Bhangra

The FAUJ. Bhangra is the traditional folk dance of Punjab, India. Punjab is known for its music, dance, good-looking people, culture. and army. Putting that together, we form the Fauj. We will train Bhangra to anyone willing to learn.  We will be teaching traditional Bhangra fused with westernized music. ‘Fauj’ in Punjabi means ‘army’ and we are just that - we are united brothers and sisters united by our passion for Bhangra. FAUJ SALUTE.

Bollywood

Of all the archetypes in Hindi films, however, perhaps the most appealing is the love thief, a character who steals another’s heart. He is a criminal whose only crime is passion. For him, seduction is a form of burglary, a surreptitious game in which he uses charm and guile to gain entry into a woman’s guarded affections. – Stephen Alter, Fantasies of a Bollywood Love Thief, p.11

For our generation, this description can be no more appropriate than for Shahrukh Khan. He is a staple of Bollywood, the romantic hero that everyone can’t help falling a little bit in love with. He and his films are iconic and Bollywood wouldn’t be Bollywood without them.

Classical

The Classical dance has always incorporated the traditional beats of Indian Dance, as well as the hand gestures, postures, and steps used in dance forms such as Bharata Naatyam and Kathak. This year, IASA Classical will step deeper into the cultural heritage of Indian Classical Dance and showcase the expressive and meaningful aspect of the Bharata Naatyam art-form. Indian Classical Dance has been used for centuries to tell stories that contain emotion and spirituality. This year, we are going to teach you how to express yourself through dance in Classical! While no prior experience is required, there will be some advanced segments in the dance for those who are classically trained. So whether or not you have experience with Indian Classical Dance, Classical is for you!

Folk

This year’s Folk dance will focus on the most dominant and traditional representations of Indian culture. A more gentle folk style will include a matki (pot) dance. The choreography will resemble women playfully singing and gracefully dancing in the rivers while collecting water. Tambourines are used in traditional Indian gypsy dance, where men and women sensually dance by rattling the tambourines to a beat or clinking the tambourines against their bodies to produce a sound. Ancient Indian wars were fought with swords and spears. Today, this art of fighting has been translated into a folk dance where men use swords as a prop in vigorous and fierce choreography. Tribal dancing originates from hundreds of years ago and the dancing style is almost ruthless; movements are free spirited yet rough in manner. The styles mentioned above are only a few of the prominent folk forms that will be incorporated in this year’s Folk dance – tune in to see more!

Fusion

Fusion combines western hip-hop dance with unique Bollywood moves. Bollywood takes traditional Indian steps, such as classical and bhangra, and adds a modern twist to it. The choreography is dependant on the music; making sure that each step corresponds with the lyrics and beat of the song. Recently, Bollywood has been influenced by the sharp, clean cut moves of hip-hop. Hip-hop is its own unique style, incorporating complicated, intricate, and athletic tricks that wow the audience. Smooth transitions to various formations will always be a highlight of this dance. This dance promises to fuse these two styles that have originated in opposite sides of the world to create the dance of Fusion.

Koli

Koli, the music and dance of the coastal folk people of India, is distinct in its focus on fishing and the sea. In addition to the famous music and dance of the Marathi Kolis, fishing and boating traditions exist all across India and have even been portrayed in several popular Bollywood numbers. This dance will explore this unique culture through a blend of authentic fisherman repertoire and more modern, upbeat interpretations. It will feature music from several different languages, unique choreography, and never-before-seen props and costumes. Join us as we explore the exciting lives of India's hardworking and enthusiastic fishermen and fisherwomen--we promise you'll have a REEL GOOD TIME!

Raas

Raas is a high energy style of Indian folk dance originating from Vrindavan. It is most commonly performed during Navaratri, nine nights of festival and dance. Originating as devotional Garba dances, which were always performed in Durga's honor, this dance form is actually the staging of a mock-fight between the Goddess and Mahishasura, the mighty demon-king, and is nicknamed "The Sword Dance". During the dance, dancers energetically whirl and move their feet and arms in a complicated, choreographed manner to the tune of the music with various rhythms.

Shakti

Shakti is an all-male dance encompassing three dance styles: Bollywod, Bhangra and Western Hip-Hop. By integrating these dance forms with a combination of entertaining choreography and formations, our goal is to give IASA an all mens’ dance that no one has seen before. This is your opportunity to be part of something truly special and unforgettable. Believe the hype and make sure you rank Shakti as your number one dance!

South Indian

Over the past few years, South Indian movies have seen a revolution marked by pronounced Western influence that has quietly permeated the industry both in plot, costume, and music creating a unique blend of tradition and modernity. We hope to show the infusion of both cultures, eastern and western, to properly demonstrate the true culture of South Indian cinema.

Village

This year Iasa Village is a fast paced colorful Mela that will keep the dancers on their feet and the audience screaming with approval. Village is going to be a mix of strong energized steps and eye-catching stunts along with fast paced popular Bollywood music. It’s literally going to be an Indian festival on stage that everyone, whether you have dance experience or not, can get involved.  After the semester you not only can show off your new hott dance moves, but you also will have a whole new village family to have a good time with! Are you ready to Mela?!?