Tag: IASA

REVIEW: Azaya: The Unity of Experience at Hill Auditorium

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IASA’s show had a wonderful mix of both traditional and top 40’s music.  It attracted audience members of all backgrounds, be them students, families of the performers, or just people looking to see some amazing dancing (which they definitely got!).  The show also supported the Nisvartha Foundation in India (an organization that helps students in need get the necessary resources to pursue a higher education).

There were ten dance teams in all, and there were also videos regarding board members, background, and IASA promotional displays.  In addition, there was a guest performer, Jai Matt, who is an internet sensation.  Such diversity within one performance made the IASA show exciting throughout its duration.

In the middle of the first song, the group stopped to take a selfie.  This was the first indication that the IASA show was something more than I’d expected.  It was respectful to traditional culture while at the same time accessible to every age group.  Another dance team demonstrated this trait with its name: “Can’t Filmi Face,” which is a direct allusion to a song on the top 40’s charts.

Another dance team, showcasing “serenity,” demonstrated remarkable grace and talent.  Check out my video!  My friend performed in this number, as well!

Dance team four did a stellar job, and I happened to get it on film!  Another one of my friends was a dancer on this team, and despite the eight hour rehearsals the teams were subjected to in these past two weeks, she fell in love with the program.

The next group, demonstrating their ability to be “daring,” used glow sticks in a breathtaking light show.  Check out my video!  They used color to their advantage, making the audience scream even louder than they had been.  At one point, the team was in a huddle onstage, showing just how strong their friendship had become.  The team also used motion to their advantage.  They built a human pyramid and one of their teammates ended up taking a running leap and knocking the person on top of the pyramid to the ground.  This example really showcased how energetic the entire IASA performance was.

After intermission, the Dicks and Janes performed “Over The Rainbow.”  This was also when Jai Matt had his performance.  At one point, he asked for a volunteer from the audience and serenaded her!  This was followed by a sentimental video of all the teams discussing their experiences.

A fusion group after this related the IASA show back to the university.  At the beginning of their number, we heard the famous quote: “The team, the team, the team.”  In the middle of their number, two of the members used special effects to create fire!  As you can imagine, the student section was going pretty wild by then.

Team seven’s theme was “honor.”  Team eight represented “amour” and Bollywood.  Both of these teams were very popular!  Team nine was “vivacious,” which you can see for yourself in my video.  Their use of costumes was astounding!  Team ten, to conclude the show, represented “aspiration.”  This team used different scenes to label each dance.  For example, one scene was “spring break” and another  was “employment.”  Again, these themes related the IASA show back to university life.

In conclusion, the IASA show was incredible!  9 months of planning and a crazy rehearsal schedule really paid off.  These dedicated individuals, whether they were dancing, coordinating, or anything else, were extremely passionate and talented.  I can’t wait for the next show!

REVIEW: AZAYA – THE UNITY OF EXPERIENCE

Vijita

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Even though the audience was 8,431 miles away from India, the IASA show transported each and every audience member to the land and culture most of the 4000 audience members and 300 performers also call home. One could feel the nostalgia amongst some audience members as they heard songs from their childhood and the immense fascination amongst the others who are experiencing this culture for the first time. I was excited to experience the journey with 240 dancers as they portray 10 different dimensions of life and tell the story of 1 human journey that unites us all.

The show had 10 dances choreographed by student members of the IASA. The show started with the National Anthems of both, the US (performed by the amazing Dicks and Janes Acapella Group) and India, which was a very soulful, classical rendition that had the audience sing along and pay tribute to the culture we were celebrating.

The show was one of the most high energy performances I have witnessed at the University of Michigan. The show began with the theme of Village, which highlighted the camaraderie and close-knit bonds in Indian villages and communities. The selection of songs were the most popular Bollywood songs from 2013-2015 and there was not a single dancer on stage who didn’t have a million-watt smile on their face or energy that could bring a dead man back to life! The graceful Apsaras came up next, with a fusion of graceful Indian classical. It was absolutely thrilling to watch the ladies dance but were even more surprised with Liam Wiesenberger, who was absolutely perfect with the technique of Bharatnatyam. The costumes were absolutely perfect and reflective of the spirit of India – the bright colors, ghagras, modern styles and traditional accessories like ghungroos lit Hill Auditorium brighter than the lights could.

The evening was dedicated to a cause – the IASA supports the Nisvartha Foundation in India, which provides mentoring and an access to higher education to students who do not have the financial means to access specialized education and training. As we learned through the show, social welfare is one of the organization’s five pillars.

As the evening went on with enthralling dances, there were a few other performers who came to support the show. One of them was Jai Matt, a performer from Philadelphia who mashes up popular songs with Indian tunes. The audience had mixed reactions (and a lot of us felt uncomfortable) due to his slightly absurd style of serenading a volunteer on stage in the style of Enrique. We felt like there was a little too much of unwanted affection towards the girl who he performed his song to. It was also pretty strange for all of us to see a singer interject, and not really sing to his own backing tracks played by a DJ! We wished his performance wouldn’t have had these elements as most of us saw talent that was channeled in not the best way. Nonetheless, it was an entertaining part of the evening (not for all the right reasons!)

Furthermore, the other performances of Desire, Filmi, Bollywood/Fusion, Evolution, All Male (Badmash) and Bhangra pushed the energy of the show even higher. Evolution’s performance was the one that showed our journey through college as it started when we got our acceptance letters from the University of Michigan, and continued through finding love, orientation, frat parties, ladies’ nights, recruiting, being employed and graduating. It made a lot of the seniors nostalgic and excited the freshmen for the years and experiences waiting for us. The whistles, hoots, screams and cheers all indicated the audience’s appreciation for each of the 300 dancers who were all in the spotlight.

At the end of it, I started regretting not being part of IASA as the performers shared a special bond and the opportunity to dance one of my favorite styles. When I got back home, I couldn’t resist the urge to play all my favorite Bollywood songs and dance to them! Azaya truly unified the student, faculty and support community of the University of Michigan – and made us smell the soil of our homeland, feel the colors and festivity in our pulse and indeed believe that unity is what makes us such a vibrant community.

PREVIEW: Azaya: The Unity of Experience

Vijita

When one thinks of India, there is not just one image that comes to our minds. The smell of henna, exotic bright colors, vibrant dances, vast seashores as well as tall mountains, more than 50 different languages, people, ethnicities, food and music come to mind. India is not just a place – it is an experience. The Indian American Student’s Association (IASA)’s annual student show – Azaya – is all about the unity of experience. Experience the journey with 240 dancers as they portray 10 different dimensions of life and tell the story of 1 human journey that unites us all.

The 10 different dance groups include themes like Evolution, Village, All girls, All boys, Fusion, Bollywood, Classical, South Indian, Bhangra and “filmy” styles. As a fellow Indian, Bollywood music has the ability to raise the energy of any crowd and make it impossible for anyone to sit put in their seats! It is very exciting for me to watch a show that will connect me back to my roots and take me on a nostalgic trip that will bring back fond memories of my childhood in India.

The show is on Friday the 13th of November at the Hill Auditorium.
The link to the event is : https://www.facebook.com/events/1683656305213077/ and tickets can be purchased at the MUTO or online.

REVIEW: IASA Cultural Show – Vistaara

Cynthia

Having grown up in a very American household, I was quite confused by the cultural differences in the IASA Cultural Show. I enjoyed the experience though, even though I was not able to appreciate it the way my Indian friends did.

I have heard jokes about “Indian standard time” and many of my Indian friends have told me that Indians always arrive late to events, but I did not believe this stereotype until I sat in Hill Auditorium from 7pm (the supposed start time) to 7:30 with my Indian friend, Bella, wondering when the show would start. To add to that, another Indian friend texted me at 8pm and told me he just arrived. And after the 4th act, the people sitting next to me finally arrived!

The theme, Vistaara, was prevalent throughout the performance but I didn’t notice it right away. Luckily, Bella explained that the first couple of pictures in the slide show were from movies and TV shows that were popular a long time ago, and the last couple pictures were ones from more recent films. The organizers of the show did the same thing for the music, choosing a mixture of old and new songs. At that point, part of me wished I were Indian so I would catch the references!

I watched the show and admired the costumes the way a tourist looks at a famous painting, noticing the colors and sparkles and comprehending the beauty in the costume, but not understanding the culture and history embedded in the piece of art. It was the same thing with the music; I loved the rhythm and melodies but I had no idea about the meaning or the cultural implications. Most of the songs were upbeat, and I found myself bouncing in my seat wishing I could stand up and dance with the performers!

When I realized that I enjoyed bollywood and bangra the most, I began to wonder whether it was because I was the most familiar with those two forms of dance. I thought about a previous post by Laurie about what it means to appreciate music (she wrote about the Itzhak Perlman concert in September). My friend, Bella, was entranced by the different dances and she smiled whenever a new song was played, obviously recognizing the song and catching the reference to “Vistaara – a progression through time.” However, after a few minutes of watching unfamiliar dances, I started getting distracted and made faces at the little baby next to me (by the end of the show, I had taught her how to blow a kiss!). I was able to appreciate the hard work that went into the performance, but I wasn’t able to appreciate the references and allusions to the various aspects of the culture.

I truly enjoyed the show, I just felt mildly “uncultured” and wished I had watched a few more movies and listened to different songs before the show. When walking out of Hill Auditorium, I wanted to watch a Bollywood movie and practice the new dance moves I learned watching the dancers. Unfortunately, I needed to work on homework. But there’s always this weekend…

Time to break out my bangra moves!

PREVIEW: IASA Cultural Show – Vistaara, an Eternal Progression

Cynthia

When: November 13, 2009 7pm

Where: Hill Auditorium

Tickets: $12, $16, $20 (plus a $2 service charge) sold at MUTO, which is in the basement of the Union. For the truly lazy or last minute people, tickets can be bought online at ticketmaster.com.

Vistaara, which means progression/development in Sanskrit, is the official name of the 2009 IASA cultural show. With “time” as the theme, this performance hopes to show ways the different styles of Indian dance and culture have evolved over time. Choreographed by 22 student choreographers, the program consists of 10 different dances:

Bollywood
Gypsy
Classical
Bhangra
All Girls Progression
Raas
Fashion Show
South Indian
Mens Tribal
Village

For a detailed description of the dances, see http://www.umiasatest.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=14&Itemid=142. With 250 performers and 4,000 people in the audience, the IASA cultural show is the largest student run cultural show in America. And all of the proceeds from the show will go to Pratham, a charity devoted to eliminating illiteracy and ensuring that poor children in India receive an education.