Asian/Pacific Islander American
CULTURAL PERFORMANCE & SHOWS
at The University of Michigan
IASA Kalyara: Spark of Festivity Comments
The IASA show was incredible. I have never seen so many people come together for a culture show, let alone fill all of Hill Auditorium. The spirit and support from the audience reached even the performers on stage.
My initial thought as I settled into my seat was the visibility. The balcony seating was really far from the stage, and there wasn’t a separate screen to provide a closer view. As the show started, I also realized that I couldn’t hear a single word over the cheers coming from around me. Although it is great to support the performers like that, I am really disappointed I was not able to hear the cultural explanations for each dance. Thankfully, I brought my program booklet home so I was able to go back on my own and learn about the dances.
Despite my situational complaints, I really enjoyed the show. The quality of all the dances is a level above many other culture show performances. The intricacy of costumes, the positioning of dancers, the fluidity of their movements as they move on and off the stage are all things I noticed were particularly impressive. I am performing in a culture show this semester for the first time, and I really admired the IASA show performers. Many of them are first time dancers like me, and yet they pulled off their performances so well.
Several dances stood out to me. The last dance of the show, “Dekho Dekho Na, Pretty Women” is one of my favorites. It is an Amara style dance about the Kite Festival in India. The choreographers of this dance were also the girls who came in to our class. I had high expectations for their performance and finally at the very end of the show, I was able to see it. The girls in this dance were wearing noticeably different clothing compared to the performers in every other dance. Unlike the majority of costumes that were culturally authentic, these girls walked out in sparkly silver tops and green leggings. Then they proceeded to use their props in really creative ways. They threw up an explosion of chalk, waved a homemade kite around as if they were flying it in a real festival, and even used a giant picture frame to help enhance their performance. This dance definitely stood out from its use of props.
Two other dances really impressed me due to their incredible positioning. One of them is the all-male dance “We Dem Boyz.” This dance was a mix of modern and traditional styles. As it went on, I realized their movements revolved around coming back to one position where all of the dancers stood in the shape of a heart. This heart formed several times, and it was a really cute way of enhancing the playful nature of their songs and dance. Unfortunately, I don’t remember the exact details of the second dance with impressive positioning, but I do know what I especially liked. The dancers stood in two lines that were perpendicular to each other. Then the line at the top of the stage moved to the bottom of the stage, and the line at the left of the stage moved to the right of the stage. As they did this at the same time, the two lines intersected with each other, and the dancers weaved in and out of the lines. The result was an impressive loom effect.
All of the dances were great in their own way. I plan to go back and watch all of them on Youtube once they are uploaded.
There were ten dances total, and each dance represented a different festival celebrated in India.
Although I sat in the balcony and couldn't hear/see everything super well, I enjoyed the performances. Each dance had a uniqueness, and seemed to represent the festival based on the descriptions they gave well. The dancers would use props that would help tie in the theme, such as lights and kites for The Festival of Lights (Diwali) or the Kite Festival.
Dances that were more classical or more modern were noticed based on the music they used and the music they incorporated. I could tell that a dance was more traditional, not only because of the name, but by the more authentic clothing the dancers wore and not using American music. The fusion/modern performances tied in American pop music and did more stunts and tricks to incorporate both Indian and American culture. This also pleased the audience more based on the noise they made and the excitement that the audience showed. Lighting in the more modern performances was also used more. There was a lot more flashing and set changes, etc.
I really enjoyed the Bhangra performance. This performance represented the Lohri celebration, which marks the winter solstice (the longest night and shortest day of the year). The couples were so energetic, and the traditional outfits were so colorful. I really enjoyed watching their synchronization with each other while using the props, and the formations used to highlight the colors of their clothing.
Among all the performances, I was continually impressed with the endless energy that the dancers had and the continuous changing of formation and people coming on and exiting the stage. It was impressive to see the fluidity of the dancers doing this and keeping the audience engaged. It's great to see how they were able to coordinate so many people at once. Also, what I really liked was the clothing that the dancers wore. They were so bright and colorful, and even from a distance, they seemed very unique and pretty. I think overall, I judge quality and excellence of each dance based on my own reaction. I think most people like to see that dancers are synchronized, and the music is nice to listen to, etc. If I like the performance, I feel that the dance is of good quality. I don't have much prior knowledge on authentic Indian performances, so as an audience member, what I enjoy watching and if I would want to see it again can say a lot about the performance.
Overall, I enjoyed the whole show, and I was able to learn some things about the celebrations that are important to Indian culture. I would definitely recommend seeing the show to my friends and other people. This is the 2nd IASA show I've been to, so it definitely has a reputation that makes you want to come back. Even though I might not have known anything about Indian culture, these shows kind of give me an insight on what the students here find interesting in their culture.
This was an incredible performance bursting with energy both from the audience and the dancers on stage. The minute I entered Hill auditorium, I could sense the heightened excitement from all the hustle and bustle of all the people congregated to see their kids, friends, or peers perform. The theme of the show was to celebrate Indian festivals with each dance representing a different festival in Indian culture. Elements of each festival is most evident in the music choice, costumes, and prop use. The festivals represented included the Gujarati festival, Pongal festival, New Year’s Day, Diwali, Republic Day, Holi, and Kite festivals. I particularly enjoyed how the show incorporated numerous types of different dances to embody India’s cultural richness. For instance, in the Gujarati dance, the dancers wore traditional headwear and brightly colored costumes to illustrate the authenticity of Navratri culture. Then, in representing Diwali, the festival of lights, the choreographers chose Bollywood style and used lights as their props to reinforce the Diwali theme. For the Republic Day dance, the style of the choreography, costumes, music, and props were all very traditional. For instance, the dancers wore anklets that would make jingle sounds whenever they stomped their feet, which is a common and representative move in Indian dancing. In contrast, the Fusion dance for New Year’s Day was modernized and infused with Western flair, in terms of music and costumes. The music was a mixture of Indian and hip-hop music, which the audience received well especially for those who are not familiar with Bollywood music but know the popular hip-hop songs. I particularly enjoyed the Fusion dance best because of the familiarity of the music, and it was really interesting to see the intersection of Indian and American cultures. It was very creative for the choreographers to incorporate the New Year’s Day theme with a ball drop, which encapsulates the essence of the holiday. One can easily witness the amount of time and dedication IASA members devoted to the success of the show. Every single detail is well thought out- from lighting, to song choice, costumes, choreography, and prop design.
In critiquing the IASA culture show, one has to evaluate whether or not the organization has successfully achieved its goals of representing the Indian American culture to the audience. I believe the IASA show has effectively done so through integrating and merging the two cultures together. One particular performance that stood out to me was the last performance, Amara. This dance incorporated Indian Bollywood music with contemporary American sounds. Moreover, the choreography featured various forms of dance including modern, hip-hop, and Indian, which made this closing number very memorable. My favorite part about the IASA show is its degree of diversity. Every single performance is different in its unique way, yet they all come together to reiterate the Kalyara theme. IASA also did a great job of incorporating videos and speeches about their organization including introducing the executive board members, talking about how the show fits into their five pillars, and interviewing graduating seniors about their favorite IASA memory. I thought that was a very personal touch to the whole show; it really emphasized the sense of membership unity and passion IASA members had for the organization. Without a strong sense of camaraderie and leadership, the IASA show would definitely not be as successful and memorable.
I was very excited to go to the IASA Show this year, because it was my first time at the IASA show and everyone who had been to one had told me it was an amazing production, and this year it did not disappoint. The show this year, Kalyara, The Spark of Festivity, was full of creativity, passion, and hard work, which showed through in the amazing dances, costumes, lighting, and props they had onstage. The enthusiasm everyone had was passed on not only through the dances, but to the audience as well, as they were all cheering on their friends that were performing in the show.
The performances all celebrated the rituals and festivals in India, yet all of them had a distinct style, which made it very fun and exciting to watch. Towards the beginning, the Raas style dance captured my attention immediately, with its energetic dance steps and amazing tricks. One of the dances that stood out to me was the Classical style used to represent Republic Day, which was interesting because it used orchestra music. One of my favorite dances was the Filmi dance, which was illustrated Shaadi, Indian weddings. I really enjoyed their costumes and thought they were beautiful. Another dance I really enjoyed, probably because it was the most relatable, was the Amara style of dance used to represent the Kite Festival. It had many modern elements in it and it fused it very well with the Indian style of dancing.
I noticed that throughout the performances, glowing lights in the dark was a very popular concept, perhaps connecting it back to the “spark” aspect of the title. All the costumes looked so beautiful and they are what made the show so aesthetically pleasing, especially since I was sitting in the balcony. The theme was very appropriate and interconnected with all the performances. I also liked how they took time to also made small video clips in between performances to appreciate the board and the choreographers because it shows choreographers and showcore coordinators are very well respected in the IASA community. It also shows that they worked very hard to come to this point and how close all the members within IASA is!
Another thing that I really enjoyed about the show was the program. The program was very well put together with the title, style of dance, and a small description about each dance the holiday that was celebrated. Since I didn’t really know much about the show, it was useful that I had a program to follow and the descriptions came in very handy in understanding certain aspects of the show, like the costumes of each set, or the props they were using, down to the types of dance movements they were doing.
Overall, it was an amazing performance and I am glad that I was able to see this production. This was my first time going to this show and from my experience this semester, I definitely want to go to the show next fall semester as well.
This year was the first time I have ever attended an IASA Show and I would highly recommend other students to attend in the future! I regret not attending the show in the past. This year the show was called Kalyara: The Spark of Festivity and was revolved around the various festivals in India. The show supports the Nisvartha Foundation to help impoverished students in India achieve a higher education. The show consisted of ten dance acts as well as three guest performances from 58 Greene, Maize Mirchi, and GMen. The dance acts consisted of student dancers from various backgrounds. Each dance was choreographed by at least two students and was based on different Indian festivals. There were various dance forms presented, some more traditional, some more modern, some a fusion of both. Some dance groups were all male, some were all female, and some were co-ed. The co-ed dances did not always have both genders on the stage. Sometimes there were only girls on the stage and sometimes there were only guys. There were also parts where the two genders interacted with each other or danced in unison. The choreography of the two gender interactions followed the festival of the dance. Single gender dances did not always have all their dancers on the stage too. The choreography had many transitions moving performers on and off the stage and into new positions. Most if not all acts utilized props to add a wow factor to their performance. A handful of acts also included tricks like throwing dancers in the air or tumbling. All performances were well thought out and contained entertainment value while sticking with the festival theme.
I loved all the performances. It was exciting to find out that my friends were performing in the show. I had no idea until I arrived at the show and looked through the program. But the fact that my friends were performing did not give me a biased opinion of the show since I had never attended the IASA Show in the past. Overall the show was very engaging and entertaining. Not only were there performances, there was great digital media accompanying the show. It was very professionally done and well placed in the show. I never felt bored and thought everything added on to the show. The videos weren’t too excessive and the dance acts weren’t ever too long. The production value was very high since the show was at Hill Auditorium with a real stage and professional lighting.
The dancers had appealing costumes, many contained sequins and glitter that shined very bright in the spotlights. The costumes were also very colorful and worked well with the choreography, like scarves and skirts. The dancers would use the scarves as props and the female dancers grabbed their skirts and incorporated it into their choreography.
Each dance act was introduced by an informative video that gave background on the festival and the name of the dance group as well as the choreographers. I thought this was educational and gave a thorough and concise description of the festival within the allotted time. The video production value was very professional and engaging, which added to the show.
For the most part the individual acts engaged with their assigned themes with props, choreography, and costumes. Each act had unique traditional costumes as well as relevant props to the festival theme. The accompanying printed program was very informative. It contains a description of the festival, picture of the festival, name of the dance group, a picture of the dancers, list of name of dancers as well as the choreographers. The program also states the objective of the show, people who should receive credit as well as sponsors.
I attended the IASA cultural show, Kalyara: The Spark of Festivity this year. I have never been to the IASA cultural show but I have been to other cultural shows including DVN and GenAPA. I was expecting the IASA cultural show to be on a similar level to DVN or GenAPA but I found the production quality of Kalyara to be much greater and larger. I was amazed at how many people attended the event as their shouting deafened me in the exceptionally large Hill Auditorium. Hill Auditorium is one of the best venues on campus and the IASA show audience definitely seemed to overwhelm both DVN and GenAPA, which are at the Mendelssohn Theater and the Power Center. I loved the energy and chanting of the audience and it really contributed to the theatrical effect of the show. Each performance was exhilarating and it was easy to tell that much effort and money went into the choreographies and costumes. I loved how many of the performances incorporated elements of both traditional Indian dance and modern dance and music.
Specifically, I enjoyed Amara the most. Amara was the all-girl fusion dance group and their two choreographers came into our class last week. One of the choreographers, Maggie, told us about her daily schedule leading up to the IASA cultural show and I have never heard a more busy schedule in my life. I think Maggie's hard work definitely paid off as Amara was one of the best performances at the show. They incorporated the most props into their performance including posters, costumes, and glowing lights. My second favorite group was We Dem Boyz, the all-men dance group. We Dem Boyz had the most humorous performance, in my opinion. It was refreshing to see a performance that could make me laugh so hard. Not only was the performance funny, it was also well-practiced and choreographed excellently like all the other performances.
Additionally, the technical aspects of Kalyara were amazing as well, including the transition videos and the lighting. I loved how they utilized the Kalyara logo in their transition videos and it added a lot of excitement and anticipation to each performance. Each transition video gave an explanation for each important Indian holiday represented in the dance. I actually learned a lot about some Indian holidays and traditions; one of the dance groups represented Indian marriage and I liked their red and white costumes, which symbolized the traditional Indian wedding garb. The guest groups were spectacular too, especially the GMen acapella group. Because the balcony seats and main floor seats were sold out, I had to buy the mezzanine section ticket. These tickets were priced at $20 and were the most expensive tickets in the auditorium. Although I liked my seat, I wish I bought tickets earlier as I believe that the mezzanine section was not amazing enough to justify the price increase. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Kalyara and I regret that I have not attended or performed in previous IASA cultural shows.
This was my first year going to the IASA Show, Kalyara: The Spark of Festivity. It was a good show, and had a lot of similarities with other cultural shows on campus. However, the IASA show seemed to be on a much grader scale. The first thing I noticed while waiting for the show to start as the constant, almost annoying, chants and cheers from the crowd. I later found out that the cheers came from IASA members and the dancers in the show who were sitting in the audience. The cheering from the crowd added so much energy to the show. Once the performances started, you could easily see how much time, effort, and money went into it. The costumes were elaborate; the choreography well executed. I was amazed by the detail in each of the performances. From the lighting to the use of props to the music, everything fit together so well. I also appreciated that they incorporated a lot of traditional dances into the set, though some dances had me wondering if there was anything even recognizably Indian in the dance. I also wished they had the name of the group dancing or information about the group/what type of dance they were doing on the screen instead of just their logo. The show was very long, almost too long in my opinion. Not that the show wasn't good, because it was really a great show. All in all the show was really great, and although it has similarities with other cultural shows, it's in a category of its own.
The dances in the whole set were supposed to represent particular festivals celebrated in South Asia. Although, to me (perhaps as an outsider to the culture), I didn't quite understand the relation between the choreography to the festival they were supposed to represent. The last dance by Amara was by far my favorite. The choreography was delicately created and expertly performed. Their use of props in relation to the festival they represented. After going through three hours of watching dancing, one can start to get bored with it, but once Amara came on, it was like a whole new show. For me, they really took the spotlight.
There was a point in the show where the board members talked about where they got their costumes. All of their costumes were so intricately and beautifully made. It's amazing to see such support for the show in the South Asian community in Ann Arbor/Michigan in general.
From a cost-worth perspective, my ticket cost $12, while some of my peers' cost up to $20. Personally, I wished that they were cheaper. $12-$20 is expensive for anything as a college student, let alone a cultural show.
The dances across the board were pretty good. There was some mistakes with synchronization within he dances, some hiccups here and there. This was surprising to me after hearing how much time went into these dances. Personally, I expected more from it.
Apart from the dances, the guest performers were great. The GMen was one of the highlights of the show in my opinion.
Kalyara: The Spark of Festivity was the theme for this year’s IASA show. Each dance represented a specific Indian holiday, and all of the holidays tied back to the theme of the entire show. I believe the IASA board picked an awesome theme for this year’s show as it taught people more about Indian cultures and holidays through dance. This was my second time going to the IASA show and I believe this year was better than the previous year. The dancers and choreographers for each dance were all students that are members of IASA. The passion and dedication of these students was shown through their costumes, props, energy, and through the chants they had incorporated throughout their dance. The energy and passion was definitely felt in the audience too, as everyone cheered during the dances and screamed for their friends.
Dances in the show ranged from both classical to modern styles. There were clear distinctions between the traditional and modern dances based on music, costumes, props, and choreography style. The dances that really stood out to me were the last three dances in the show: Andaaz, Village, and Amara. Andaaz was the All Male Fusion dance and they to me by far had the most energy compared to all the other dances. They incorporated many styles of dance into their routine, such as Bollywood, Bhangra, and Hip-Hop. The energy of all the performers was felt in the audience the most during their Bhangra segment, as they seemed like they were having the most fun during this part of their routine. They also incorporated their festival, Janmashtami, into their dance really well. Janmashtami is all about celebrating Lord Krishna’s childhood and his mischievous days. The dance began with a song that is about praying to God and it started off slow, but then it went into a remix of the song, which I thought was pretty cool. The guys also had dialogue mixed into their performance talking about how they are trying to get a girl’s phone number, which fits their storyline following Krishna’s childhood years. Overall, Andaaz was my favorite dance of the show. Village stood out to me, because the choreographers did a good job picking songs that went with their festival and the dancers were all in sync with each other for the most part of the dance. Village did a traditional dance in a fun and modern way. Amara closed the show with a jaw dropping performance, as I did not expect them to be as good as they were. The choreography for this dance was so unique and different that it definitely set them apart from other dances. Their use of props to incorporate their festival and all the other props were all well thought out and well placed into their performance.
Overall, I really enjoyed the IASA show. The amount of practice and effort all the dancers, choreographers, and executive board members put into the show was definitely showcased. I believe my opinion to be biased though, as I had at least one friend in every single dance, with some of my friends being choreographers. The show was fun to watch and I am excited to go to the show next year.
This was my second year attending the Annual IASA Show at the University of Michigan. This year, the show’s theme was Kalyara: The Spark of Festivity. Each of the ten dances performed represented a specific festival celebrated in India. The overall goal of the show was to raise funds to donate to the Nisvartha Foundation—an organization aiming to help impoverished students in India gain a higher education to brighten their futures.
Before delving into judging the quality of the performances, it is necessary to reflect on who these performers are. These are not professionals. These are students, our classmates, producing and performing a huge production. For the first three months of the semester, these students have balanced academics with 6-10 hours of dance practice every week. With this in consideration, the performances at the show were amazingly done. The costumes, lighting, props, mixes were all very elegantly combined with intricate choreography and formations to give the audience a very enjoyable experience throughout the night. While all the dances were very good, the all-female fusion dance that closed the show—Amara—definitely stuck out to me as the best of the night. They brilliantly fused together classic Bollywood songs with extremely hype songs like Tom Ford to create an unforgettable routine. Specifically, their synchronization and incorporation of their festival (the Kite festival) by using kite props, made their performance stand out.
The goal of the IASA show is to give Indian-American students a chance to show their unique culture to their peers and parents through dance. The IASA show is not just about that last night, performing at Hill Auditorium. It’s about the months leading up to that night. The months of friendships and memories and happiness that these Indian-American students are able to share with each other and then project on to the audience on the day of the show. In this goal, Kalyara was very successful because the audience was cheering and whooping throughout the show. I was able to feel the energy in the theater from the dancers and the audience members.
I would definitely recommend this show as a “must-see” to all my friends. It is amazing to see the hard work that these students have been working on finally come through in one final performance. Besides that, the whole show was a learning experience, even for someone like me who knows a lot about Indian festivals. The introduction to each of the performances was done through a short video clip talking about the festival that the performance was going to represent. I did not know anything about the Kite Festival, so there is definitely something new for everybody to learn and experience. All of the dances also portrayed the various styles of South-Asian dancing. While some of the performances stuck to one type of dance (Bhangra and Raas), other performances performed fusions of several difference dance forms. Overall, it was a highly entertaining and memorable show. I am super excited to see what the IASA show brings to the table next year and I will definitely be attending it again!
Last Friday was the first IASA show I’ve ever been to and it exceeded beyond my expectations. Kalyara: The Spark of Festivity was definitely worth all the hype that it received weeks prior to the show. I sat in the fourth row of the auditorium, so I was lucky enough to not only see the high energy and enthusiasm that exuded from each of the dancers, but also the many different facial expressions of each performer on stage. The energy was definitely one of my favorite aspects of the entire show. Seeing all the performers enjoying the dances made me enjoy the show more and put me in a high energetic mood as well. The high energy of the performers not only transferred to me but it seemed like it also transferred to everyone else in the audience. I could hear screams, cheers, and shouts before, during, and after each act. It was quite an experience.
In my opinion, each act was high quality; the performers were in sync and on beat. Even though there were a few people who dropped their props, the acts overall were outstanding. One thing I thought was extremely interesting was the fact that the performers shouted their movements out loud to help them dance in sync. For example, they would scream “Up, Right, Left, Down” if the dance moves were to move their arms up, right, left, and then down. Each performer on stage would chant this at the same time, adding a theatrical effect to the entire cultural show.
The theme of the culture night show was educating the audience on the various holidays and traditions that belong to Indian culture. Each performance represented an important cultural event which I thought was clever. Before each act, a short explanation in a form of a video was shown on two large screens on either side of the stage. This gave cultural insight on what the show was about so the audience could understand the meaning behind each performance act. These short introductions also gave credit to the choreographers and displayed the name of each act too. Even though each dance was based off a cultural tradition, some pieces still tried to incorporate modern music into an otherwise traditional music set. This helped the audience connect more to the dance pieces themselves and also shows how the choreographers tried blending traditional culture with modern times.
I would definitely recommend this show to my friends as a “must-see” part of their University of Michigan experience. The culture night show was both informative and entertaining. Not only were the performances lively and superb, but I thought that the transitions between the different acts were smooth overall too. There was a glitch in one part of the show when the short clip of the entire IASA board did not play, but other than that, the transitions kept the audience informed about the cultural meaning as well as a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the process that led up to the culture night show.
This was my second year going to to the IASA show. The first year I went as an audience and this year I went a participant. Every year, the show is based around a theme and this year it was Kalyara-The spark of Festivity. The 10 dances performed, each represented a festival celebrated in India. The show not only aimed to inform the audience of the cultures of India, but also aimed to raised money to provide higher education.
The show was amazing in my opinion. each dance embraced the festival they were to represent wholey. The dances, with their costumes and music choice, accurately described the festival and the region in which the festival originated. I also very much enjoyed the props and the lighting of the show. They brought an extra excitement to the show. The light strobing to the beats of the music and highlighting the various parts of the dances, took a student run show like IASA to another level. My favourites were specifically the all-male dance, Andas, and also the all-female fusion, Aamara. I really enjoyed Andas because they had a plot embed into their dance. Addition of having a plot added humor to an amazingly choreography dance. I also enjoyed Aamara because they used props to excite the crowd and their dance was extremely clean and synchronized which showed the amount of time they invested for this performance.
But as both a performer and an audience of the show, I can ensure that the IASA show is more than just the performance. It is about people uniting. Whether it’s the dancers connecting with each other through the hours of practice, or the audience connecting with each though cheering for a favourite dance or song, or the audience and the performers connecting with each other due their mutual love and appreciation of the indian culture, the IASA show is about forming bonds.
The IASA show is must see in my opinion. I guarantee, one will come out of the show energized and with a greater appreciation for the South Asian culture.
As a junior this year, with shame I say, before taking this class I did not know about the IASA show and I truly regret to not have explored the various cultural groups on campus earlier because the IASA show was amazing and I would definitely recommend to any other person who has not been to attend this show next year. The show makes contribution to the Nisvartha Foundation to help Indian children who are in poverty to attain higher levels of education. This year, the show centered on the many festivities of India, like Navratri, Pongal, Diwali, Republic Day”. They are all listed in the program booklet which also provides a brief description of each of the celebrations. This is useful as I sat on the balcony area and I could not hear what the video introductions were saying. However, the clips of India that were shown was educational as it included facts like India’s GDP and how they have over a hundred regional dialects. These video clips served to assist with transitions so that it was not just a black stage whilst waiting for the next group of performers to set up.
The performances overall were very well choreographed and almost all of the dances incorporated some component that had the audience at the edge of their seats. Acts like throwing dancers into the air and stacking dancers on top of each other were all executed with precision and it really reflects the amount of hard work they put into the show. Furthermore, all of the performers showed energy and passion. There was a huge variety in the costumes they wore however they all had a common point to them and that was they were either vibrantly colored or made of shimmery fabric. There was also a mix of co-ed dances where it seemed like the guys were trying to impress the girls and single gender performances which were also brilliantly performed. The variety of formations and transitions were extremely creative. I thought the fusion dance was especially memorable as it incorporated modern elements of the New York ball drop. This reminds me of Maira’s main idea in her book “Desis in the House” where she talks about the tension between traditional Indian culture and the pop subculture.
It was actually a struggle for me to see the show as people sitting in front of me were very tall and it blocked my view of the stage. Furthermore, there were constantly people and security guards walking up and down the aisle which added to the struggle to watch the show. Nevertheless, at times when I was not straining my back to see the performance, I would be listening to the music. I could clearly distinguish between the more traditional Indian music with the Bhangra music.
In conclusion, I really enjoyed the IASA show and despite all the chaos in the balcony the show should be commended on its organization. With an auditorium as big as Hill and an audience easily over a thousand, they pulled it off
I think overall performance of the IASA show was great and was full of exciting performances. As a standpoint of a critic of the show, the quality that the entire dance groups was great. Stemming from the video presentation to the costumes, there was clear evidence that much thought and effort went into each performance. Being on the other side of the fence of not knowing much about the dances and certain traditional styles that were presented, I think that the show did a good job on explaining all the intricate pieces that was represented in the dance. All the dances were well performed with only minor points in which were more distracting that took away from the performance. There were parts of the dance that weren’t really coordinated or explained that contributed to the lack of focus that went into enjoying the performance. But regardless, the transition from each dance was very smooth as it always started with an introduction to the dance and a little history of when and certain special themes that were explained. The performance that stood out to me the most was the Arama dance that we had the opportunity to hear the choreographers in class. I think that some of the things that they did discuss in class like improvisation of props for the dance and costumes really came to life when the performance happened. Without the insider knowledge that most of these props were handmade, I would have just thought that they had brought it just for the performance. The level of entertainment was very high throughout the performance. I know in class there was a lot of discussion about the interference of the cheering but as for someone who sat down on the main floor, I think that the cheer helped give life to the performance. Unlike the Sahana performance that I went, all the songs were very up beat and had a modern spin which was a new experience for me. As for the each act, again due to elaborate and vibrant costumes and the music being rendered with a modern twist, I think it was entertaining to watch the story of each act unfold. My recommendation for this show is pretty high for students. I think students like me who has never been at a culture show must be for warned that a student culture show is much different from other concepts of a “show” that they had previously experienced. I think reminding people that at the end of the day, it is a student organized show and that much of the loud cheering and active participation of the crowd is a norm for such performance.
This year's IASA show, titled Kalyara **the spark of festivity** comprised of ten dance styles to represent the rituals and festivals that have carried Indian Americans through their past challenges. I have been to a number of Asian-American student performance shows, but have never attended the IASA show. Therefore, I entered Hill Auditorium not knowing what to expect.
What instantly amazed me was how remarkable this event was. The Hill Auditorium can fit up to 3500 people, and entering and exiting the building was a struggle because of the number of people in attendance. Not only did this event cater to college students, it was also aimed at families including children and grandparents. Even students from other campuses visited Ann Arbor specifically for this show. Therefore, there was substantial pressure for the IASA board to host an amazing show.
And indeed was it an amazing show. Both educational and entertaining, the use of props, lighting, music and costumes combined with the choreo and video presentations created an outstanding cultural experience for me. Video presentations were embedded throughout the show to educate the audience about Indian culture, religion, the Nisvartha foundation, IASA's four pillars (cultural, community building, community serving and professional development), the board members and the dance/performance groups. The first presentation, called What Is India, was particularly informative because it contained maps, photos and short facts about their home country. The second presentation was equally arousing because it discussed why IASA chose to support the Nisvartha foundation in particular. I learned that Indian culture places enormous importance on opportunities to education, which can also be perceived through the pillars they uphold (e.g. professional development).
As for the performances themselves, I really enjoyed how many of the dance groups made full use of their props and costumes. One of my favorite performances was Classical, which was an all girls group divided into three styles, differentiated by the costumes they wore. One group wore green and white, another group red and white, and the last group orange and dark red. Costumes were often used to make distinctions between groups, such as gender. For example, females often wore glittery dresses while males wore loose pants and vests. Classical was different from the other dance performances because while the other groups included fast and energetic movements and lots of jumping and leg lifting, the Classical dance included slower and more graceful movements. There were a lot of spinning and large arm movements, and they used candle-like lights to supplement their performance. The most popular prop throughout the show was the use of hand-held lights, which created an air of mystery, because the stage would be completely dark with the beautiful lights dotting the stage in clever formations.
Fusion was interesting in that while with the other performances there were clear distinctions between males and females, they did not make these distinctions as clear-cut. Both male and female dancers wore similar costumes and danced together for the majority of the duration (instead of separately on stage). Furthermore, there was an interchange between English and Indian songs, thereby combining traditional aspects of Indian culture with modern American life. This could potentially signify that gender differences are not as distinct as we move from traditional ideals to more modern ones. They also used props, including this wooden cross-patterned equipment, and a blue-lit ball. I saw the wood-like cross equipment used by another group, but because I do not know what it is, I am unable to identify its cultural significance. Similarly, the blue ball was aesthetically pleasing but I cannot pinpoint its cultural significance.
This raises a significant problem I had during the show. Because I am unfamiliar with Indian culture, I often felt lost because I had no knowledge about the different Indian holidays and celebrations that played a vital role in the orientation of the show. Thus the information packet and video presentations helped clear some of the confusion. The information packet was very detailed and beginner friendly for those who are non-Indian. Sitting in the balcony area, however, it was extremely hard to hear what was being said in the presentations. Nonetheless, I was able to appreciate the beauty of the props, music, lighting, formation, choreography and costumes used in this year's IASA show.
Kalyara: The Spark of Festivity - A spectacular show filled with unparalleled performances. The theme of the show was festivals, and each dance represented a different festival in the Indian culture. The show opened with the Raas performance, a dance commonly associated with the Gujarati festival of Navratri. The dancers wore brightly colored costumes, and the boys wore very traditional Gujarati headwear, which added to the traditional “feel” of the dance. The show continued to the South Indian dance, representative of the South Indian festival of Pongal. An aspect of this dance that the audience (including myself) really enjoyed was the fusion aspect of the dance; the choreographers were able to integrate songs from popular South Indian movies with popular American music. The dances then continued with Bollywood, representing Diwali, the festival of lights. The dancers integrated the theme by using real lights in their choreography. The next dance was Classical, representing the festival of Republic Day. The classical dance was very traditional, including elements of kathak and bharatnatyam. The dancers painted their fingers and also wore anklets, as these forms of dancing involve a lot of foot stamping, which is emphasized by these anklets. The Fusion dance, representing New Year’s, was the final dance before the intermission. The dancers did not wear traditional Indian attire, since this dance was not associated with a strictly Indian festival. They incorporated the theme of the dance by recreating the famous Times Square ball drop. The first dance after the intermission was Filmi, representing typical Indian weddings. The choreography integrated the theme by having the male and female dancers put garlands around each other; an essential part of Indian weddings that signifies the completion of the marriage between man and woman. Next were the Bhangra, Andaaz, Village, and Kite Festival dances, representing the Lohri, Janmashtami, Holi, and Kite Festivals respectively.
As a whole, the audience really enjoyed when the dances were able to successfully mix Indian and American music, as this combination of cultures is truly what IASA represents. A particular dance that resonated with the audience was the closing number, Amara. This dance incorporated Indian Bollywood music with contemporary American music. Another aspect of this dance that resonated with the audience was the combination of the props and the choreography. They used gold spray-painted plates, and all of the dancers stood in a line, moving their arms in a synchronized manner. Another element of the dance that made it particularly memorable was when the dancers threw powder on the stage during one of the American songs, Tom Ford by Jay Z. This was an unexpected surprise, something I’ve never seen in an IASA performance before. Additionally, the dance covered all forms of dance, from hip-hop to a more interpretive style, another element unique to this performance. Amara related back to its theme, the Kite Festival, when the dancers brought out prop kites. This dance was the perfect ending to the show, integrating two cultures, reiterating the goal IASA had set for Kalyara: to successfully represent the Indian American culture in front of an audience.
Overall, the IASA show was one of the best performances I’ve seen, and it’s amazing that it was put together but students just like the rest of us who have other responsibilities as well. It was easy to tell how much effort and spirit that not only every performer put into the show, but show coordinators and IASA board in general.
The energy inside Hill was high the entire time. Sitting on the main floor, I heard the pounding of the speakers and shouts of the performers from the front, and the constant cheering from the audience from behind me.
One of the most amazing things for me about the show was the wide range of people it appealed too. As someone without too much knowledge of Indian culture and traditions, I thoroughly enjoyed all parts of the show, from the modern to the traditional. Before each performance, there would be a short presentation on the content of each performance, which gave me some quick and useful information. Going in to the show, I had no idea what the performances were about. Throughout the show though, I realized that the performances were about all of the Indian celebrations, from marriages to New Years, to Holi, to the Kite Festival. This took me as a surprise, and made me get much more out of the show. The way they explained each special event was quick, concise, yet informative; it kept my attention the entire time and did not draw attention away from the performance while giving me important information as well. This was very important so that less informed audience members like me don't just "float" through the show but rather get immersed it in as well. On the other hand, people who had a deep understanding of Indian culture, such as Indian families and parents of the performers, were able to enjoy the show as well. It’s essential that a show appeals to a wide variety of people, and the IASA show did a great job of this.
All of the dances impressed me with their energy and synchronization, as well as the wide variety of props and costumes that were used. After learning that the budget was $20 for each performer, the quality of the costumes they used really amazed me for the money they had available. The performances that stood out the most was the Bhangra dance and the Amara dance. The Bhangra group really impressed me with their movements and synchronization. The Amara group had excellent use of props, mainly the gold plates and the powder that they released from their hands with a clap. Even though I did not fully understand the traditions and background information for some of the performances, the way the dances presented itself was still entertaining for me. There was a good mixture of traditional and modern elements in the show. This mixture was not only in the music and dances, but in the props and costumes as well.
In conclusion, the IASA show was a great experience and not only did I learn a lot about Indian celebration and culture throughout the show, I was also entertained and captivated the entire time.
I enjoyed the 2014 IASA show a lot. I would like to discuss IASA from three aspects, the overall theme, the energy shown in dancers, and the audience reaction.
1. Overall theme
This year, the theme of IASA is Kalyara: The Spark of Festivity. Most of the things designed for the show align well with this theme, which contains elements of energy, traditions, celebration, etc. The choreography and clothes are more traditional than I expected. Diwali is probably one of the most famous festivals of India. To represent this festival of lights, the choreographers chose Bollywood style dance and used lights as props.The dance style, music, clothes and props all served well to present Diwali.
2. Energy of dancers
I believe that "energy" is always one of the top words that are associated with Indian dances. The performances at IASA didn't fail to radiate the energy and "spark" as their theme suggested. One of the earlier dances was in Raas style, which grasped audiences' attention immediately with the energetic dance steps and fantastic tricks. Most of the dances had quite complicated choreography, with lots of changing formations. I could imagine the efforts dancers put in preparing for this cultural show, as well as the joy they had while performing.
3. Audience reaction
Throughout the whole night, the audience have shown great excitement. Different styles of performances kept audiences engaged. "Dekho Dekho Na, Pretty Women" was the fusion dance choreographed by the girls that came speak to us in class. This dance won over a lot of audiences by the creative use of props and fusion of modern and traditional dances. These two aspects were also what the choreographers focused a lot of thei
IASA Show
Watching the show, I really enjoyed it and was blown away by the amount of effort, organization, and skills involved with making it successful. Each dance to me had insane amount of good vibes, and although there were a few noticeable mistakes, and many of the dances were not as in sync as I thought they could’ve been, I really enjoyed the show. My favorite show was the Bhangra show, from the dance itself to the colorful costumes. I really liked that each couple had a specific color theme to them, and the guys costume was really big and I thought looked the coolest.
I was very surprised at the amount of movement in the feet by all the dances and even thought to myself how much of a cardio workout it must’ve been practicing those dances for so long as described by the two choreographers that came into class to talk to us. I was very entertained by the individual acts and thought that the show was very organized. Going to KSA and VSA before, and never going to IASA before, I was amazed at the turn out and the organization level. The video montage/introduction to each performance was extremely well put together, I really liked how they had a small intro to each dance explaining the origins and theme behind them, as well as taking some time to explain IASA the organization’s goals and projects outside of just organizing the event. The printed program was very nice and informative. The show’s objective is to raise money for their charity, and the theme is Kalyara: the spark of festivity. I also loved the atmosphere of the show. Throughout the whole show the atmosphere was ecstatic, loud cheering for everything and anything, and the amount of energy the performers gave out to the crowd really created a unique experience.
I think that the show is able to convey Indian-American culture across well. Although all of their shows seemed to be a fusion of modern and traditional, there was no solely traditional performance it seems. But overall I think it conveys the meaning well because of the garb they wear, the explanation behind it, and the dance itself. I also think it’s great how the show performers are able to bond in an Indian-American setting by practicing along with their peers for such a long and dedicated time.
I would definitely recommend this show to others, and actually already have to many of my friends.
I really enjoyed watching the IASA show. From the start to the end of the show, the energy was very high. I noticed in the performances, that the costumes were very brightly colored in contrast with the background color. I also noticed that the costumes were not only bright, but often contained some sort of reflective gear. The lights would flash on and off to symbolize a scene change or get the energy going. I also noticed in the performances that the performers would also yell which would add to the culture of the dance and also get the audience excited. The dances seem to have a fusion of modern and traditional some dances were more on one side than the other. They also included informative introductions to the dances to see where the cultural part lied within their dances. It was overall a very exciting and informative show!
This was the first cultural show I have ever attended, an it was fantastic! The general flow of the show was smooth, funny, upbeat, and extremely entertaining.
IASA was performed at Hill Auditorium, lasting roughly 3 hours and costed $15. The money was used to support Indian culture and the Nisvartha Foundation, an organization that helps children in poverty in India achieve a higher education. The name of the show was Kalyara: The Spark of Festivity. The performances definitely emphasized the festive nature and really invigorated the audience. There was 10 performances in total: Navratri, Pongal, Diwali, Republic Day, New Year's, Shaadi, Lohri, Janmashtami, Holi, and Kite Festival. All of them essentially were dance performances that showcased Indian culture.
Kalyara began with general introduction and thanks, and proceeded to transition to the performances. Before each performance, however, there was a short video shown describing when the dances were performed, some history about them, and general cultural ideas behind them. The program guide for Kalyara has this information too, and it does a very good job at giving you some background about the dance. This was essentially how the entire Kalyara show went, with background videos and then the actual dance performance, but occasionally there was a break where a different video either promoting IASA or showing all the hard work the performers and the board has put into the show was shown as well. I think this went well with the show, as it gives a perspective on how important the show was to the individuals, and the amount of hard work put in.
Throughout the night, the show was extremely live and upbeat. With certain movements and "specials" that would captivate the audience that would make them chant "Kalyara" or the name of the dance group such as "Lohri", etc. Each dance was exciting, but the Bhangra dance performance stuck out to me the most because that style of dancing was mentioned the most in the book Desi's in the House.
From the show, I learned a variety of things, such as the styles of dance in Indian culture, what the movements are like (lots of very strong leg and arm movements, similar to hip-hop style). On a deeper level, the performance reminded a lot of Gonzalve's book as he mentions that PCNs are a rite of passage for Filipino Americans. Although this was not a PCN, it seemed like the IASA show was also a rite of passage for Indian Americans, as over 200 Indian students perform in the show every year, and probably more than several hundred participate in helping with the show. I also saw many parents that were there watching their children, with them smiling most of the time. I think it's a time for parents to realize what the mixture of American and Indian culture is like as well.
All in all, the IASA show this year was fantastic, and I think it'll be fantastic every year. I highly recommend this show to anyone that's attending the University of Michigan, and it can really open your eyes to what's going on at this campus, as well as Indian culture! Apparently the IASA show is one of the largest student-run shows in North America, so it's definitely interesting to see the development of such a large scale show. I wish I could've brought more people to watch this show with me, especially for those who have never been to a culture show.
I will start this off by noting I have never been to a culture night show before. I also do not have that much knowledge of the Indian culture.
It was very nice to be able to see each of the dances on the pamphlet so that I could check on the background information. Unfortunately it was very dark inside and hard to read. The dancing with the sticks was very cool, and flashy so it was something that remained in my memory. The atmosphere and lighting makes up a lot of the experience. There is a world of difference between seeing it on youtube and seeing it live. Everybody was shouting screaming and the energy was electrifying. I went with friends who also had never been to a culture night performance before and they found it exciting and entertaining. There was sufficient background knowledge given in order to give meaning to the dances for someone who didn't know the culture.
I am definitely looking forward to the other culture night performances if they are anything like this one.
Friday was my first time attending a cultural night performance, and it was definitely an unique experience. In this commentary, I would like to discuss the parts I enjoyed the most and the aspects I feel that need improvements.
Throughout the show I enjoyed each piece and its cultural and historic contexts behind it, I loved the array of colorful costumes and props the dancers used to compliment the actual routines. Although I don't know much of Indian dance techniques and culture, IASA managed to make it easy to understand for the audience. They have done so by choreographing entertaining performances that included videos explaining each festival and historic event that particular piece represents. I thought the costumes coordination between the guys and girls really exaggerated the visual affect, there was not a dull amount on stage. I noticed the formations in particular since I sat on the balcony watching from above made the formations of the dances that much clearer. I was surprised at how clean and creative the formations were, the variety of formations definitely played a significant role in the performance. By the end of the show I felt that I was welcomed into a very closely knit community with members who work extraordinarily hard to express their individuality as well as unity.
I also really liked the energy of the auditorium. The students and the dancers were feeding off of each other creating an extremely lively atmosphere. However, that is also one of the aspects I felt that could be altered and improved. Since I was sitting right next to the other dancers, their constant chants and cheers became quite disruptive. I understood it is the nature of these student cultural performances to have that kind of energy but the volume got so loud that it hindered the experience for me. They yelled over the videos and the host and sometimes even the music during dances. I just think there may be a better way for the audience to hear the information and appreciate the atmosphere. For example, the dancers and the audience could be separated more, or the organizers of the IASA could talk to the dancers prior to the show. In addition, the flow of the show could have been more organized, because there were unnecessary pauses and prolonged speeches that could be easily corrected.
Overall, I found this to be a rewarding experience and would love to go again sometime in the future.
I thought the IASA show was an extremely entertaining collection of acts. It was composed of many of the IASA organization members and demonstrated a variety of choreography and narratives. The overall theme detailed the story and process of Indian festivals and was speckled with bold colors, flashy lights, and high energy.
I thoroughly enjoyed the video clips that introduced each dance. The animation crew did an excellent job at executing their art and I thought that the video aspect played a significant part in hyping up and education the audience for each performance.
According to a video presentation, the IASA Culture Show proceeds goes to a charity to help others receive an education to better their lives. I thought it was really inspiring to know that all these students put in so much effort and time and sacrifice to collect money for those who really need it and have less.
As for the program, I thought it was pretty informative, although I wasn't able to read it during the show but rather after (because of the darkness of the auditorium). Something I thought could be improved was the synchronization of the dances. After hearing the choreographers come into our class and share about the late nights and practices, I was expecting very hard hitting moves and forms but I personally thought the dances overall were messy in that aspect. Improvement in that area would have greatly helped each performance. But other than that, I was very much drawn in by the power and passion displayed on stage that night.
While I have always been intending on attending the IASA show, this year was the first year I have actually done so. There has always been so much excitement revolved around this culture show and I can finally understand why. Everything about the show was meticulously planned and practiced, not only the dances themselves, but planning with the intricate lighting, the video and sound system. To be able to hold the show at an institute such as Hill Auditorium takes so much planning in advance as well.
I think the IASA dancers, participants, and leaders did a fantastic job spreading the word about their culture show and getting people excited to watch. For the entire two week leading up to IASA, my coat pockets were filled with IASA flyers that were being handed out at the diag, and in Mason Hall. My Facebook news feed was flooded with posts promoting the attendance of the show. I would be surprised if there were a soul on this campus that had not heard a thing about the IASA cultural show. That being said, my friends and I were extremely eager to see some fantastic performances. We got there early in order to get the best possible seats we could in the balcony, which turns out is very tight on space. There was little room to navigate between the aisles and leg space was not much of a thing for people with long legs. Nevertheless, I was glad to be up there, as I was not only able to see the whole stage and each formation, which I think adds to the performances, but I was also close to all of the excitement with the lively IASA dancers cheering and hollering in the back.
While some people thought the cheering was excessive and unnecessary, I truly feel that it creates a fun and exciting environment. As a performer, it is incredibly awkward to be dancing in front of an audience that is completely silent. Hearing people cheer can really pump up the performers, leading them to get into their performance even more. I do agree however, that the cheering was distracting, and that I missed a lot of what the introductory videos were saying. As I don’t see the cheering as something that would simply “go away”, I believe subtitles on the movies could aid to those who cannot hear the audio.
The performances themselves were very lively and energetic. Several of my friends were in the show performing Raas, Filmi, and Amara and I don’t think I’ve ever felt more like a proud parent. Seeing my friends up there dancing in their elegant traditional dress, completely engulfed in the Indian culture was something that I had not seen from them before, and in my opinion, it was neat to see just how proud they were to be showing this culture to everyone. I talked to each before the show started, and the biggest concern between all of them were that the tricks would not go as according to plan, as they can be quite hit or miss. I thought all the tricks were pretty spot on. A few of the throws made me a bit nervous, but they were all successful. Formations were a point of worry as well, but that was what I felt was the strongest. Diagonal lines were straight, and all set at the same angle, and from experience, I know that diagonal lines are very easy to mess up while dancing, as being even as much as an inch off throws off the effect.
While the energy in the auditorium was at high levels, I would have liked to see more performance through facial expressions. There were many dancers who looked like they were having the time of their lives, which evidently made some of the less energetic faces stand out. Some performers could have added more variety to their facial expressions. The only other part of the performance for me to be critical on was some of the synchronization. For the amount of time everyone put into the practices, and for all the talk that had been going around on campus, I would have thought it would have been a bit cleaner. The dances were already pretty clean, and the hard work through practice was evident, but it was not the flawless performance that it was made out to be. That being said, however, taking into consideration that a lot of these performers are not dancers, or have never done these styles of Indian traditional dance, I was so impressed with the over all show. To get a mix of so many people with and without experience to look that clean is truly impressive. I am very glad to have attended the cultural show, as I enjoyed the entire night, and will most likely attend again next year. Good job, IASA!
The IASA show was a really a culture experience for me as everything act that was displayed presented something that I had never seen before. The collection of acts seemed very coordinated to both entertain audiences and inform them about the story and process of Indian festivals. The elaborate color display, the active use of lighting and the high energy of the performers captivated and kept enforced in the performance.
What helped me further understand the culture was the addition of video before each act to further put the viewer into the mindset of each performance? They did a good job in helping us to understand each act and it significance to the culture it also remove me from the mindset of not knowing anything about the culture. The final thing that a video did was excite me for the upcoming act as well.
To conclude the IASA show was very informative and entertaining. The fact that all proceeds were going to charity made the ticket price well worth it and the act made it a steal. As a performer myself it was difficult for me to be critical of the act on certain aspect such and cleanliness and spacing. However much to my surprise this was a not thrown together display by students and I could notice the time and effort put forth by each performer. What the lacked in cleanliness the made up for with enthusiasm and heart which made the acts in the end.