Have feet. Will dance.
That’s Vibes, the eight-member band that’s into jazz, salsa and dances from cinema. Within four-and-a-half years, the band has trumped up quite an encore by notching assignments for such entities as Microsoft, Levi’s, TVS, Philips, Britannia, Airtel and Touchtel, among others.
Started by choreographer Biju Kolli in October 1998, the group has accompanied actress-singer Vasundhara Das and singer Shaan on stage, both in India and abroad. Not to mention working for event management companies like DNA Networks, Midas Entertainment, Phase 1, Wizcraft and Fountainhead. And they have performed everywhere: Chennai, Mumbai, Kottayam, Cochin, Hyderabad, Delhi, Mangalore, Pune and Bahrain. “Our biggest show was in Bahrain,” says founder member Shwetha Shetty (23), a processing executive for HSBC’s backend operations in the city. “We always have more people on standby but it’s eight people taking the stage.”
The other members include:
AINDRITA RAY
She’s 18. Has just finished her second pre university course. Graduated from master choreographer MS Sreedhar’s Body Language School. Does modelling on the side. Has been with Vibes for the last three years. And her favourite dance number? Shiny disco ball….
SHRUTHY NANAIAH
When she is not working for Nirvana, a call centre as a telemarketing executive, this 22-year-old is partying; loves hip-hop and trance and sitting under a tree (‘I am a nature freak’). Future plans? ‘I want to become a counsellor.’
SOPHIE SEQUIERA
She’s 18 and has just finished her 12th standard from Jyoti Nivas College. Learnt dance on the job with Vibes. Has been with the band for the last two years. She grooves to Jenny from the block….
JENNIFER PALMER
Listens to Bon Jovi and George Michael. Is a movie buff. Trips on Latino and jazz dance forms and is 21. Dilemma is her favourite groovy number. Doing her final year bachelor’s in communicative English. Been with Vibes for over three years and the only married member in the group. And the road ahead? ‘I want to become a film PRO’.
GAUTHAM KANCHAN
He co-founded a dance group called Hot Steppers (now defunct). Was a member of another group: 5-6-7-8. And with Vibes for the last two years. He’s doing his third year engineering and is 22. But he plans on becoming an event manager.
SUMANTH CHAVAN
This 20-year-old student of engineering has been dancing for over two years (one year with Vibes). Was earlier with another dance group called Genesis. Intends to do his master’s in business management and start a business of his own.
AND FINALLY…
If you are between 17 and 25 and want to join Vibes, you could call Gautham at 98453-66987 or Shwetha at 98455-94241.
WE, US, OURSELVES
Shruthy Nanaiah, Jenniffer Palmer, Sophie Sequeira, Gautham Kanchan, Shwetha Shetty, Aindrita Ray, Sumanth Chavan
Members of Vibes, a four-year-old dance group
Done shows for Touchtel, Microsoft, Bharat Petroleum, Levi’s, TVS, Philips, Airtel, Britannia
(Published in City Reporter, 2003)