Bollywood Dance Competition Series ‘Legends’ Waltzes Onto Nat Geo

Peter White

8 February 2024 at 7:21 pm·2-min read

Nat Geo is delving into the world of competitive Bollywood dance in its latest series.

The Disney-owned broadcaster has ordered Legends (w/t), which comes from Indian Matchmaking creator Smriti Mundhra and 100 Foot Wave producer Joe Lewis.

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The six-part series follows on two key squads of Bollywood fusion dancers as they compete for the national title.

Every major university in the U.S. has a Bollywood fusion dance team — which mixes hip-hop, contemporary and pop with traditional Indian dance styles like bhangra, raas, kathak and bharatnatyam — but only the top 10 teams in the country convene each April to compete in the Legends National Championship.

It is produced by Mundhra’s Meralta Films, Amplify Pictures and 30West. It is exec produced by Smriti Mundhra, Maya Gnyp, Nina Anand Aujla, Joe Lewis, Rachel Eggebeen, Colin King Miller, Micah Green, Daniel Steinman, Sarah Hong, Betsy Forhan and Yari Lorenzo.

“This series is my ode to young adulthood, a universal coming-of-age story told uniquely through the South Asian lens,” said Mundhra. “It is the story of first-generation college students tasting freedom and chasing a glory that could transform their lives forever. I’m so honored to have the opportunity to introduce this vibrant world to Nat Geo’s global audiences and hope it inspires others the way it has lit a fire for me.”

Added former Amazon exec Lewis: “Amplify Pictures is thrilled to help bring the incredible world of competitive Bollywood fusion dancing to audiences worldwide. Through the brilliant direction of Smriti Mundhra, as well as our amazing partners at Nat Geo, Legends has become not just a compelling drama about dance but a vibrant saga of youth, ambition and cultural heritage.”

“National Geographic has a long and storied history of exploring different cultures and sub-cultures all around the world,” said Tom McDonald, EVP, Global Factual and Unscripted Content, National Geographic. “In Legends, we’re taking a very contemporary lens to a very competitive world. But more than that, we’re exploring what it means to be a young first- or second-generation South Asian American in the 21st century. This is a timely series infused with high stakes and, of course, jaw-dropping dance”.

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