Student choreographers prepare for annual Bombay in the Bay

As students get ready for a relaxing spring break, the Indian Cultural Awareness Club will put on its annual show, Bombay in the Bay on April 13. As usual, the spectacle will donate all proceeds to charities that have yet to be determined.

The shows take place on April 13 at 2 p.m. and later at 6 p.m. Tickets cost $10 for the day show and $12 for the night show, with dinner catered from either The Mynt or Indian Cash and Carry for the later showing. Tickets will be sold to the general public starting April 3 in the Activities Office.

Although this event is nothing new to students, the traditional skit that the performance is centered on changes every year. This year, the skit focuses on three American-born Indians who go to India for their senior trip. 

“The skit is put together by the officer team,” senior Shauray Agrawal said. “Any senior can take a role.”

Planning for the dances began in December, but changes were finalized in January and February by the club officers once songs were chosen for each class dance. There is one additional dance aside from the classical, garba and class performances this year called bhangra, a Punjabi-style dancing. 

“The best part of Bombay in the Bay is the dancing,” said junior Priyanka Krishnamurth, one of the choreographers, “especially the whole experience of performing with your class and putting on the best show that you can.”

Compared to former years, the number of choreographers has gone up considerably, with many more students willing to give up their time to help plan and teach dances to others. Because the Indian Cultural Awareness Club is the biggest club on campus, the number of participants in the show comes up to around 120. Despite the added responsibility, however, many choreographers find the job enjoyable.

“As a choreographer, you have to make sure that you choreograph something that fits the music, come to every practice, teach it to everyone and also do other miscellaneous stuff like costumes,” Krishnamurthi said. 

Overall, many dancers involved in the show have high expectations for all the dances. 

“The months of practices that we put in really show when we perform,” Krishnamurthi said. “Perhaps that’s the most rewarding part of it all, working so much for something and seeing it pay off.”