Sometimes in life, we face challenges that force us to let go of our dreams. But brave are those who carry their dreams in their hearts, for as long as it takes to fulfil them. Mumbai-based dance choreographer Jitesh Dhuriya’s story is one of them. Jitesh was only 14 years old when he started working as a vehicle cleaner, washing auto-rickshaws for a living after his father lost his job. The man who once took the responsibility of his entire family when his friends were busy planning for their future now works as a choreographer in Dubai. When survival took priority over passionAccording to a report by the Official Humans of Bombay, when he was in his teenage years, Jitesh Dhuriya woke up every day at 5 am to wash auto-rickshaws before heading to school at 10 am, tired and weak. He was earning not only to support the household expenses but also to pay for his own school fees. On one rainy day in Mumbai, when the downpour left the roads flooded, Jitesh Dhuriya thought about taking a day off from work, being wholly drenched in rain. But that day, he realised that he had no other option but to show up at work because one missed day meant less money at home. ‘I was not thinking about dreams. I was thinking about survival,’ he admitted. However, what kept Jitesh going was his love for dancing, a passion he discovered somewhere between work and college. A self-taught dance journey Jitesh Dhuriya often watched local dancers from his neighbourhood leave for international tours with Bollywood artists. They would return with stories of foreign countries he had never imagined visiting, planting a quiet dream in his mind. Deep down, he hoped that one day, he too would get the opportunity to perform on such stages. However, with his family's financial struggles, dance classes were simply unaffordable. Determined not to let circumstances stand in his way, Jitesh Dhuriya turned to YouTube and made it his classroom, spending countless hours teaching himself new moves, practising in whatever small space he could find and participating in college dance competitions whenever an opportunity arose. Slowly, one break led to another. What began with local performances eventually opened doors to major television shows such as Indian Idol, Nach Baliye and Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa.Local talent to global stagesLater, Jitesh Dhuriya also performed at award shows and joined international tours, steadily building a name for himself in the industry. In 2016, he moved to Dubai to pursue bigger opportunities. Years of perseverance and hard work finally paid off when, in 2021, he achieved one of his biggest personal milestones: buying a house for his family. Today, he works on projects with renowned artists such as AR Rahman and Honey Singh.Despite his success, Jitesh Dhuriya has not forgotten his roots and every time he steps into a rehearsal studio, he is reminded of the young boy from Mulund who began his mornings before sunrise, washing auto-rickshaws to support his family. For him, every stage he stands on today traces back to those difficult early days that shaped his determination and refusal to give up on his dreams.