Jainil Mehta is a renowned dancer, choreographer, teacher, and artist based in New York City, who gained widespread recognition for his use of the hashtag #MenInSkirts. Jainil Mehta’s work makes us realize that gender does not have to be restricted. Cultivating a love for various styles of dance since age five, his repertoire of dance genres has since expanded to include ballet, contemporary jazz, and hip-hop. Following a four-year degree in dance from the University of Southern California, Jainil has made it his mission to share the joy of dance with those around him and make it possible for people to pursue dance as a profession.
There’s nothing more admirable than Jainil Mehta gracefully swirling around in a skirt. The 24-year-old choreographer and dancer uses his dance videos to spread the message of gender-neutral attire and individuality.
In a conversation with ABP Live, Jainil shared the idea behind his hashtag, his journey, his favourite collaborator and so much more.
Here are some excerpts from the interview:
How did you come up with the hashtag #MenInSkirts?
That Hashtag came to me in about 2019. Honestly, at that time, hashtags were a big thing but it never came out from a trend perspective. It was very much about what I was doing- a man in a skirt. It was not very difficult to come up with that word- MenInSkirts, but it was very nice to have that term being used by a lot of people.
Why did you choose dance as a full-time career option?
Since grade 8, I already knew that I wanted to take dance more seriously. I have been dancing since the age of 5 and just like any Indian parent, they put me in dance classes, art classes and all sorts of classes, but dance was basically stuck with me for a long time. I just felt that I belonged to the art form and t gave me a lot of confidence and security.
What made you think that you should start posting videos on Instagram?
It was in 2019 that I came to India for my summer break and the workshop trend had started. My first ever class that I had taken was when I was in grade 10 and there were like 25 students and it was a 10-day class. So, I had never done a workshop where people come for 2 hours, learn a choreography and then they leave. So, I wanted to try that and coming here after so many years I wanted to see how the market is I did not know how to reach people and that was when a friend suggested posting videos on Instagram. I was like, ‘What videos do I pot and how?’ and she was like, ‘Whatever you do best’. So, there were a couple of videos that I posted after and the consistency really helped to gain some reach and popularity.
Eventually, my classes also started doing well. So, my entire focus was always class-oriented where I was at least getting students through my medium. So, it has helped me reach and in whichever country or city I go, I have had people. It’s actually very heartwarming to go to a city and where someone is like- ‘Hey I know you through Instagram’
Can you share the story of your first viral reel?
It was in 2022 in March when Gangubai Kathiawadi was released and ‘Jhoome Re Gori’ was the song from the movie that went viral. so, I had taken that song and it was a very spontaneous decision to do that song at that time. I had done a few dances in skirts before that as well but this was the first one I did on the street and I was a little skeptical about it, but the song really needed that outdoor vibe. Even the choreography was very spontaneous- I did it then and there, even the interaction with the kid and the mom eating tacos… everything was so spontaneous and when it went viral I was just shocked! I was like really, this video?
When you take workshops in New York, do you choose Bollywood songs there as well?
Yes, I am a die-hard Bollywood fan and the Indie music is something that has always kept me moving and Indian music in general. The response is amazing because the Indian population is massive in the United States in general. Since there are so many Indian people who want to get back to their homes, to their roots- there is this instant connection, especially when you are outside of the country. They love coming for any Bollywood song.
Even it’s the same response for foreigners. They love Indian music and they want to come for it. The response is probably even crazier sometimes.
What are the things that you get inspired by before you plan a choreography?
So, I definitely need to get inspired by the music for sure definitely. It has to really catch my ear. sometimes, it’s also probably the people I am around at that moment which really inspires me and also just general things around me.
What is the response of the foreign audience towards the Indian dance forms?
To be honest, they haven’t been very exposed. for example, if I am doing an open class, not a lot of foreigners come because in New York, there are so many classes- so they have a lot of options and even though there is an offering, they are not exposed to the Indian styles. But, if I am doing an event, and the response for that is crazy because people are very much exposed to that festival, to that area. So, they come and go even crazier than the Indians themselves. There is a lot of happiness in our dancing and they do appreciate our culture.
Who is your favourite collaborator till now?
There is no favourite, I have enjoyed with everyone I have collaborated with and they have all had a very different nuance to it. if I did not like anyone, you would not even see them in my profile. So, it’s all the people I like and all the people I love to collaborate with. In general, the collaborations that I do, I do them with people I like as well, so not for the sake of any numbers or anything else. It’s only, if I actually like their work, and I am actually tough to please that way.
One person I really want to collaborate with is ‘Mostly Sane’. I think just as a person, she is so fun and I have been following her work and she has made my sad days really happy.
