LAUREN ‘DANZA’ GOTTLIEB

Dance is her middle name and versatility is in her veins. Her professional career began with the hit reality dance show SYTYCD (So you think you can Dance, season 3), after which she assisted choreography in the next few seasons and acted in TV shows like Glee and Ghost Whisperer. She came to India in 2013, starred in ABCD (Anybody can Dance) and was the runner up in India’s dance reality show, Jhalak Dikhla Jaa. She has been on a wild rumpus since then.

The dancer who emotes without speaking a word

We got a sneak-peek into the life of Lauren Gottlieb, a dancer cum actor cum choreographer by profession and a crazy young girl, who loves taking life one step at a time. Read on to find out more!

How is Lauren in real life?

I’m a really crazy and random person. I try to make people laugh all day and spread happiness. I don’t want drama in my life or think so hard to control situations. I just try and put a smile on people’s faces and my day is complete.

One thing that you follow everyday no matter what.

I have to work-out at least once everyday. I feel like you should sweat it out to make your body feel better, to awaken your mind. Also, I need my own time. As much as I love working or hanging out with friends, as soon as I get home, I give an hour to myself to meditate, listen to music and calm down even if it’s super late.

Bold & Beautiful

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Tell us something about your anger management techniques.

(Laughs) I won’t lie; I do get set off by a couple things. One, I put everything in my work and I go up and beyond even what’s expected out of me. I end up getting myself into more work than what was initially handed to me. So, if I don’t eat, I get irritable because I love food. The other thing that trips me out is that I am a perfectionist. I get annoyed when things do not go as planned, like the vision in my mind. You see, I am only human and I am working on these two things right now.

You made a name for yourself when you shot to fame through SYTYCD, Season 3. What made you come to India then?

I started getting a lot of shows and movies and I was really proud of the work that came my way after SYTYCD. So, I was making a transition from dance to acting because in Hollywood you can not do both. I was acting and left dance completely but as soon as I got an e-mail from UTV Motion Pictures for a role in ABCD, I didn’t realise that it would change my life completely. I had no idea how things would be but I just took a chance. And the minute I came to India, I just knew in my heart that there was a higher reason why I was brought here; I was meant to be here. I just maintain that Iam supposed to do something great here.

Lauren poses for a candid shot

How has it been learning Hindi so far?

It was very scary at first coz I had no idea what people were saying. I came to India and in just ten days I was on the ABCD set with Prabhu Deva where I not just had to act in Hindi but also react. So, that was a big challenge for me but challenges have been a constant factor in my life that keeps me going.

So who are you more of – a dancer, an actor or a choreographer?

I started dancing at the age of seven, it was my first love. So, even if I am somewhere and not supposed to dance, it will end up coming out of me. Also, I have had most of my training in dancing, which is why choreography has just made its way; something that happened without actively pursuing it. Acting is something I feel very passionate about and I am continuously learning from it. The more projects I do, the better I will get because it is surely the avenue I want to get in.

Dressed in an Indian attire, she looks as impressive.

As a dancer, what do you think is the scope of dance in India?

Back when I was doing ABCD, I asked my cast where they learned dancing from and they told me it was from YouTube. I was totally bummed because the most fabulous dancers here had no training apart from videos on the net which is incredible. But I had hardcore training and a whole foundation under me so, I wish there was more of that here like Terence Lewis and Shiamak Dawar give amazing classes and opportunities in their institutes but other than that, there are not that many. Maybe one day I will open up something here!

What’s your favourite thing about India? Which Indian city do you like the best?

One of my favourite things about India is that everybody dances. You ask any aunty or uncle for a dance and they would never say no. Such a thing would never happen in the US or any other place in the world for that matter. And how much dance means to me, I feel like I was destined to come here. About the city, I just love Goa so much beacuse Mumbai reminds me of New York; the hustle bustle, the busy city life, vehicles honking and life never stops. But when you are in Goa, all that gets thrown out of the window. You get to lie on the beach, have fun and go out at night and completely relax.

Moving to a bit personal question, who’s the man of your dreams?

Honestly, my dad is the most amazing person in my life, he is God’s gift to me. He is such an incredible man that I have always found it hard as to how I am gonna find someone who lives up to my dad and that is the reason why I have never really been in a long term relationship (giggles) because he has set such high standards.

Give out a message for all your fans and aspiring dancers out there.

I would say always dance through your heart. Anyone can learn steps but when you dance from within, it radiates through your face, your entire soul is open for everyone. Keep learning, do not constraint yourself and do every single type of dance; it’ll make you grow in leaps and bounds.