds in the same class?
At SDIPA students are divided into three age groups 4 to 6 years, 7 to 11 years and 12 and above. 12 year olds are capable of following dance instructions and performing as well as 30 year olds and hence they can be in the same class.

20. With so many students in the class, how do instructors give personal attention?
Shiamak has two/three instructors per class. They ensure that all students are given equal and personal attention.

21. We want to know who the instructor is (prior to joining class), contact details of our instructor?
All the instructors at SDIPA are well-trained by Shiamak and are equally qualified. Shiamak personally schedules the instructors for the classes. However, as a company policy we are not allowed to disclose the instructor’s identity or their contact information. If you have any queries you can always call us or write to us.

22. How adults (30-45) are going to cope up with a 12 year old or a 15 year old?
The class is designed to cater to all ages 12 and above. Our instructors are trained to customize the class knowing that there will be people of various ages and backgrounds in the class. Our youngest member/student is 84 years old.

23. How will we cope up with the missed classes?
Someone (an assistant or another student from your class) to help you catch up with the class when you are back, however, we do not have the facility to make-up classes. We cannot carry forward your current fees or give you a credit note for the classes missed. However, you can speak to the instructor in the class and he/she can arrange for someone (an assistant or another student from your class) to help you catch up with the class when you are back.

24. Why do you do last minute cancellations?
Don’t you chalk your classes with prior considerations for any possible unavailability like elections or anything? We do plan our classes well in advance considering bank holidays and other possibilities. However, there are times when something urgent may come up for the schools where we conduct our classes and that’s the only time that they inform us last minute. Depending on how much advance notice they give us, we inform the students as soon as possible.

25. Some callers tell that they are very good in dancing and since they are inquiring or enrolling for the first time, they would like to go to a higher level instead of doing the first level (beginners)?
Shiamak’s style and technique is completely unique and every student needs to go through the beginners class in order to learn the basic fundamentals of Shiamak’s technique of dance.

26. How can one become a professional?
The basic step is to join Shiamak’s class at a beginner level. And the next step is to strive to be a part of Shiamak’s special potential batch, which is trained by some of his most experienced instructors. SPB is the class from which SDIPA’s future teachers and dancers are selected and trained.

27. What are the modes of growth during the course of batches?
All first-timers start from the beginner level and elementary subsequently to the intermediate level. Shiamak conducts auditions periodically to select students for the special potential batch.

28. Is there any scope in these classes ahead?
We have 300 instructors across India and each of them joined as a student first. So if a student has the potential Shiamak may select him / her for the ‘special potential batch’ where students are trained to become professional dancers and instructors who will work with us in the future and teach dance and also perform with Shiamak and his dance company.

29. Do we get to perform in stage shows, advertisements or movies through these classes?
Shiamak choreographs and designs many shows like IIFA, Commonwealth games, etc. And also movies like RAB NE BANA DI JODI, and his first option when he needs dancers is always students from his institute. So we do give such opportunities to our students, however, this is completely based on merit and Shiamak’s decision.

30. Why do you combine 2 level like junior or junior advance
We need a minimum number of students to run a particular class. Instead of cancelling both the classes parents prefer that we combine the classes and don’t disappoint the children. The instructor then re-works the syllabus to cater to both groups.