Shiamak, meaning ‘prince’, the ‘prince of hearts, the ‘prince’ of joy, the ‘prince’ of simplicity. Actually, everything about this ace dancer, choreographer, actor, singer and now director is highly intriguing. Dancing comes naturally to shiamak davar, and when he is on stage he is at peace, and awareness surrounds him. This man who is apparently wedded to glamour, spirituality has always been a great anchor. He, however, is essentially a performer who believes that dance, song and acting are products of a collective effort of the mind, body and the spirit. Soul curry spoke to him.

• Soul Curry: You seem to have a natural inclination of excelling in whatever you do. What inspires you to excel in all the tasks that you undertake?

• Shiamak Davar: What is created around me, inspires me. Music makes me think, create, and visualize, and yes, choreographing comes naturally to me. I do know what I’ve got - God to protect, parents to love and friends to admire. I probably am the luckiest soul alive. My wants are simple and true to me. Deep down inside me there is a sense of achievement. Dancing is my passion and talent my forte. For me, trust or prayer is not about asking things from God. It is thankfulness and gratitude for what is already there.

• SC: Singing, dancing, choreography, direction, music composer… the list is endless. What is the secret behind your never-ending energy?

• SD: I always like to learn. The thirst to do the best and give the best gets me going, and most importantly my parents’ support and the blessings of my spiritual guides. To be content is a successful endeavor in itself. Happiness seeps into life with self-realization, awareness and satisfaction. This is what serves as an endless source of energy for any individual to strive for the best. Life is full of pitfalls and problems. But these are intermingled with smiles, glee and laughter. In times of difficulty we need to be strong and chant these magic words: ‘This too shall pass’. And so it does. That’s what keeps me moving forward.

• SC: Shiamak Davar is a spiritual person. Or is he religious?

• SD: There is no religion in the spiritual world. Religion is man made. I am very spiritual and believe in karma. Being religious and being spiritual are two different things. I am a staunch believer of good words, good thoughts and good deeds. There is a God and you can’t fool Him. In the circle of life every creature, every human being has a lesson to learn at every moment of time. Spirituality should manifest itself in action. A truly spiritual person would actively engage with life, taking on the rough and tumble leveling crooked paths and making the journey easier for everyone around.

• SC: Do you believe in destiny as well?

• SD: No. Destiny is in your own hands. Only life and death are fixed, rest all are the different choices we make at our freewill. Spirituality puts everything in perspective. I strongly believe in Karma. If someone hurts you, it is pointless to sit and cry over it. I believe in God’s justice; what you do will come back to you.

• SC: Every individual shares a special relationship with the Almighty. How do you connect with him?

• SD: I pray to God and talk to him. I feel him everywhere. I am not God-fearing but I am God-loving. I’m the captain of my own ship; storms and raging waters I may face but my undying trust in God will steer me safely to the pure shores. I am a big believer in God, karma and reincarnation. Spirituality gives me a sense of balance, a direction in life.

• SC: With the world automating in every possible way, every individual is losing touch with nature. As an artist, how do you see this?

• SD: It is very sad that in today’s time, all are becoming part of a rat race. They are busy with material wants and desires. I make it a point to pray more and connect with god and love to live and spend time with nature.

• SC: What, according to you, are the three most important things required for being a good dancer?

• SD: The three most important things are talent, grace and the desire to learn. Dance can be therapeutic. There is a link between the sole and the soul. I strongly believe in “Have feet, will dance”. It is an art form that needs to be developed with a lot of aesthetic sense. The only thing that stops us from dancing is the will (or the lack of it) to express it and enjoy it.

• SC: Without music, dancing is incomplete. How do you perceive music and what music means to you?

• SD: Dance is music made visible, music makes us create and through dance we can communicate and celebrate. It is my faith in dance, as an expression of the soul, which helps me to beautify other aspects of my life. Dance is my meditation. Dance is an expression of the soul and has the knack of making you swing. Dance channelises all that destructive energy into something positive and de-stressing.