The beat drops, the crowd watches. Colorful skirts catch the light as junior Sarina Abraham spins in sync with the music, her hands slice through the air with deliberate gestures. Surrounded by a whirlwind of motion, color and sound, electrifying the crowd.
This is not a typical dance performance- this is Bollywood, a dance widely known for its storytelling, detailed footwork and cinematic energy. For Abraham, this is more than choreography. It is a connection to her family and a way to share her culture with the DGS community.
Abraham has been training for 14 years in both Bollywood and classical Indian dance. She has found a way to merge the cultural traditions she grew up with with a creative space at DGS through the Orchesis company.
Abraham, who has been dancing since the age of two, says her Indian heritage and family pushed her to start early.
“My mom put me into dance at a very young age…It’s a very common thing with Indian parents to put their kids into classical training… My sister inspired me too… she’s a great dancer and watching her helped me understand how to improve,” Abraham said.
When entering DGS as a freshman, Abraham joined Orchesis not just as a dancer but as a choreographer, a rare move as a first-year student. Since then, she has choreographed every year, blending Orchesis with Bollywood and classical Indian.
DGS P.E. teacher and Orchesis company director Stephanie Henrikson said Abraham’s leadership and creativity have had a large impact on the Orchesis Company.
“Sarina is only a junior, and she’s already choreographed every year for Orchesis…She wanted to bring her Bollywood style in addition to her classical Indian style, which really brought a following of new members to Orchesis,” Henrikson said.
Orchesis includes more than 60 students, who perform two shows each year. The Bollywood dances are often the largest and most high-energy pieces in the show.
Bollywood is known as one of the world’s most popular styles of dance; it combines elements of classical Indian and folk movements. It is well known in India’s film industry, so Bollywood reaches more than a billion viewers. Abraham said that her classical training helps her keep organized and intentional with her movements.
“Classical training shows a lot of discipline and work ethic…You have to be sharp and think critically while listening to something else. It’s made me stronger, not just in dance but in life,” Abraham said.
Henrikson says that Abraham shows a lot of leadership both on and off the stage.
“Sarina shows a lot of initiative. She’s a very natural teacher…Her peers look to her for guidance, and that quality just comes naturally to her,” Henrikson said.
Cultural and Bollywood dance have always been a part of orchesis as it was founded by a cultural dancer; however, Henriskon said that Abraham’s choreography has continued the tradition of cultural dance.
“The history of Orchesis was cultural dance, and Sarina is one of the leaders who’s continued that form,” Hendrickson said.
With another year ahead, Abraham plans to continue choreographing and performing, bringing her cultural background to DGS, one dance at a time.
