Vanderbilt’s South Asian Cultural Exchange held their annual showcase, recently renamed The Dances of South Asia, on Nov. 12th in Langford Auditorium.
The theme of this year’s showcase was based on the popular film “Mean Girls,” and featured a special guest performance from Rajiv Surendra, an actor who played the character “Kevin G.” in the film.
The showcase featured a diverse array of dances from various South Asian cultures, including Bengali Pop Folk, Classical, Nepali, Kuthu, Naatu, Pakistani Pop, Raas and Bolly Kathak. Students of any ethnicity could perform in these dances and practiced for months leading up to the event. Additionally, the showcase saw guest performances from the Bhangradores, Lakshya, Vivid, Confidance, Spectrum A Capella, VIDA and Double Major.
This year’s TDS was also the first year that included a fashion show. 42 students walked the runway, showing off fashions of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Afghanistan and the Maldives. These vibrant outfits represented the different styles of each country.
To commemorate the soon-to-be graduating seniors, SACE puts together a senior video each year. Underclassmen hugged their senior friends as the audience watched with misty eyes. A large group of seniors then performed their final TDS dance. High energy, joy and nostalgia-filled Langford Auditorium as the lights dimmed, closing out another successful year of TDS.
