Indian dancers prepare to show off unique style
Students are looking forward to dancing up a storm at Dance en masse, an open dance competition hosted by the Association of Students from India.
The competition will be held 7 p.m. on February 19 in the Festival Concert Hall.
“We hope the second annual Dance en masse will bring many new faces,” ASI President Krishna Kanth Kambhampaty said. “Students really had fun with it last year, so we want it to become an annual event.”
Dance en masse is an opportunity for students to demonstrate technique, expression and harmony with any style dance they choose.
The competition is kept open to any student in the tri-college area.
Cash prizes are awarded to first and second place in both group and solo performances.
Auditions for Dance en masse will be held on Monday, 6 p.m. on Feb. 12 in the MU Ballroom.
The ASI committee needs registration by the day of auditions.
“I went to Dance en masse last year and saw all different styles of dancing,” spectator Ramanjaneyulu Venkata Sita Tatiraju said. “It was both entertaining and informative and I am surely going again.”
Dance options are not limited. Categories include jazz/lyrical, Latin, ballet/pointe, modern/contemporary, hip-hop and open, which includes the routine of any national origin not demonstrated in the other categories.
“Last year there was a Sri Lankan dance group from MSUM,” Kambhampaty said. “We are expecting even more teams back this year.”
Performances last between 5-8 minutes each and music should be copied onto a CD for convenience purposes. Performers are required to state their dance style before their audition.
“I highly recommend others to participate, as this will help other people to represent their culture,” Harkanwal Sandhu, first-prize winner of Dance en mass 2006 said. “I am excited to compete again.”
A panel of professional dancers or choreographers will make up the judges. They will be looking at performance, choreography and execution.
Sandhu explains that dance is an inseparable part of his life. “I can’t resist the temptation to dance.” He performed Bhangra, a Punjab dance celebrating the harvest of crops.
Dancing at the Dance en masse competition provides a fun way for students to express their culture and background.
“Everyone is welcome to this event,” Kambhampaty said. “There is no limit to the number of people who can audition either. This is a chance for people to come and express themselves.”
The number of solos and groups who perform on the 19th will depend on the amount of participants who audition.
For more information about the contest or auditions look on the Web at buzz.acm.ndsu.nodak.edu/NDSU_ASI/Dance_en_masse or contact Kambhampaty at (701) 212-3192.