Social media has seen an explosion of classical reinterpretation of Michael Jackson’s dance steps ever since his biopic, Michael hit the screens. The videos are often a fusion or adaptation of his iconic steps and moves into classical dance forms such as Bharatanatyam and Odissi. But the video by Swetha Warrier and team stands out. MJ’s song ‘The Way You Make Me Feel’ was presented in the Street O’ Classical style that Swetha has popularised over the years.

The video, which has amassed 6.2 million views and counting, features Swetha with eight other dancers in traditional Bharatanatyam costume, fusing graceful classical footwork and mudras with groovy isolations and moves from hip-hop. Jaafar Jackson, who played Michael in the biopic, is among those who have “loved” the video with clap and heart emojis.

“The fact that he saw it was a huge thing for us,” says Swetha, who belongs to Kodungallur in Thrissur district. Brought up in Mumbai where she is currently settled, Swetha says that the movie was the inspiration to come up with the video. “But more than that I felt that it is my obligation, my responsibility to do something for him. He has influenced every dancer; I felt I owe him for what he has given us. Usually an idea strikes me and I work around it. But this video came out because I was inspired to do it,” says Swetha who took around four days to work on the choreography.

She says it was a conscious decision to not take his popular songs like ‘Beat it’ or ‘Dangerous’. “I wanted a song less used by the dancers in competitions or shows. I also liked the lyrics,” she says.

Last year she had gone viral with her take on Hanumankind’s ‘Run it up’ by fusing it with Mohiniyattam. The video has 24.8 million views till date. “We shot that in Thiruvananthapuram and the dancers were all from the city. Sarangi Shyam, an amazing Street O’ Classical dancer, arranged for the dancers,” says Swetha.

She says that the style evolved as she grew up. “We all have been exposed to Indian culture and classical art and dance forms. At the same time we can’t help but get influenced by Western elements as well. That happened organically for me. I felt that was me. I could be free and communicate the art the way I want to and the way I relate to. The blend has become my identity.”

Swetha stresses that she does not want to take the credit for creating the dance style. “The world is so huge that somewhere someone must have done it. But I can say for sure that I am not inspired by anyone. This is my lifestyle.”

Classical dance is in her blood – her grandfather, RP Warrier, was a Kathakali artiste and she learnt Bharatanatyam from her mother, Ambika Warasiar. “Besides Bharatanatyam, I learnt hip-hop as well. The fusion happened naturally along the way. Only that it took time for me to realise that I am doing something different. In fact, I have been doing this from childhood, when I took part in reality shows on Malayalam television,” she says, referring to her stints in dance reality shows such as Super Dancer (Amrita TV) and D4Dance (Mazhavil Manorama). She was a contestant in Dance India Dance on Zee TV as well.

The style got more exposure when she took part in the reality show India’s Best Dancer (IBD) on Sony Television. “It was my dream to take it across the country. I knew that this will be a comfortable style for many and people will relate to it. IBD gave me that platform. Now many dancers are doing the style and I think somewhere I became the medium who showed that this is possible.”

Her team

Swetha says that she does not work with a permanent group of dancers for her videos. When she plans a project, she announces it via her social media handle, inviting interested dancers to join. The dancers in MJ video are Manushi Desai, Kaavya Nair, Riddhi Shaharkar, Bhumika Nath, Sneha Semaleesan, Anushka Das, Neha Sahani and Abolee Nagarkar

The artiste says that it took time for her to arrive at the style. “I was not strong in hip-hop in the beginning and so whatever I did then had more of Bharatanatyam. But as I kept on doing it, I became confident. I learnt house and started incorporating it in my dance. Street O’ Classical is not about mixing steps or movements of two dance styles. It is about mixing two cultures. It is a classical art form inspired by the hip-hop culture. It needs to evolve and I am happy that I could give that spark. I keep practising to do better. I am trying to be better at house these days.”

Swetha admits that she has faced criticism for the style. “People were offended more with my Hanumankind and MJ videos because we were in traditional dance attire. Had we worn another costume the backlash would not have happened.”

In cinema

Meanwhile, she is all set to make her debut as an actor with the Malayalam movie, Merri Boys, produced by Listin Stephen and directed by debutant Mahesh Maanas. “It is a female-centric, fun movie with Aishwarya Raj playing the lead. When I had come down to Thiruvananthapuram to shoot for Hanumankind’s track, one of the dancers was auditioning for the movie. I tagged along and before I knew it, I got shortlisted. It was a surprise. Becoming an actor was a dream and I did a foundation course in acting. As I got busy with dance, the wish was put in the backburner.” It is expected to release in July.

Now she is dividing her time between creating dance content for her social media handle, besides doing live shows, workshops and curating dance shows.