Despacito Song Choreography by Shiamak Davar: A Video Going Viral for Not Enough Good Reasons

Despacito, the milestone music number by Puerto Rican singer Luis Fonsi and featured artist daddy Yankee has turned out to be a global smash hit. Renowned Bolly choreographer Shiamak Davar has recently choreographed a dance number on the song. Although the video is going viral all across the internet, it doesn’t have good enough reasons to be so.

Being a 90s kid I have been a great fan of Shiamak Davar, and also because I am a dancer myself. I was trained in a classical Indian dance form though, my passion for dance helped me perceive every dance form as a work of art. And, Bollywood masala dance was no exception.

Shiamak Davar’s legendary moves on the song ‘Le gayi le gayi’ from the film ‘Dil Toh Pagal Hai’ featured on 90s iconic actress Karishma Kapoor and Bollywood Badshah Shahrukh Khan, gave the choreographer the limelight he deserved. Then his out of the box creations in the 90s and next generation Indian movies affirmed his position as one of Bollywood’s hottest choreographers. His works in films like ‘Taal’ starring Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and ‘Bunty aur Babli’ are the must watch.

Till date, a number of YouTubers, dancers, choreographers recorded their skill on the melodious Despacito song. And why only dancers, several singers adapted the song to their regional languages making their own versions of the sexy song, including youth sensation Justin Bieber. But, when it’s Shiamak Davar it deserves a special mention.

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Davar, who is known for his Indo-western choreography style, never fails to put the special Shiamak Davar signature touch to each of his creations. And this time also, I was looking forward to that in his Despacito film. But, I take no pleasure in saying that I was utterly disappointed. And what was missing in the recipe? Probably it’s Davar’s signature touch.

The video features Shiamak Davar’s group of dancers, all women, opened and concluded by his chief dancer, Anisha. The opening of the video somewhat resembled the original Despacito video feel, with similar kind of backdrop. And then, the dancers appeared one by one in flashy, disco-ball-like clothes. The video has 3 wardrobe changes which is fair, but the choreography never took off.

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Shiamak Davar tried to incorporate his fusion dancing style, the dancers did their best, cinematography looked international, but the magic never happened. Being a dancer, I expected more from this brilliant choreographer, dance moves that won’t really let me blink! I also didn’t like much the Saree look, didn’t blend with the dance steps, nor with the song vibe. In a nutshell, the Despacito video by Shiamak Davar is a failed attempt at grasping the soul of this peppy number.

What I loved about the video is the song itself, I never get bored listening to Despacito. I’ll still keep the original video on top. And for Shiamak Davar, I think, his best is yet to come!

Watch the full Despacito Shiamak Davar choreography video here: