Dance
Meet Nextion, a hip-hop dancer who wants to represent India globally
Nextion is part of the top-16 at the Red Bull Dance Your Style 2022 India Finals, and hopes becoming India champion can help him achieve his dream.
Nextion is a hip-hop freestyle artist who has been dancing professionally for three-and-a-half years.
He recently placed among the top-4 at the Red Bull Dance Your Style 2022 India East Zone Final. He now proceeds to the Red Bull Dance Your Style 2022 India Finals where he will be among the top-16 dancers from around the country, hoping to win the national final and become India champion.
Nextion hopes to perform at the global level and sees Red Bull Dance Your Style as the path to achieve this dream since the national champion represents the country at the world finals in South Africa later this year.
Here he describes how he has been influenced by his mentors, the success of his career so far, and what he hopes to achieve.
- Name: Smruti Swarup Patra
- Age: 20
- City: Bhubaneshwar
- Dancer name: Nextion
Nextion
© Focus Sports
What does your dancer name mean? What is the story behind it?
It’s a mix of the names of two of my teachers, Nepo and Addyction. They’ve been big influences in my dance career, so it made sense to form my identity after them.
Are you part of any crew?
Yes, I’m part of I.S.I.S crew. It’s a pan-India freestyle crew.
Where do you usually practice?
I usually practice at home. I also go to dance in Puri, Orissa; we practice there once a month.
Could you tell us about how you got started in dance and your journey so far?
I had seen Addyction practice at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneshwar a few years ago, and that totally changed my life. I have been dancing for three-and-a-half years and the journey has been quite confusing. I used to be a breaker, and the shift to hip-hop freestyle was quite a challenge. My mentor helped me get past that dilemma.
What is the main street dance style you practice? How or why did you get drawn to this style?
My main style is hip-hop freestyle. I enjoy using my different characters in the battles; I find it quite empowering to be able to do that.
Aside from your main style, what other street dance styles do you practice?
I like to use the essence of popping and breaking in my main dance style.
Top-4 from Red Bull Dance Your Style 2022 India East Zone Final
© Focus Sports
Which is your favourite genre of music or favourite song to dance to?
I love J. Cole! I like old-school as well as new-gen rap songs.
Who are the dancers from the local and international scene who have inspired you?
From the local scene, I idolise my mentors Addyction and Nepo, as well as Gattu, a dancer from Uttarakhand. I look up to Alex the Cage, Paradox and Luciano from the international scene.
What do you love most about street dance culture?
I love the community that street dance culture has given me. They help me grow. They are extremely supportive and friendly.
What do you remember of your first-ever dance battle?
I loved the support I got for my first battle, because it was in breaking and I added flips into my routine for that battle; it was rare to see flips in breaking in Odisha at that time. I remember Addyction sir saw the performance and told me that I am meant for the international scene. That meant a lot!
What has been your greatest achievement in dance so far?
I used to pursue singing seriously for five years, before I made the switch to dance. The fact that I was able to convince my family and get to a point where finally they started supporting me, that is my greatest achievement. I’ve also won some important jams like The For-East-Jam in Ranchi and Street Biz Jam in Bhubaneshwar.
Is there any one stage, event, competition that will be a dream achieved if you perform there?
I really want to represent India at Summer Dance Forever, Juste Debout and Flavourama.
Nextion at the Red Bull Dance Your Style 2022 India East Zone Final
© Focus Sports
Is there a particular goal or target you have set yourself?
I want to make a name for myself in India, and I want to share my knowledge with the younger generation.
Any dancer across the world that you want to collaborate with?
I would love to collaborate with Buddha Stretch, who is the creator of all the moves from new-school and old-school hip-hop.
What had you known of Red Bull Dance Your Style before? Why did you decide to participate?
My mentor Nepo sir had won Red Bull Dance Your Style India Finals last year. I know it’s a great platform to prove to your family, that you can take your dance to the next level, commercially. Red Bull is a major brand, and to be associated with it is big.
What do you hope to achieve if you win Red Bull Dance Your Style India Finals?
It will definitely help me represent my dance on an international level, and also give me an opportunity to collaborate with Red Bull in the future as well.