The Tufts University South Asian association held its annual culture show on February 24 and 25 at the Cohen Auditorium. Titled “Sapne” the show featured high-energy dances, a fashion show, a bharatanatyam dance, musical medley, traditional vocal piece, and several humorous sketches. “There is a great variety in our performances, they are unique and we hope everyone enjoys them,” said the Directors of the show Shazia Jamal, Hari Nandu, Zulekha Zadeer and Uma Shanmugham.

A light hearted and very entertaining skit ‘FOB B TV’ by actors Nadia Ashai, Nimit Barochia, Amanvir Chahal, Shail Ghacy, Aman Gupta, Anish Jain, Vijay Nathan, Ajaita Shah, Neel Shah, Anjali Singh and Anand Sithian about Indians, Indian parents and their lifestyles, their way of talking and expectation of their children served as the thread that wove the program together. A play that took a humorous view of the stereo-typical American household kept everyone laughing.

The entertainment program opened with an all-freshman dance and closed with an all senior number, an annual tradition of TASA's culture show. Other dance items included “Chupke Se” – a sensuous bollywood classic originally directed by A.R. Rehman, an Open Bhangra, Suddha Nrittam – a Bharatanatyam dance by Reena Desai and Nivedita Gunturi, Hum Tum – Where Hip Hop Meets Bhangra, Tufts Garba and Badi Mushkil – a Madhuri Dixit inspired upbeat dance. The diversity of the dancers and this all inclusive attitude greatly enhanced the overall experience.

The second half highlight included a Fashion Show, Garbhang Raas, East Meets West Musical Medley, Raa Raa – a contemporary, yet classical, Bharatanatyam inspired dance, Tufts Bhangra and Sitar aur Tabla ke Sur by Janak Kumar and Martin Villanueva.

The Tufts South Asian community has very talented dancers. Even though the community is small, it is one of the few schools to have both an award-winning Bhangra and an award-winning Garba team. The talent was visible in every item. The Technical Directors Ketan Gajnia and Hana Sheikh, the Artistic Director Rodela Khan and the Stage Mangers Tanmay Gosalia, Tina Gulati and Anita Sinha did a great job displaying the Indian art and culture to everyone present in the audience.

The show featured more than150 performers. The participants in the show are to be commended for their hard work. The Tufts Association of South Asians' annual culture show is one of the best in the Boston area. Many non-South Asians at Tufts have embraced the Indian culture, and felt comfortable to participate in the show in significant numbers which makes Tufts a culturally-educated and accepting student body.

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