This Singh codes by day, boogies to salsa on weekends

“In life, there are certain things you need to do and some things you are supposed to do. Both social responsibility and passion are important for a perfect life,” says Abhishek Singh (33), who is aiming for this balance by juggling between his IT job and salsa dance instruction.

From supervising his team as technical lead at software firm Eximius Design on weekends, Singh transforms into a dance instructor training enthusiasts from Indiranagar and Bellandur in salsa and bachata dance forms. The IT job, he says, is to support his family. Dance is passion that feeds his soul.



It all started in 2009 when he fared average in a dance performance at his previous company’s cultural event. He had never danced before. “The drive to excel persuaded me to join Bollywood and hip-hop classes in Indiranagar. Soon, I started training for salsa and went on to win international dance competitions,” says the Lucknow boy, who moved to Bengaluru in 2007 for a career in software. Singh has won first runner-up titles at four Asian salsa championships. A year ago, his partner and he stood second at the World Salsa Summit in Miami.

“Participating in international dance competitions requires a lot of money. Extra need of funds prompted me to start weekend classes,” says Singh, adding, “My life as a dancer has also taught me budgeting. For a competition in December, I have to start planning finances 8-10 months in advance. I start saving, reduce movie-outings and late nights.”

Software job, daily morning salsa practice, weekend classes – the juggle was apparently quite a “struggle” initially. “Burnout is often and usually takes place right after an overseas dance competition. I take two weeks to cool off. I don’t dance. I eat and sleep all I want.”



However, the juggle has become a lifestyle now and Singh is not complaining. “Dance has taught me discipline, time-management, and the importance of routine and good diet. This helps be super-productive while in office,” says Singh, who also takes time off to play cricket and chess.

Of course, he realizes that he is at an age where he is racing against time as far as dance is concerned but he is determined. “My passion to succeed and the fire to be on stage is more than youngsters. I want to make the most of the limited time available to me.”