Ridy on a roll

Russian born Bangladeshi dancer, choreographer, model and actor Ridy Sheikh first earned the spotlight for her participation in international dance shows like "So You Think You Can Dance" and "Dance Plus". She also actively engages with her fans over social media and with over 800,000 subscribers on her official YouTube channel. Currently, the artiste resides in Bangladesh, exploring her roots and hoping to build a career based on her creative passion. In a candid chat with The Daily Star, Ridy Sheikh shares her current project, future plans and more!

How has the coronavirus pandemic affected you?

During the pandemic, I had to follow a very strict routine as my parents were very particular regarding social distancing. I just did one shoot in July and then stayed in home quarantine for the next two weeks.  Being in this line of work, we have to opt towards different ways of maintaining social distancing as we can't wear masks during shots, and also have to work in collaboration with teams while shooting. Thus, I only managed to take this chance once and then went back to living in isolation until September.

How did you adapt to the 'new normal'?

During the pandemic, I started recording my dance covers at home with my mother as my cinematographer. I was shocked and amazed to see her skills and the way she took those videos. Other than that, I also wanted to keep my fans driven and thus, started releasing motivational videos to keep them entertained and inspired during such tough times.

What is your inspiration behind choosing this career?

I am a student of Economics and despite having a very serious academic background, I chose to follow my creative passion – music and dance. I am a very confident and dedicated individual by nature and I believe, hard work begets success. Also, I enjoy inspiring people and people inspire me to go ahead with my initiatives, and for me, that is my strongest driving force.

What are you currently busy with?

I recently collaborated with Nusraat Faria and we shot a dance cover for her track, "Ami Chai Thakte". The video is available on my YouTube channel. Currently, I am exploring K-pop music and related dance-forms alongside my usual practices. I am also doing a catchy dance number, featuring Shakib Khan for his upcoming film "Nabab LLB".