In this biography post, we will discuss famous choregrapher Terence Lewis’s biography, age, family, brothers and sisters, girlfriend, wife, net worth, brothers and sisters and personal life etc.,
Terence Lewis, born on 10th April 1975, is a famous contemporary dancer and choreographer from India. Terence Lewis was also named the Star Parivaar Award winner for Favorite Judge. He also choreographed the first stage production of Disney India, Beauty and the Beast. He has also judged many dance reality shows and choreographed for many Bollywood movies. Let’s learn more about Terence Lewis’s age, career, family life, girlfriend, and wife.
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Terence Lewis Early Life and Struggle
Terence Lewis was born on 10 April 1975 in Mumbai to a lower-middle-class Christian family with 7 children. Terence has seven siblings, and he is the youngest. So, his parents had 8 children, including Terence. His childhood was spent in Pathan Chawl (a 220-square-foot house) in Irla (Vile Parle), Mumbai. His father, Xavier Lewis, was from Mangalore, while his mother, Teresa Lewis, was from Mumbai.
His father always wanted to move back to Mangalore, but his mother wanted to live in Mumbai as she believed her children would have better facilities there. Terence lived in the house until 2009 and shifted to his new rented house in Santa Cruz after getting into Dance India Dance season 1.
He did his schooling (up to 10th) at St. Theresa’s Boys High School, Mumbai, and later studied 11th and 12th at St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai. He was a bright student from childhood, but as his parents were not well-off and educating eight children was not easy, his father asked him to bear his own educational expenses after he was 15. He is trained in jazz, ballet, and contemporary dance at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre and the Martha Graham Centre of Contemporary Dance in New York.
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He graduated in Psychology and Sociology and earned a diploma in hotel management. He has been fond of dancing and singing since childhood and wanted to become a Bollywood actor when he grew up.
He started giving dance tuition to children at their homes to support his education. After completing his education, he opened his own dance institute, hoping to attract many students. However, he failed miserably, and soon, he had to close the institute.
Terence’s First Choreography in Movies
He then shifted to fitness and, after six months, appeared for the fitness trainer exam, which he cleared successfully. He started working as an aerobics trainer for very famous personalities in Mumbai, especially women. He met Reena Dutta Khan (Aamir Khan’s 1st and then-wife) in Terence’s Aerobics class.
The movie Lagaan was in the making then, and Reena was its executive producer. As the movie was set in the 19th Century, Reena approached Terence for the Viennese ball dance choreography. He was one of the choreographers along with Vaibhabi Merchant and Saroj Khan.
His second movie as a choreographer was Jhankar Beats, and then he got a chance to train Antara Mali for the movie Naach.
Terence Lewis in television
He made his television career as a judge of Dance India Dance in 2009. Then he also judged its second and third seasons. In 2010, he also appeared in Khatron Ke Khiladi 3, which aired on Colours TV as a contestant.
He also judged Nach Baliye 5 in 2012 and Nach Baliye 6 in 2013-14. After that, he judged many dance competitions, including Dance Plus 3, Dance Plus 4, Dance Plus Season Five, India’s Best Dancer, and Nach Baliye 8.
Terence Lewis’s Friend
Famous TV actors Sayantani Ghosh and Terence dated for a long time. They were together for about 5 years, but their relationship later broke up. Shantini admitted in an interview that the relationship was broken because of her, not because of Terence Lewis.
Terence Lewis Wife
Terence does not believe in marriage, and he says that if he loves someone, it is not necessary to tie the knot. And if two people do not love each other, they do not feel right to be forcibly tied to each other because of the bond of marriage. That’s why he has decided he will never get married.
Many people keep asking Terence Lewis for wedding pictures, but he is not married, so there is no picture, and there is also little chance of it.
Terence Lewis Biography
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Terence Lewis |
| Date of Birth | April 10, 1975 |
| Place of Birth | Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
| Age | Xavier Lewis (worked in the shipping industry) |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Ethnicity | Indian (Mangalorean Catholic; Anglo-Indian descent from Portuguese-era Goa conversion) |
| Father | Jazz, Ballet, and Contemporary at Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Martha Graham Center, New York |
| Mother | Teresa Lewis (homemaker with sewing skills) |
| Siblings | Youngest of 8 (7 older siblings; names not widely publicized) |
| Marital Status | Unmarried |
| Girlfriend (Rumored) | Sayantani Ghosh (2014, unconfirmed; denied by both) |
| Current Relationship Status | Single (publicly stated he’ll “never marry”) |
| School Education | St. Teresa’s Boys High School, Mumbai |
| College Education | St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai (Microbiology, incomplete) |
| Diploma | Hotel Management, IHM Dadar, Mumbai |
| Degree | Psychology & Sociology, University of Mumbai |
| Fitness Certification | Progressive Fitness USA, Mumbai |
| Dance Training (USA) | Terence Lewis Contemporary Dance Company (TLCDC), founded in 2005 |
| Dance Training (Europe) | Dance Web Europe Scholarship, Vienna (2003) |
| Height | Approximately 5’10” (1.78 m, estimated from StarsUnfolded and visuals) |
| Weight | Approximately 75 kg (estimated; no official data) |
| Eye Color | Brown |
| Hair Color | Black (with occasional grey highlights) |
| Profession | Choreographer, Dancer, Singer, TV Judge, Dance Academy Founder |
| Debut (Film Choreography) | Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India (2001, “Waltz for a Romance”) |
| Debut (TV Judging) | Dance India Dance Season 1 (2009, Zee TV) |
| Debut (TV Contestant) | Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi 3 (2010, 3rd runner-up) |
| Notable Film Choreography | Lagaan (2001), Jhankaar Beats (2003), Naach (2004), Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela (2013) |
| Notable TV Shows (Judge) | Dance India Dance (2009-2012), Nach Baliye (2012-2017), India’s Best Dancer (2020-2024) |
| Recent TV Role | Judge on India’s Best Dancer Season 4 (July-October 2024, Sony TV) |
| Dance Company | Luxurious bungalow in Mumbai (rumoured worth ₹5-7 crore, per BollywoodShaadis) |
| TLCDC Recognition | Voted India’s No. 1 dance company (various polls, e.g., Dance India Dance alumni feedback) |
| Total Films Choreographed | Over 25 (Bollywood, musicals, international projects) |
| Total TV Shows Judged | Over 15 seasons across multiple dance reality shows |
| Stage Shows Directed | Finding Marina (2006), Children of the Sea (2006), various TLCDC productions |
| Musical Collaborations | Worked with A.R. Rahman (Lagaan), Sanjay Leela Bhansali (Ram-Leela) |
| Awards (Choreography) | American Choreography Award (2002, Lagaan) |
| Awards (Theatre) | Best Choreographer, Edinburgh Fringe Festival (2006, Finding Marina, Children of the Sea) |
| Honorary Degree | Doctorate in Performing Arts (2018, National American University) |
| Guinness World Records | 4: Largest Bollywood Dance Class (2010, 1336 people), Largest Indo-Contemporary Dance Class (2011), Largest Bollywood Dance Class (2012), World’s Largest Photobook (FBB) |
| Early Career (Pre-Dance) | Performed with Father Xavier Lewis in amateur plays |
| Early Dance Job | Taught dance at age 14 to fund education |
| Theatre Background | Performed with father Xavier Lewis in amateur plays |
| First Major Break | Choreographing Lagaan (2001) after returning from New York training |
| Languages Spoken | Fluent in English, Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi |
| Net Worth (Estimated) | ₹24-30 crore (as of March 2025; from choreography, TV, dance academy) |
| Annual Income (Estimated) | ₹2-3 crore (TV judging, workshops, choreography) |
| Per Episode Judging Fee | ₹10-15 lakh (industry estimate for shows like India’s Best Dancer) |
| TLCDC Workshop Fees | ₹5,000-10,000 per session (varies by duration and location) |
| Social Media (Instagram) | @terence_here (1.2M+ followers, dance and fitness content) |
| Social Media (YouTube) | Terence Lewis (100k+ subscribers, choreography tutorials) |
| Social Media (Twitter/X) | Inactive (last notable activity pre-2025) |
| Residence | Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
| Property | Dancing, fitness training, acting, travelling, mentoring |
| Car Collection | Mercedes-Benz (spotted in 2023 Instagram post); specifics not publicized |
| Hobbies | Rumoured affair with Sayantani Ghosh (2014, Nach Baliye 6; both clarified as professional bond) |
| Fitness Routine | Daily workouts (shared on Instagram: yoga, cardio, strength training) |
| Favorite Dance Style | Contemporary (blends Indian classical with Western forms) |
| Favorite Choreography | “Ang Laga De” (Ram-Leela, 2013) – cited as a career highlight |
| Health | No major issues; maintains rigorous fitness regime |
| Diet Preference | Non-vegetarian (Mangalorean seafood lover, per interviews) |
| Latest Update (TV) | Judged India’s Best Dancer Season 4 (ended October 2024) |
| Latest Update (Dance) | Planning TLCDC workshops for summer 2025 (announced via X, March 2025) |
| Latest Social Media Post | Instagram reel on dance evolution (March 15, 2025) |
| Controversy (Romantic) | Backlash for favouring gymnastics in dance critiques (Hindustan Times, July 2024) |
| Controversy (Judging) | Trained dancers like Shakti Mohan, Dharmesh Yelande, and Punit Pathak (DID winners) |
| Philanthropy (Dance) | Terence Lewis Dance Scholarship Foundation Trust (supports underprivileged dancers) |
| Philanthropy (Social) | Worked with Tsunami survivors for musicals (2006, Finding Marina, Children of the Sea) |
| Mentorship | Funding international dance training (worked multiple jobs in the late 1990s) |
| Signature Move | Fluid arm movements in Indo-Contemporary style |
| Inspirations | Michael Jackson, Martha Graham, Sanjay Leela Bhansali |
| First Dance Memory | Dancing at age 6 to a Bollywood song at a family function |
| Biggest Challenge | Funding international dance training (worked multiple jobs in late 1990s) |
| Favorite Bollywood Era | Khatron Ke Khiladi 3 (2010) – reached the finale, lost to Shabbir Ahluwalia |
| TV Contestant Experience | Khatron Ke Khiladi 3 (2010) – reached finale, lost to Shabbir Ahluwalia |
| Musical Talent | Sings occasionally (e.g., “Chhod Do Aanchal” cover on YouTube, 2023) |
| Stage Performances | Over 500 live shows with TLCDC globally (India, UK, USA) |
| International Recognition | First Indian to teach at ImPulsTanz Festival, Vienna (2003) |
| Dance Philosophy | “Dance is storytelling without words” (News18 interview, 2024) |
| Fan Nickname | “Dance Guru” (popularized by DID contestants) |
| Public Persona | Witty, disciplined, inspirational (per X sentiment, March 2025) |
| Fashion Style | Eclectic – traditional kurtas to modern jackets |
| Favorite Travel Destination | New York (for dance inspiration, per Instagram captions) |
| Role Model | Father Xavier Lewis (for resilience and work ethic) |
| Dream Project | Full-length Indo-Contemporary Bollywood musical (hinted in 2024 interview) |
| TLCDC Branches | Mumbai, Delhi, online classes (expanded during COVID-19) |
| Student Count | Over 10,000 trained through TLCDC since 2005 |
| Legacy (Dance) | Pioneered Indo-Contemporary fusion in India |
| Legacy (TV) | Redefined dance reality shows with technical expertise |
| Legacy (Bollywood) | Elevated choreography with narrative depth (e.g., Lagaan, Ram-Leela) |
| Current Focus | Mentoring Gen Z dancers, expanding TLCDC globally |
| Quote | “Dance is my oxygen; it keeps me alive” (Times of India, 2024) |
Some Unknown Facts
- Including Terence, his parents had 8 children. Apart from this, his four cousin brothers and sisters also lived at his house. This means about 16 members lived in a room of 220 square feet. That’s why Terence and his siblings had to spend a long time outside the house.
- Terence’s father didn’t like him going into the dance and Bollywood line at all.
- He has 4 Guinness World Records to his name. The last was FBB Denim Dance.
So finally I’ve got 4 Guinness World Records! Wondering what’s next ? Any ideas what recurs I Shd create or break? https://t.co/TAEOXB8BLA
— TERENCE LEWIS (@terencehere) November 25, 2016
Terence Lewis and Nora Fatehi
Terence Lewis was criticised in 2020 for improperly groping Nora Fatehi on the sets of India’s Best Dancer.
He became a victim of social media mocking after his altered video showing him illegally groping Nora Fatehi went viral. The choreographer was seen improperly groping the actress-dancer on her butts in the footage. Terence kept silent while Nora Fatehi and Geeta Kapur came out earlier.
The choreographer, on the other hand, finally broke the quiet surrounding the controversy and spoke about the entire saga. He stated that he has the utmost regard for Nora and is not so perverted as to stoop to such actions.
Nora Fatehi publicly supported Terence Lewis during the 2020 controversy linked to the television show India’s Best Dancer. Nora strongly rejected these claims, describing them as the result of video morphing and meme culture.
She commented on Lewis’s Instagram post, which featured a moment from a previous dance performance where he carried her during a routine. In her message, she thanked him and praised his calm attitude. She wrote that in a time when videos can be edited and misused for memes, she admired how he remained composed and dignified. She also expressed confidence that the situation would pass.
Nora further stated that she had always been treated with respect by both Terence Lewis and co-judge Geeta Kapur during her time on the show. She described her experience as a judge as a valuable learning experience and wished Lewis continued success.
The issue did not lead to any lasting public conflict. Both Nora and Lewis later reaffirmed their friendship. Lewis also explained that they had worked closely together in many dance performances before, and that the presence of multiple cameras during filming made the allegations unreasonable.
Geeta Kapur, a fellow judge on India’s Best Dancer, played a supportive role in the Terence Lewis-Nora Fatehi controversy by publicly defending both and highlighting the emotional toll of social media trolling.
Guinness World Records
Terence Lewis has earned several Guinness World Records through large-scale dance events that reflect his skill as a choreographer and organiser. His achievements show his effort to make dance accessible to large groups of people across India.
One of his major records came in 2011, when he organised the largest Bollywood dance class in Mumbai. A total of 1,336 participants performed together in perfect coordination. This event broke a previous record set in China and brought international attention to his work.
In 2012, he went a step further and broke his own record. At the KJ Somaiya College Grounds, 4,428 people danced together to the popular song Dhinka Chika. The scale of participation made it one of the biggest organized Bollywood dance performances at the time.
That same year, he achieved another milestone by setting a record for the largest Indo Contemporary dance class. In Mumbai, 567 dancers performed to the Sufi track Teri Deewani. This event highlighted not only the number of participants but also the blend of Indian and contemporary dance styles on a massive platform.
In 2016, he was also part of another Guinness World Record through the Fashion at Big Bazaar campaign. The project created the world’s largest photobook using denim-themed dance photographs shared by people online. His involvement added a creative dance element to the campaign.
These records reflect his influence in promoting large-scale dance culture in India. Through his choreography and vision, he has helped bring people together and celebrate dance on a global stage.