Rutgers Tamasha performs at Seton Hall University’s Muqabla event

On February 4, Rutgers Tamasha performed at Muqabla, a Bollywood fusion dance competition hosted by Seton Hall University’s South Asian Student Association, according to a recent update on the team’s getINVOLVED page.

Dev Amin, a School of Arts and Sciences junior and co-captain of Tamasha, said the team performs various culturally Indian dances and is both co-educational and non-competitive, making the time commitment more manageable for students.

While having experience in dance is not required to join the team, Tamasha hosts tryouts once every academic year, where the organization looks to recruit individuals who express high energy and a passion for performing. Throughout the semester, the team practices multiple times a week on the College Avenue campus, he said.

Though the team usually has plenty of advanced notice ahead of a performance, Tamasha’s decision to perform at Seton Hall University was rather spontaneous, Amin said.

"(Seton Hall) actually reached out to us in November the night that the application was due. I had no idea this event was even going on," he said. "They direct messaged our Tamasha Instagram at 10 p.m. The application was due at midnight."

Deeksha Reddy Patel, a School of Arts and Sciences sophomore and marketing director for Tamasha, said it was Tamasha’s first time performing at Muqabla, and the team hopes to participate again in the future.

On the day of the performance, the team ran through its routine early in order to build in time to make adjustments prior to going on stage, she said.

"I loved performing at Muqabla," she said. "The hospitality was so engaging, and I loved getting to know members of other teams."

Anavi Shah, a School of Nursing fourth-year and co-captain of Tamasha, said that beyond performances, Tamasha partakes in planning different workshops and fundraisers. 

This past fall semester, Tamasha hosted a bake sale as well as restaurant fundraisers at Honeygrow and Chipotle, according to the team’s Instagram page.

The money raised from these events helps cover the team’s travel expenses and application fees regarding their participation in competitions, Shah said.

Tamasha’s workshops, usually held once a semester, are used to showcase and teach choreography the team has previously performed. The workshops are open to all University students but are mostly attended by people who already follow Tamasha’s endeavors, she said.

Shah said Tamasha also carries the tradition of having a variety of bonding activities like movie nights, PowerPoint nights and meeting up with the rest of the team for a meal.

"It’s hard not to become so close, and we’re also so thankful to have each other. And we’re excited for more people to join our family in the fall," she said.

Saloni Patel, a School of Arts and Sciences sophomore and treasurer for Tamasha, said she initially tried out for Rutgers Tamasha after discovering the team’s table at Rutgers' Involvement Fair.

She wanted to join a dance team at the University since she has a lengthy background of being a dancer, she said. She has since gained experience learning new styles of Bollywood dance after officially joining Tamasha in the spring semester of her first year at Rutgers.

Along with spreading awareness about its shared Indian culture, Tamasha is a space for students to celebrate their individuality, too, Saloni Patel said.

"I hope students who join us also feel like they belong and are accepted exactly for who they are," she said. "We are more than just a dance team. Tamasha really is a family."