Tango Queen of India

Kruti Gandhi Sharda wins Tango championship for India

A dancer shaped by tradition and transformed by emotion, Kruti Gandhi Sharda moves between worlds—Garba, Bharatanatyam, salsa, and now, Argentine Tango. Her journey is one of cultural fusion and fearless exploration. Earning third place for India at the prestigious Indonesia Tango Championship Preliminaries, she continues to grow as both an artist and advocate for tango in India. For Kruti, tango is not just a dance—it’s presence, poetry, and a shared pulse between two hearts. Excerpts from the interview:

How did your dancing journey begin and how tango came into your life?

My dance journey began quite early—being Gujarati, I was immersed in Garba from a young age, especially since my parents organized events in Bangalore, where I was born and raised. As a child, I trained in classical Indian dance forms like Bharatanatyam and Kathak. Later, I ventured into Latin styles and discovered a love for jive and salsa. In fact, I won second place in an international salsa competition back in 2010. As for tango—it came into my life unexpectedly after I moved to Mumbai in 2011. I hadn’t sought it out; it found me. And once it did, it completely transformed how I experienced dance, connection, and movement.

What made you take up tango so passionately?

Interestingly, it all started with the music. I was completely captivated by the depth, the emotion, the rawness—it was intoxicating. Then came a chance encounter with a visiting Argentine dancer here in India. Dancing with him was a revelation—the connection, the intensity, the silent but powerful communication—it was unlike anything I had experienced before. Tango isn’t just movement. It’s presence. It requires you to listen—not only to the music but also to your partner in every moment. That kind of mindfulness, trust, and vulnerability felt both grounding and freeing. I was hooked. And since then, there’s been no turning back.

Tell us more about the recent dance competition and your win?

I participated in the Indonesia Tango Championship Preliminaries, which is part of a global series leading up to the World Tango Championship in Buenos Aires. It’s affiliated with TANGOBA, the official body that organizes the championship. This was the 4th edition held in Bali. There are several competition categories. The official ones are Tango de Pista and Tango Escenario. Winners of these categories advance directly to the semi-finals of the World Championship. I competed in the Social Dancing category, which is unofficial but highly respected due to its difficulty and improvisational nature—and I’m thrilled to share that I won 3rd place!

How did the dance categories work in the competition?

It is interesting, there are four levels or sections: first is the ‘Random Partners’ where you don’t dance with a fixed partner. Each round, you are paired randomly with a new dancer. Next is ‘Unannounced Music’ where songs are revealed only as they start playing. You must improvise completely, responding in real time. Then there is ‘Three Dances’ where each contestant performs three different songs with three different partners. Then the last level is ‘Judging Criteria’ includes musicality, connection, improvisation, and technique. It mirrors real-life social tango—unrehearsed, spontaneous, and all about connection. It’s a true test of versatility and authenticity.

How did it feel to win third place in such a competitive format?

I feel incredibly honoured. This was not just a result—it was recognition of the effort, the countless hours of training, and the deep passion I have poured into tango. The competition featured incredibly talented dancers from across the region. Sharing the floor with them was inspiring. This achievement has only strengthened my love for tango and pushed me to continue evolving within this art form.

It is often said that tango means different things to different people. What does it mean to you?

For me, tango is a blend of expression and emotion. It’s not just about dancing—it’s about listening, feeling, and responding. Every movement carries a quiet intensity and asks for your complete presence. It has taught me patience, trust, and the power of subtlety. Each dance feels like a shared story, co-written in real time through movement. It’s raw, intimate, and deeply human.

Since tango isn’t native to India, where do you see its future here? Do you think it’s just a passing fad?

Absolutely not. While tango isn’t originally from India, I believe it has a very promising future here. It taps into universal human needs—connection, expression, intimacy—all of which resonate strongly in a country as emotionally rich as ours. I have already seen tango’s popularity rise over the past few years, especially in cities like Mumbai, Delhi, and Bangalore. It’s far from a fad—it’s here to stay and grow.

Tango in Bollywood—what are your thoughts on how it’s portrayed?

To be honest, Bollywood’s portrayal of tango isn’t very accurate. But that is common with many dance forms in cinema—it is often adapted for visual appeal rather than authenticity. That said, I hope we will start seeing more accurate and respectful representations of Argentine Tango on screen—ones that capture its true depth, emotion, and elegance.

After the grand win, what are your future plans?

My focus right now is on deepening my own tango practice while also nurturing the growing tango community in India. I want to create more opportunities for dancers here to engage with authentic Argentine Tango—through classes, workshops, and inviting international maestros for immersive learning experiences. I also plan to travel more for training and competitions, especially in places like Argentina, where the dance is rooted. Long term, I would love to help establish India as a meaningful stop on the global tango map—not just as a learner, but also as a contributor to the art form’s evolution.

Sandip Soparrkar holds a doctorate in world mythology folklore from Pacific University USA, an honorary doctorate in performing arts from the National American University, He is a World Book Record holder, a well-known Ballroom dancer and a Bollywood choreographer who has been honored with three National Excellence awards, one National Achievement Award and Dada Saheb Phalke award by the Government of India. He can be contacted on sandipsoparrkar06@gmail.com