I wait for the weekend like a kid waits for Eid. The whole week I’m counting down to Friday night, because I know Saturday means two things I love most: rest, and dance shows. After six long days of work, stress, and this week especially, heel pain and doctor visits, the weekend feels like a reward I give myself. And when Saturday and Sunday night roll around, it’s India’s Best Dancer Season 5 time. That’s non-negotiable in our room.
I’m not just a casual watcher. I have watched every season of IBD from 1 to 4, and now 5 is ongoing. But it doesn’t stop there. My love for dance shows runs deep. I have seen Dance Plus Season 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. I have followed Super Dancer Chapter 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 since the little kids first stepped on stage. I’ve also finished Dance Deewane Season 1, 2, and 3. If there’s a dancer spinning, flipping, or expressing a story with their eyes on Indian TV, chances are I’ve cheered for them. My sisters laugh and call me a “dance show encyclopedia” because I remember contestants, songs, and even specific episodes from years ago.
This week was heavier than usual. My left heel started hurting badly. I was limping around the house, worried it was something serious like a spur. I went for an X-ray, and the whole time I was anxious. Thankfully the report came back normal. That relief felt like a weight lifted off my chest..
And today was not just any Saturday. Today was a special episode. The kind they hype up all week in promos. The main guest was Madhuri Dixit. Madhuri Dixit! The Dhak Dhak girl. The expression queen. The reason so many of us fell in love with dance in the first place. In five seasons of India’s Best Dancer, she had never come to the show. This was her first time, and she was here to promote her movie MA BEHN. When I saw the promo earlier this week, I literally texted my sisters in the family group: “We are NOT missing this. Burgers on me.”
So we made a plan. Saturday night, we had to be free by 8 PM. No chores, no phone calls, no excuses. I decided it was going to be my cheat day too. All week I try to be careful because of my health,fitness and my heel, but Saturday night is sacred. I ordered crispy spicy chicken patty burgers for both of us. The kind where the patty is thick, the spice hits your nose first, and the mayo drips a little when you bite. And of course, coffee. Hot, strong, slightly sweet the way I like it when I’m settling in for three hours of dance, drama, and emotions. We enjoyed our meal while watching the show. Oh hella what can be more enjoyable than having good food with goo mood and best entertainment show.
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The episode opened with a group performance. All the contestants came together for a tribute to Madhuri Dixit. They danced to a medley of her songs — _Ek Do Teen, Dola Re Dola, Ghagra, Maar Daala and many more... I got goosebumps. Watching the next generation of dancers perform to the songs of the woman who defined Bollywood dance for decades felt like a full circle moment. My younger sister nudged me and said, “You used to copy her steps in front of the mirror, remember?” I did. We all did.
Then she entered. Madhuri Dixit, in a royal blue saree, hair open, that same smile that hasn’t changed since the 90s. The judges stood up. The contestants were starstruck. And I’m not going to lie, I clapped at my TV like she could hear me in Faisalabad. She walked so gracefully, waved at everyone, and took the judge’s seat next to Geeta Maa and Terence Sir. For a second, I forgot about my burger. That’s how you know it’s serious.
She wasn’t just there to sit and smile. She talked about MA BEHN. about the story, about mothers and daughters. The performances that night were on another level. Maybe it was Madhuri’s presence, maybe it was the “special episode” energy, but every dancer came with fire. There was a contemporary act that made me cry. A boy and girl told the story of a mother and son separating, and they used a dupatta as the connection between them. When the music ended, the whole stage was silent for a second. Even Madhuri had tears in her eyes. She stood up, hugged the girl, and said, “You reminded me of my mother today.” My sister passed me a tissue without saying anything. We were all emotional.
Then came the fun part. They did a “Dhak Dhak Challenge” where the contestants had to copy Madhuri’s iconic hook steps in 30 seconds. It was chaos, in the best way. Some nailed it, some tripped, and Madhuri herself got up and showed them how it’s done. At 57, she moved like she was still in Hum Aapke Hain Koun. My elder sister said, “I need to learn this,” and we all burst out laughing because we knew she’d try tomorrow morning and pull a muscle.
Between all this, I was living my best cheat day life. The spicy chicken patty burger was perfect. The crunch, the heat, the way the sauce mixed with the cool lettuce it was worth every calorie. I took slow sips of coffee during the emotional parts and nearly choked laughing during the fun parts. At one point I had coffee in one hand, burger in the other, and tears in my eyes from a performance. My sister took a photo of me and said, “This is you in your natural habitat.” She wasn’t wrong.
What I love about watching with my sisters is the commentary. We don’t just watch silently. We gasp, we predict scores, we argue if Terence gave “too much” or “too little.” When Madhuri said “beautiful” to a contestant, we all repeated it in her voice. When Geeta gave a correction, we’d nod like we were in the classroom too. It turns the show into an event. It’s not just TV. It’s family time.
By the time the episode ended, it was almost 11 PM. My coffee was gone, my burger was gone, and my heart was full. Madhuri thanked everyone, promoted MA BEHN one last time, and left with folded hands. The contestants looked like their whole life had been made. And honestly, mine too. I didn’t just watch a dance show. I felt inspired, rested, and connected to my sisters, to my childhood, to the week I had just survived.
After the TV went off, we didn’t get up right away. We sat there, talking about our favorite performances. My younger sister said she wants to learn contemporary now. My friend sister said she’s going to watch Dola Re again on YouTube. I just sat there, feeling grateful. Grateful that after a week of pain and worry, I had a night like this. Grateful that a burger and coffee could feel like a feast when shared. Grateful that a woman I’ve admired since I was a child could still, through a screen, make me feel like dancing.
I went to bed that night and thought about why I love weekends so much. It’s not just rest. It’s not just shows. It’s the pause. The whole week I’m running, working, dealing with problems, like my heel pain. But Saturday night tells me, “Stop. Breathe. Enjoy.” India’s Best Dancer gives me that pause. Madhuri Dixit gave me that pause. My sisters give me that pause.And now i am waiting for tomorrow's episode... hahahah
I’ve watched a lot of dance shows. Dance Plus gave me street styles and crews. Super Dancer gave me kids who dance better than adults. Dance Deewane gave me three generations on one stage. But IBD feels personal. Maybe because I’ve grown with it. Season 1 came when I needed inspiration. Now Season 5 is here when I need healing. And tonight, with Madhuri Dixit on screen and a spicy burger in my hand, it felt like the universe saying, “You’re okay. You’re going to be okay.”
Tomorrow is Sunday. That means another episode. Another night of dance. I don’t know if there will be another big guest, but I know I’ll be there, same spot, maybe with chai instead of coffee this time. My cheat day might extend, but that’s fine. Some weeks are hard. Some weeks you need extra cheese and extra dance.
So yes, I wait for the weekend eagerly. For rest, yes. But more than that, for these nights. For the music, the stories, the tears, the laughter.. For my sisters arguing over who was better. For the spicy chicken patty that makes it all taste even better.
This was my Saturday. This was my experience. And I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
