Slip on your dancing shoes! Tamasha, the 5C Bollywood Dance Club, is gearing up to host its annual end-of-year showcase, aiming to encourage students in Claremont to celebrate, appreciate and participate in South Asian dance.
Sanskriti, the biggest student-run 5C dance showcase, will take place April 5 at Bridges Auditorium at Pomona College and will include over 100 dancers from all five colleges in a showcase of a diverse range of choreographed routines. The event will highlight Tamasha’s inclusive environment and unique combination of dance styles.
Sanya Dhama PZ ’24, one of the co-presidents of the club, emphasized the positive effect of the diversity of the students who participate in the showcase.
“You’ll see on stage that it’s not just Indian people or people from South Asian descent,” Dhama said. “We’ve really tried to open [the showcase] to everyone so it becomes a really cool opportunity [for everyone] to be able to engage.”
Beyond fostering inclusivity within its members, according to some members, the significance of the club’s name represents its welcoming environment. According to Reina Bhatkuly HM ’25, Tamasha translates to the English word “spectacle.” Bhatkuly said she likes this name because she believes it represents how all people can share a spiritual connection through dance and energy.
“We just come together and try to celebrate the love of being and salvation,” Bhatkuly said.
On top of Sanskriti, Tamasha hosts another South Asian dance festival, Diwali, in the fall. Last year’s performance took place on Nov. 12. Diwali, is the biggest holiday in India and is observed by both Hindu and non-Hindu communities. According to PBS NewsHour, although its origin story differs across regions, its primary theme is the triumph of good over evil. Bhatkuly said that her desire to connect to others during the holiday is what drew her to the club.
“Coming from India, I yearned for that space, especially at a small school,” Bhatkuly said. “It’s really easy to feel isolated during Diwali, because you do something at home, but when you’re here, you don’t have that. Tamasha became that space where I could go and celebrate something that was meaningful to me growing up.”
Drishti Thakur SC ’24 is also co-president of the club. She said that she knew about the club before applying to Scripps. Having danced from a young age, Thakur said she shared a bond with her mother through Bollywood dancing. She said she knew she wanted her heritage to be a large part of her college experience and that the club has lived up to her expectations.
“One of the [application] essays was ‘Why Scripps?’ and I wrote about Tamasha because I’ve been interested in Bollywood dancing since I was 10 years old,” Thakur said. “I knew that Tamasha would be an important part of my life. The minute I stepped on campus, when I went to my first practice as a sophomore, I felt like I belonged.”
The club’s focus changes throughout the year, depending what their upcoming goals are. During the fall semester, Tamasha focuses on hosting open practices and workshopping for dancers of all levels. The club’s choreographers create and teach dances incorporating elements from Bhangra, Garba, semi-classical dances, other Pakistani and Indian regional dances, even incorporating elements of hip-hop and pop.
However, in the spring semester, the club spends their practices preparing for Sanskriti. Thakur said it is this year’s closing act that she is most excited for.
“I’m really excited because after doing work for an entire year … when we finish that dance, it’s going to feel like such an accomplishment,” Thakur said.
Dhama said she hopes that this year’s showcase will bring new people that are interested in dance. She said she wants all students to participate and learn about this culture.
“It becomes difficult to understand what the line is between appropriation and appreciation,” Dhama said. “I think something that I really want to push through dance is coming together, dancing with people of all different backgrounds and doing it in a respectful way where you’re putting your soul, energy and passion into it. Appreciation is being a part of something, so I really encourage people to not overthink anything and just really be there and respect the culture and the space and really embrace the community.”
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