For the first time since 2003, live emcees hosted Satrang, an annual Indian cultural show put on by the Coalition of Indian Undergraduate Students on Saturday at the Auditorium.

In the past few years, the organization had opted to use videotaped segments to introduce each new dance.

Because of some technical difficulties throughout the show, the live emcees came in handy.

Jay Shah, one of the live Satrang emcees, said the change really increased audience participation.

More than 1,000 people were in attendance on Saturday evening.

At some points during the show, drummers, dancers and the emcees would entertain in the aisles.

"Everybody was part of the experience, and that's really what the essence of India is," Shah said.

Nikunj Chauhan, a finance and premedical senior, helped organize much of the event.

Dancers have been practicing since January to perfect their performances and executive board members met until early in the morning the week before the event to make sure everything was ready.

Chauhan said using a combination of video and live hosts at the event proved to be worth it.

"It's very complicated, but it worked beautifully," Chauhan said.

This year's show was called "Samkrama: The Essence of India." Samkrama represents evolution, the transformation of India through the ages, said Roopak Kandasamy, president of the organization.

Vibrant colors, energetic dancers and an attentive audience could be found at the show. Colored lights flashed to the beat as dancers adorned in sequin cloth moved with the music.

The dancers were part of Fusion, a dance that represented the difference between cultures of India and how they complement each other.