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ShareMumbai: Choreographer Longinus Fernandes is not your average celebrity. Apart from choreographing the Jai Ho song in the Academy Award-winning film Slumdog Millionaire, he has other cross-cultural collaborations to his credit, won international awards and made celebrities swing to his moves.
Talking to DNA in the midst of his next challenge -- choregraphing a group of young girls, most with no prior dance experience to perfect a medley for Eve Ensler's latest play that will premier in the city, Longinus talks about A-listers who he now calls friends. One of his big projects since Jai Ho has been the Julia Roberts-starrer, Eat, Pray, Love, and Longinus says his interactions with the actor has been very humbling. He says, "It was a dream to work with her. There is no one who does it better than her -- she is so polite and professional."
The choreographer admits that while the actor was slightly unnerved having to move around almost 5,000 villagers dancing to Longinus' steps at the shooting of a marriage ceremony. He recounts, "I was choreographing a mehendi ceremony. Julia and I both knew that it would take us a really long time to get everyone assembled. It was extremely chaotic. But Julia was humble and she understood that whatever it takes, we had to wrap up the day's shoot."
Longinus knows how to stay in touch with friends he's made along the way.He says, "Just the other day I met Danny Boyle over tea. I was in London on his birthday and called to wish him." Incidentally,Danny and Longinus share their birthdays -- October 20.
About his latest project, Longinus says, "It is a great honour to choreograph a play for Eve Ensler. I have spoken to her and she is very cooperative." But, he readily accepts that choreographing for a stage play is a challenge.
