While many students burrow down in the first months of the spring semester, burying themselves in books and bowls of Carm stir-fry, members of Tufts' Indian dance groups will head to the gym and the stage in the coming weeks. Though perhaps lesser known than organizations like Sarabande or Spirt of Color, members of these dance troupes are working hard to polish their performances and gain recognition both on and off campus this spring.
Diverse dance culture on campus
Among the over 300 student groups and organizations offered on the Hill, Tufts is home to four distinct Indian dance groups: Tufts Bhangra, Tufts Garba, Tufts Tamasha and Tufts Pulse. All of these groups specialize in different performance styles, with each on carving out a specific niche for themselves and representing a unique element of Indian dance culture - which is itself extremely varied. For members of the Tufts community who may not yet be acquainted with them, here are a few words of introduction:
Founded in 2001, Tufts Bhangra is a co-ed team and the oldest of the four groups. Bhangra originated as a folkdance of the Punjab region of Northern India. It was traditionally performed as a way to celebrate the harvest, taking its name from bhang (hemp), one of the region's most important crops. According to current tri-captain Derek Kallarackal, a junior, Bhangra is now known for its athletic and fun style.
Tufts Garba Team, which began in 2002, also features male and female dancers in their group. Also a folkdance, Garba was born in Gujarat, a state in northwestern India. Today it is sometimes performed with the use of dandiya sticks, which dancers incorporate into the performance by tossing or tapping them together.
Tamasha, formed in 2008, is an all-female dance group and the only one that fuses together different dance forms. The Tamasha women integrate Bollywood, hip-hop and other styles into their performance pieces. The name Tamasha" also refers to a type of Marathi theater, developed in Maharashtra, in western India, which combines dancing and singing, and focuses on female performers.
The newest of the groups, Pulse - founded in 2010 - is also an all-women team with a repertoire that includes the eight classical dance styles of India. The team alternates its focus between these styles
