If you missed it, you missed out!

On Saturday, March 2, Columbia Taal hosted their 22nd annual showcase, Naach Nation, in the Roone Auditorium, bringing together both Columbia’s South Asian dance teams and teams from visiting schools to highlight the diversity of South Asian dance. 

Proceeds for the event were donated to South Asian SOAR, a non-profit organization dedicated to fighting gender-based violence in the South Asian diaspora. Taal captains, Anjali Parande (SEAS ‘25), Abby Thayananthan (CC’24), and Vedika Basavatia (BC’24), introduced the organization at the start of the show. 

The showcase featured performances by Columbia Bhangra, Columbia Raas, Jhoom Dynamix (Rutgers University), Zinda (Johns Hopkins University), Josh (Johns Hopkins University), Dheem (Boston University), and three performances from Taal. 

Taal’s 9 seniors opened the show with an incredibly creative Bharatanatyam and Kathak rendition of Beyoncé’s “Alien Superstar.” 

Columbia Bhangra performed second, garnering huge applause from the crowd, performing the traditional Punjabi dance form.

The first visiting team to perform was Jhoom Dynamix, Rutgers’ premier fusion team, who delivered a rousing performance complete with Bollywood, Bharatanatyam, and hip-hop choreography, in addition to other Indian dance styles.

Rutgers Jhoom Dynamix Via Anoushka Sharma.

Similarly, Zinda, John Hopkins’ fusion team, gave a high-energy performance, which mixed several dance styles and combined Indian and Western music. 

To close the first act, Columbia Raas performed their full competition set, inspired by The Lorax. Through their signature Gujarati folk dance choreography, set design, and music mix, they took the audience through a unique retelling of the classic Dr. Seuss story. 

During intermission, audience members were served catered food from Anar, one of the event’s sponsors, and had the chance to purchase custom Naach Nation t-shirts (which were later used for a t-shirt toss during the show!).

To open the second act, Taal’s freshman, sophomores, and juniors performed a graceful classical routine to the song “Nainowale Ne” by Neeti Mohan. 

Next was CU Dhoom, Columbia’s Bollywood dance team, making their debut performance this academic year. The performance was a fun mashup and ode to Bollywood hits from the 90s and 2010s.

Dheem, Boston University’s Indian classical dance team, displayed their technical skills in a beautiful Bharatanatyam piece.

BU Dheem Via Anoushka Sharma

Next, Josh, another fusion team from Johns Hopkins, performed a Dora the Explorer-themed set in which Dora and Boots traveled through different regions of India teaching the audience the respective dance styles from South, West, and North India.

John’s Hopkins Josh Via Anoushka Sharma

Taal’s full ensemble closed out the event with a stunning 13-minute piece to a mix of older Hindi classics as well as some newer hits, aptly including the famous song “Taal se Taal Mila” from the 1999 Hindi film, “Taal.” In classic Taal fashion, the mix also featured recent pop hits, such as “Low” by SZA. This performance, and the event as a whole, was emblematic of Taal’s very identity as Columbia’s oldest South Asian dance team, constantly striving to do justice to traditional Indian dance styles while bringing the modern flair unique to the South Asian diaspora. 

Columbia Taal Via Anoushka Sharma.

Taal’s message for the evening was clear from the start. To quote the beautifully choreographed outro from “Alien Superstar,” from Taal’s opening performance: 

We dress a certain way, we walk a certain way

We talk a certain way, we-we paint a certain way

We-we make love a certain way, you know

All of these things we do in a different

Unique, specific way that is personally ours

From this opening performance onward, the tone for the night was set. Each group’s performance built on the last, creating a showcase full of skill, grace, and pride. Whether more traditional, more modern, or a fusion of both, each performance brought something unique to this celebration of South Asian culture as carried forward by the diaspora. 

The audience’s standing ovation after Taal’s final performance speaks for itself. The event was a triumph, not just as a celebration of South Asian culture and identity, but as a celebration of community through dance and joy in its purest form.

Congratulations to all the performers and a huge congratulations to Taal for pulling off an amazing event!

Columbia Taal via Anoushka Sharma