“I still can’t believe that we won the first prize. There were so many tough competitors, who performed with about 50-70 people while we were just seven. We don’t know what we will do with the money,” Mr Nimit said after registering a win in the competition. Mr Shantanu, who hails from Kolkata but is now based in Mumbai, dedicated the win to “the “citizens of India”. India’s spirit of “unity in diversity” was very much in evidence as the Desihoppers - men in their early 20s—wore white outfits with tricolour handbands and gyrated to ‘desi’ beats at the finale of the global competition, which was judged by ace international dancers Mr Matt Steffanina, Ms Galen Hooks, Mr Arnel Calvario, Mr Jun Quemado and Mr Beau Fournier.

The Desihoppers staged an energetic performance by starting off with a formation of Lord Ganesha and then providing a glimpse of Indian classical dance. After the “Ganpati Bappa Morya” religious chant, the troupe switched to fusion mode with international hits like “I got the power”, “Turn down for what” and “Old McDonald had a farm”. The performance also saw a blend of western music on dhol beats.