It's time to dance; Zee TV launches DID 4

An entire nation watched with dropped jaws as Prince redefined dance with concepts like ‘locking’ and ‘popping’ in Season 1. An entire nation swooned as Dharmesh emerged from the masses and shot to fame overnight with never-before-seen hip-hop moves in Season 2. An entire nation’s pulse raced as Raghav wove magic with his unique “slo-mo” style in Season 3. Higher and higher benchmarks were set for excellence and innovation in dance with each successive season of Zee TV’s Dance India Dance (DID). Not only did it introduce audiences to dance forms they didn’t know existed, ‘Dance India Dance’ celebrated the passion to dance, making dance nothing short of a ‘religion’ across the country. Naturally, there has been much excitement in the air ever since Dance India Dance announced the countrywide auditions for its Season 4 in August this year. Enthusiasts across the length and breadth of the country thronged to the audition venues, drawing up record-breaking registration counts across 19 cities! Even as the frenzy around the auditions peaked, the question on everyone’s lips was - What’s new on DID this time around? DID Season 4 comes to you with a difference. Each of us goes through a range of emotions in our daily lives. From being happy to dejected, calm to agitated, there’s so much we all feel and go through. There are many issues in life we feel strongly about. The core idea behind DID Season 4 is to look at dance as a means and an outlet to express your innermost feelings. DID, as a platform, has always stood for celebrating dance. This season, DID goes one step further and creates a movement of dance across the country by showing audiences how to channelize their energies positively through dance. DID is sending out a strong message to its viewers – “Dance It Out!” Bharat Kumar Ranga, Chief Creative and Content Officer (CCCO), ZEEL says, “Dance India Dance is, without a doubt, the biggest brand amongst dance reality shows in the country today. It is the most family-friendly television show of all times. And, after three successful seasons and many allied editions, there’s no arguing that this talent competition has emerged as a cultural phenomenon in India. The record-breaking registrations at the auditions across 19 cities are illustrative of a franchise that is only growing stronger. With its positioning of ‘Dance It Out’ this season, the show will manifest itself across three platforms– On air, on ground and online. We have plans to conduct a parallel ‘Online Dance India Dance’. The most talented amongst those who participate in the online platform will stand a chance to be a part of DID 4 by way of a wild card entry. Creating a dance movement that will span the length and breadth of this country, we will also roll out with a multi-city ground activation where each city will be mobilized to dance for a cause that the citizens feel most strongly about and the city will get its signature dance move symbolic of the cause it espouses.” While the original judge trio Geeta Kapur, Remo D’souza and Terence Lewis will remain an inseparable part of the DID family, it’s time now to welcome some young blood onto the panel of judges who will lend a new dimension to Dance India Dance and drive the masses to ‘Dance it Out’! A talent discovered by superstar Salman Khan, Mudassar Khan is the man behind some of the most popular moves you’ve seen in chartbusters across films like Bodyguard, Dabangg 2 and Ready. At just 28 years of age, he is the youngest of the 3 new masters and is fondly called the “Master Blaster” for his spirited, sporty attitude. “It’s a huge challenge for me to judge a dance platform of the caliber of DID. I’m all set to give it my best shot,” says Mudassar. Belonging to a family of choreographers, Shruti Merchant has dance in her blood! She began her career assisting the choreography of films like Dhoom 1, 2 and 3, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, Aaja Nach Le, Kal Ho Na Ho and Devdas. For the past five years, she has toured the world with the widely acclaimed musical “The Merchants of Bollywood”. A powerhouse of energy and an utterly vivacious chatter-box, Shruti warms your heart from the word ‘Go!’ She says, “Landing the position of judge on India’s biggest dance reality show is any choreographer’s dream come true. I’m all set to live out this beautiful dream and give it my all.” The third mentor of DID 4 started his career in 1996 as an assistant to ace choreographer Farah Khan. Ever since, there has been no looking back for Feroz Khan who is credited with smash hits like Maa Da Laadla from Dostana and Move Your Body from Johnny Gaddaar. With plum projects like Agneepath, Ra.One, Aisha, Anjaana Anjaani to his choreography credit, Feroz is certainly making waves in the industry. Being the most experienced judge on the panel, Feroz is a man of few words and shares his pearls of wisdom in his own inimitable style. Speaking of his new role on DID, Feroz says, “With the kind of talent DID attracts, grooming and motivating the contestants, judging the performances week on week and selecting the best amongst them is a huge responsibility. But, I’m all set to take it on!” Speaking of the new judge trio, Nitin Keni, Producer, Essel Vision Productions Ltd, ZEE’s in-house production arm which has produced DID Season 4 said, “We are proud of our choices for the fresh panel of mentors on Dance India Dance Season 4. Each of them comes with an impressive body of work in the field of dance. But, above all, it is their passion for dance that has landed them these coveted positions on our panel of judges. At ZEE, we believe in making celebrities out of deserving talent. Geeta, Remo and Terrence were not household names when we signed them on for DID, but look where they are today! It is our mentors’ fervor for dance that will drive millions of enthusiasts across the country to ‘Dance it Out’! Each of them has their own unique personality and together, they’re a lethal combination.” Starting Saturday, 26th October and airing every Sat-Sun at 9 PM on Zee TV, Dance India Dance Season 4 will follow a format similar to the original season where the 18 contestants are divided into 3 teams led by the masters. Episode after episode, the masters will groom and mentor their respective teams to face the trials of dance ahead of them. The contestants will be judged on their grasp in learning new dance forms, their versatility in lending themselves to diverse styles and the grace and charisma that sets a “dancing star” apart from the dancers. It is a matter of immense pride for the master whose protégé walks away with the coveted ‘Sunehri Taqdeer Ki Topi’. Needless to say, there’s a healthy rivalry already brewing between the masters. The show will be hosted by Jay Bhanushali. Grandmaster Mithun Da will continue to grace the platform with his characteristic wit, love and affection and above all his invaluable guidance.