Uttarakhand’s Hip-Hop Dancer Nepo: ‘I’d Love To Share a Stage with DIVINE’

At the finals of dance battle event Red Bull Dance Your Style at the Nodwin Gaming Center in New Delhi last month, hip-hop dancer Nepo came out to show his moves to “O Humdum Suniyo Re,” the iconic Bollywood song composed by A.R. Rahman sung by KK, Kunal Ganjawala and Shaan for 2002’s Saathiya.

Dancers are never informed in advance about the track the DJ is going to drop, but “O Humdum” was known enough that Nepo immediately struck a chord with it. “As dancers, it is important to explore music from various genres, as it helps with versatility and aids in adapting and enriching our artistic expressions,” he says over an email interview.

The crowd of seasoned dancers, choreographers and emerging movement artists alike cheered Nepo on for choosing a classic even as they studied his moves. Through a public vote, he was judged the India winner among a total of 16 dancers who brought their energy to Red Bull Dance Your Style. It wasn’t even Nepo’s first rodeo, considering he had won the national title before in 2021. Although he went on to be knocked out in the first round itself at the finals of the global event in South Africa back then, he’s now gearing up to take a second shot at glory at Red Bull Dance Your Style World Final in Frankfurt, Germany on November 4th.

Nepo adds about the victory, “I was definitely not expecting to win the second time so I was absolutely surprised. I’m super excited and feel really lucky to get another chance to represent India and this time I am ready for it.”

Hailing from the city of Haldwani in Uttarakhand, Nepo says the hip-hop scene is “growing rapidly” in his state. There are fewer opportunities in places like Haldwani, though. “As a result, many of them find themselves having to make compromises with their livelihoods, which ultimately hinders their ability to wholeheartedly pursue their passion,” Nepo adds.

Also occasionally invited as a judge at local battles and competitions, Nepo says it’s remarkable to witness the growth of hip-hop in India beyond just music but also with dance. “The hunger and passion I see in these dancers are bound to elevate their performances to new heights. These positive signs indicate that events like Red Bull Dance Your Style will not only inspire more youngsters to participate but also foster the evolution of aspiring hip-hop dancers,” he says.

With Germany in sight, Nepo hopes to build on his interactions with international dancers back when he attended the World Finals in South Africa and says there was much to learn. “I am eager to showcase my improvement and give my best performance yet,” the dancer adds. As for closer home, Nepo is in tune with Indian hip-hop and rap and has his own little wishlist for when those elements of music and dance collide. He says, “I would absolutely love it if I had the chance to share a stage with DIVINE.”