Choreographer Shiamak Davar’s signature Bollywood style has transcended borders around the globe, spawning studios in Vancouver, Toronto, the U.K., Australia, United Arab Emirates and, of course, India. Now Davar, who arrived in Vancouver Monday, is busy gearing up for the Times of India Film Awards this weekend. While he prepared for weeks for Thursday night’s TOIFA Musical Extravaganza at the PNE and the grand awards ceremony Saturday at B.C. Place at his studio in Mumbai, he kept in constant touch with his crews in Canada, helping them train and rehearse for the weekend performance via Skype and his local Shiamak Davar Dance Team.

Davar will be directing his troupe and will even be making brief performances at each event. Davar and 145 dancers will perform alongside Bollywood celebrities like Shah Rukh Khan, Katrina Kaif, Priyanka Chopra and Mohit Chaudan. TOIFA is just one of many internationally recognized events Davar has had a hand in. He’s also designed shows like the Closing Ceremonies of the Commonwealth Games (2006 and 2010) and the World Economic Forum. He’s even pushed the Bollywood boundaries and rubbed shoulders with international stars like Bill Clinton, Tom Cruise and Oprah Winfrey. Vancouver Desi took the unique opportunity to see just how Davar manages working on such an international level.