The stage was alight with the vibrant hues of their costumes, ebbing and flowing with each step.
After months of planning, prepping and practice, more than 200 members of the MSU Coalition of Indian Undergraduate Students performed in the annual Satrang show Saturday evening at Wharton Center.
Biochemistry sophomore Betsy Mappilaparampil , who came to support her friends, said she enjoyed the aesthetically pleasing aspect of the show most and was impressed by the effort put into the performance.
“It’s my culture, and I like to watch because I can’t do it myself,” Mappilaparampil said.
The show began with the American and Indian national anthems, sung with fervor by coalition members, and the euphonious voices of audience members singing along carried across Wharton Center.
The underlying theme of this year’s show was ‘zaariya,’ meaning “beat,” which the coalition chose to maintain the concept of beats as the heart of dance. The idea held strong throughout the night with the rhythmic jingling of the stacks of bracelets they wore on their wrists and the periodic shine of the sequins on their ghagras, or traditional Indian garments, under the stage lighting.
Supply chain management sophomore Rachna Chhaya said she loves the feeling of performing with the surrounding sound of fans cheering and the loud music.
“I messed up so many times, and I didn’t care because I was enjoying myself,” said Chhaya, who danced the bhangra , a lively folk dance originating in the northwestern region of India.
The two-act showcase was filled with high-energy Indian dances, a short fashion show and songs from the Spartan Sur a cappella group.
At the end of a night filled with engaging performances and the cheers of an excited audience, Chhaya said she hopes the attendees find something to take away from the performance and help channel love of the culture
“My favorite part about dancing is being able to express yourself without words,” performer and human biology senior Prashanth Viswanathan said.
The coalition encourages all students to join them in learning Indian styles of dance, regardless of cultural background.
“We accept everyone,” Viswanathan said. “We just want everyone to experience dancing up there.”
