Dance India Dance (commonly known as DID) is one of India’s most loved dance reality shows. Since its inception in 2009 on Zee TV, it has offered a national platform for talented dancers from across the country to showcase their artistry, versatility and creativity. Over the years, DID has changed lives, launched dance careers, and introduced fresh moves to Indian audiences. In this article, we explore the winners, runner-ups, hosts and judges:
Show Format
Dance India Dance follows a competitive reality format blending auditions, mentoring, eliminations, and public voting.
- Auditions & Mega Auditions: Contestants from across India audition in various cities. Selected dancers proceed to “mega auditions” or rounds where they must perform in multiple styles to prove versatility.
- Masters / Mentors & Teams: In many seasons, judges (called “Masters”) mentor teams—each master coaches their contestants.
- Judges Panel + Grand Master: The show typically features 3 choreographer-judges (Masters) plus a “Grand Master” (Mithun Chakraborty in earlier seasons) who holds a senior oversight role.
- Performances & Themes: Each week, contestants perform solos, duets, group acts across varied dance styles (classical, contemporary, hip-hop, Bollywood, etc.).
- Elimination & Voting: Based on judges’ scores and public votes, contestants are eliminated week by week until the finale.
- Finale & Winner: In the grand finale, top finalists perform and the winner is selected via combined judges’ decision and audience votes.
Over time, the show has introduced twists—wildcards, team battles, special themes, and changes in judging panels—but the core remains: dance excellence meets audience engagement.
Dance India Dance Winners, Runner-Up, Judges, Host
Below is a consolidated table (as per available sources) for principal seasons of Dance India Dance:
| Season | Winner | Runner-Up | Judges / Masters | Host(s) |
| Season 1 | Salman Yusuff Khan | Alisha Singh | Remo D’Souza, Geeta Kapur, Terence Lewis + Grand Master Mithun Chakraborty | Jay Bhanushali (and earlier Saumya Tandon) |
| Season 2 | Shakti Mohan | Dharmesh Yelande | Same judging trio (Remo, Geeta, Terence) + Mithun Chakraborty | Jay Bhanushali (or show host as per that season) |
| Season 3 | Rajasmita Kar | Pradeep Gurung | Remo, Geeta, Terence + Mithun Chakraborty | Jay Bhanushali |
| Season 4 | Shyam Yadav | Manan Sachdeva | Judges changed (e.g., Mudassar Khan, others) | Jay Bhanushali / hosts per that season |
| Season 5 | Proneeta Swargiary | Manan Sachdeva | Masters: Mudassar Khan, Gaiti Siddiqui, Punit Pathak (new panel) | Host(s) per that season (e.g. Jay Bhanushali) |
| Season 6 | Sanket Gaonkar | Sachin Sharma | Judges / Masters changed (e.g. Mudassar, Marzi Pestonji etc.) | Hosts: Sahil Khattar & Amruta Khanvilkar (per a YouTube note |
| Season 7 (Battle of Champions) | Unreal Crew | I Am Hip-Hop | Judges: Kareena Kapoor Khan, Bosco Martis, Raftaar | Host(s): Dheeraj Dhoopar, Karan Wahi |
Dance India Dance Season 1 (2009)
DID’s maiden season premiered in 2009, introducing the “Masters” concept with Remo D’Souza, Geeta Kapur, and Terence Lewis, overseen by Grand Master Mithun Chakraborty. Thousands auditioned, and the finalists battled across dance styles under mentorship. The show captured viewers with its fresh format, heartfelt journeys and technical excellence. In the finale, Salman Yusuff Khan clinched the title, while Alisha Singh was the first runner-up.
Dance India Dance Season 2
Season 2 deepened the competition with better production, more audition cities, and stronger choreography challenges. The same judging trio returned. As contestants performed in varied genres and under team formats, Shakti Mohan emerged as winner, with Dharmesh Yelande as runner-up—both now major names in India’s dance circuit.
Dance India Dance Season 3
In Season 3, the show raised the bar further—adding tougher elimination rounds and themes. The judging panel continued, and mentorship was strong. Rajasmita Kar from Geeta Ki Gang won, beating Pradeep Gurung (Terence’s side) in the finale. The season solidified DID’s position as a serious dance incubator across India.
Dance India Dance Season 4
By Season 4, DID introduced fresher judges and twist formats. Production values rose and the competition was more fierce. Shyam Yadav took the grand trophy, while Manan Sachdeva was first runner-up. This season also expanded regional auditions and took more risk in performance themes.
Dance India Dance Season 5
After a brief break, DID returned with Season 5 featuring a refreshed set of judges—Mudassar Khan, Gaiti Siddiqui, and Punit Pathak—bringing youthful energy. The show introduced battle rounds and solo/duet/trio formats in direct faceoffs. Proneeta Swargiary emerged winner, with Manan Sachdeva again as runner-up.
Dance India Dance Season 6
Season 6 increased complexity: wildcards, mid-season changes, and tougher elimination rounds. Judges and hosts were updated. Sanket Gaonkar secured the winning title, while Sachin Sharma came second. Many finalists from Season 6 have continued dancing in Indian television and choreography circuits.
Dance India Dance Season 7 (Battle of Champions, 2019)
This special “Battle of Champions” edition premiered 22 June 2019 with a twist: contestants were winners or top performers from previous shows. The judging panel also changed to include Kareena Kapoor Khan, Bosco Martis, and Raftaar. Unreal Crew (a group focusing on tutting & animation) won, and I Am Hip-Hop was first runner-up. This edition highlighted group dynamics, thematic battles and high technicality.