After stumbling upon a salsa performance on TV, Srikanth Vijayakumar, who was then aged 16, joined a local salsa dance studio out of curiosity. He then discovered Latin ballroom dancing, a style he found more “athletic and exhilarating”.
A year later, he joined the Dance Sport CCA at Singapore Polytechnic. Today, the 31-year-old is ranked as one of the top Latin ballroom dancing champions in Singapore, and is also among the rare Indian faces in the scene.
“If you consistently put in the work, results will follow. It may take longer than expected, but you’ll get there eventually,” Mr Srikanth said.
A civil engineer in the day, Mr Srikanth attributes his 14-year dance journey to discipline and hard work.
It’s a side well known to Mr Kavin Rathna, 30, who has been his instructor for five years and a close friend for 10.
“He works really hard and has the discipline to come to the studio regularly to practice. He has a full-time job, sometimes working night shifts. He often runs on little sleep – I don’t know how he does it,” said Mr Kavin.
Mr Srikanth’s mother Renuga Devi believes she has passed down her passion for dance to him.
“I’ve always had a passion for dancing, just like my father. I learnt Bharatanatyam as a child but couldn’t continue,” said Mdm Renuga, 65. “I see that same love for dance and energy I had (as a child) in Sri.”
Mdm Renuga was inspired by her son to take up dance in her early 50s. She joined a studio to learn salsa and rock ’n’ roll and even went on to compete, notably winning bronze in the Dance Disco Rock category at the United Kingdom Alliance in 2012.
As her journey was short-lived due to medical issues with her legs, she shared how she wished she had started dancing earlier.
Though Mr Srikanth casually says “it just clicked”, when asked how he discovered his passion, he reveals that the five Latin ballroom styles – Samba, Paso Doble, Cha Cha, Jive and Rumba – each carry a distinct character, allowing him to express different emotions.
In the early days, Mr Srikanth’s parents questioned his heavy involvement in dance. Mdm Renuga shared that she was initially sceptical because of the judgments he might face from relatives.
However, as they watched him take the stage time and again – including on Singapore’s reality dance competition The Dance Floor Season 2 in 2015 – she began to understand his passion.
Over time, she found herself speaking up for him when relatives raised doubts about the path he had chosen.
As she rummaged through the cupboard for his certificates, she chuckled with pride and said: “There are far too many to frame them all.” Each one is a testament to his hard work.
She even recalled her son was hot-tempered and playful when young, and credits ballroom dancing for turning him into a much calmer and wiser person.
As a dance built on partnership, Latin ballroom thrives on the harmony between the dancers.
“There are highs and lows and moments where you feel demoralised, but it is all about how you recoup and give yourself some time off,” Mr Srikanth said.
On show day, he feeds off the crowd’s energy and gives it his all the moment he sets foot on stage.
While Latin ballroom remains rooted in traditional gender roles, Mr Srikanth believes there is room for individual expression within them.
“There are set roles where the man leads and the woman follows”, said Mr Srikanth. “But how she moves is her autonomy.”
As Mr Srikanth sets his sights on the prestigious annual ballroom dance competition, the Blackpool Dance Festival in England, he hopes to earn a strong ranking before eventually transitioning into teaching.
Looking ahead, as he continues training with top instructors and world champions across the globe, Mr Srikanth aspires to “pass on the knowledge to the younger generation”.
