For five years, a group of William and Mary students has brought South Asian culture to Greater Williamsburg in a little-known way.
The College of William and Mary’s “premier Bollywood fusion dance troupe,” Afsana, has its roots in India and other South Asian countries, but also in the heart of Williamsburg.
“For me it’s because I think it connects to my heritage,” Sejal Dhawan said. “My family’s from India so we do a lot of Bollywood dance and I always grew up watching Bollywood movies, but at the same time I like the aspect of fusion because, I think that’s really who I am.”
“I am Indian, but I’m also American,” Dhawan said. “I was born here.”
At 19 years old, Dhawan devotes hours every week to practicing the different styles of dance used in fusion.
Between rehearsing Bollywood, hip-hop, ballroom dance and a handful of other dance styles, Dhawan and her nine teammates spend several hours, three nights per week, preparing for competitions.
Every member of the team brings a unique cultural experience with them to the dance group.
Afsana club president Surya Sampath only started dancing in 2015, but he fell in love with Bollywood fusion dancing’s exhibitions.
“I think it’s just taking your passion and showcasing it to so many other people who are interested,” Sampath said.
“It’s a great feeling. You feel like you made them happy, you feel like you’ve given them something to enjoy.”
The team has one-stepped its way into the national spotlight performing across the United States in the collegiate competition circuit.
“With a blend of passion and synergy, Afsana aspires to produce memorable performances on stage,” said Afsana dance club vice president Vansh Bansal.
For Rishya Suresh, dance has been an important part of her life for six years. Now, at 21, she dances with her college family.
“I think it’s the culture that really sticks with it,” Suresh said. “I grew up in a predominantly Indian culture, so it has always been in my life. When I came to college [Indian culture] is not something I found everywhere, but I think Afsana gave me a sense of family, the sense of culture I felt at home.
The dance troupe performs at Eastern North Carolina University on Feb. 24 and in the national “Taste of India” dance competition at the University of Alabama Birmingham on March 31.
The group is still trying to raise money for traveling to and from Alabama for the “Taste of India” competition, Bansal said in an email.
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