Technology Dance Society

Breakfree : Technology Dance Society, abbreviated as TDS, is the official All-style Dance Crew of IIT Kharagpur. Since it's foundation in the year 2012, where it was recognized as an official part of Technology Students' Gymkhana, IIT Kharagpur, it has grown ahead in multiple dance forms like Locking, Popping, Breaking, House, Dancehall, Litefeet and Whacking. It participates in Street as well as Western Stage dance competitions across India. It also organizes workshops for western dance enthusiasts at IIT Kharagpur. The society exhibits creative contents through YouTube from time to time. However, the official announcements are passed on through the Instagram page.

Joining the team

The auditions for TDS are conducted post a dance workshop session conducted inside the campus after the arrival of its new batch of freshers around the first week of august. The auditions are open for all students inside IIT Kharagpur. There is no restriction on dance style, age, course or study period of the student.

Selection Criteria

The participants of the auditions are asked to perform a one-minute piece of dance routine on their choice of song and dance style. They are also allowed to perform on the routine taught to them during the workshop. The dance performance can be original or inspired, but not exactly copied. There is no restriction to any dance forms. There may be a second round consisting of an impromptu performance of approximately 30 seconds. The participants are marked on the following :

Beat sense
Choreography
Energy
Interest

The auditions are known to be easy and every year, around 30 students are selected as new members of the society.

Timeline of Events

The society’s first showcase of the year takes place during the Freshers’ Induction Program in the last week of July, where members present an 8–10 minute group performance before the new students. Following the freshers’ selections, the next major event is the showcase performance on Institute Foundation Day on 18th August. This 10–15 minute performance marks the debut of the society’s new choreographers of the Governing Batch, comprising the third-year members and features all the dancers of the society, including the newly inducted ones.

The next major milestone is the Inter IIT Cultural Meet, held in December, followed by participation in Spring Fest (IIT Kharagpur). Soon after comes the lively Holi Flashmob, where the entire Breakfree team reunites to perform in front of the crowd at Gymkhana.

The society also represents the institute at several prestigious outstation cultural festivals such as Antaragni (IIT Kanpur) and Carpe Diem (IIM Calcutta). The year concludes with the Annual Junior Championship, where the junior members showcase everything they have learned throughout the year in an exciting dance competition.

Practice Sessions

The members of the society meet almost everyday to jam and prepare for competitions. The main team is divided into 2 different sections - Stage and Street. The practices for both sections are designed on the basis of competition requirement. Every year, a team of 30-40 members participates in Stage events and a team of 8-10 members participates in Street battles.

Workshops

Apart from routine practices, the members of the society participate in workshops conducted in Kolkata by renowned independent dancers and crews. The society also conducts open workshops inside the campus.

List of Governors & Choreography Heads

2024-25

Choreography Head:

Siddhata Sudhakar Gadhe

Governors:

Dibya Ranjan Samal
Tushar Dabi
Banoth Yamini
Atullyatej Ranasingh

2023-24

Choreography Head:

Sanjana Singh

Governors:

Bharat Kabra
Nikhil Atram
Ananya Pandey

2022-23

Tridibesh Naik
Ishank Gupta
Vibhusha Sontakke
Gaurav Semwal

2021-22

Ajith Sree Madhav
Sameer Gautam
Shreya Kumari
Soorsri Thashkant

2020-21

Monika Choudhary
Pranali Rahangdale
Shivam Sengar
Tausif Mohammad

2019-20

Ashish Meena
Mayank Lalwani
Milan Chauhan
Shippee Sunda

2018-19

Dhaval Chauhan
Monika Tamsoy
Pranay Kumar Mahapatra
Sandeep Sharma

2017-18

Ankit Singh
Nupur Jain
Pukhraj Baraskar
Shubham Annapure

2016-17

Rajat Gupta
Rakesh Ravikumar
Sakshi Garg
Shraddha Mehta

2015-16

Nikhil Kothari
Prachi Gupta
Rimil Hembrom
Sagar Kalbande