CHICAGO - For 17 years, the Association of Indians in America (AIA) Illinois Chapter has been at the forefront of promoting cultural unity through its annual youth group dance competition, and the 2024 edition was no exception. Held on September 14, 2024, at the Al Larson Prairie Center for the Arts in Schaumburg, this year's event once again showcased an impressive array of talent, cultural expression, and the unifying power of dance.

 This year's competition brought together 18 teams, featuring 124 dancers across a variety of traditional, contemporary, and folk styles. The auditorium was filled with the excitement of 350 enthusiastic attendees, whose cheers and applause electrified the atmosphere. The stakes were high, with teams vying for the coveted first-place prize of $1,000, second place at $750, and third place at $500.

 As opportunity of heritage and expression, the evening began with an inspiring address by AIA Illinois President Lucy Pandey, who highlighted the importance of providing a platform for youth to express themselves through dance. She emphasized that this competition not only fosters creativity, teamwork and personality development but also serves as a vital connection to the rich Indian heritage. Salil Mishra, Chairman of the AIA Illinois Chapter, and well know community leader, echoed these sentiments in his speech, stressing that the competition is about much more than winning—it is about nurturing teamwork, preserving cultural heritage, and giving young people a sense of community.

 The dedication behind the scenes was also acknowledged, as Lucy Pandey expressed gratitude to the core organizing team: Santosh Pandey (National Vice President), Nilabh Dubey (Vice President), Shabana Rehman (Youth Dance Coordinator), and Maliha Afreen (Secretary).

 The competition featured a prestigious panel of five independent judges, each a respected figure in the world of Indian dance: Shital Dhanani, a renowned Indian dance teacher from the Chicagoland area, Jhara Das, an accomplished Odissi dancer and instructor from Naperville, Guru Vidushi Sindhu M.V. Naik, a Bharatnatyam expert pursuing her PhD in the art form, Prisha Laad, a seasoned choreographer with experience in major Indian TV productions, Dr. Kanak Mishra, a fiction writer and dance critic with deep knowledge of Indian dance traditions. Their expertise added a layer of gravitas to the event, ensuring that every performance was evaluated with the utmost care and cultural insight.

 The memorable Performances in competition itself was a breathtaking journey through India’s diverse dance traditions. Shirlzar, the reigning champions, delivered a power-packed contemporary dance performance that dazzled the judges and audience alike, winning them first place for the second consecutive year. Their innovative choreography and prop utilization left a lasting impression.

Divine Grace, a group of teenage Odissi dancers, took the stage with a mesmerizing interpretation of the Rudrashtakam, a tribute to their heritage and dance form. Their graceful movements and years of disciplined training shone through, earning them the second prize.

 The third prize went to a group of young women from Nalina Padam, who came together for the first time as a team. Their captivating fusion of music from across India, paired with a symbolic portrayal of war and peace, was lauded by judges for its emotional depth and creative use of lighting.

 Other notable performances included:

• Atharva Super Dancers, whose puppet and color-lit wing dance featured intricate costume changes and surprising dance concepts
• Aan an amateur group of teen friends, who created a high-energy contemporary routine with their own music remix, making it difficult for the judges to choose.
• A bold performance by the women of Art in Motion, who used shadow and costume elements to portray an inner struggle, earning praise for their originality
• High energy, seamless flow and tons of delicate dance moves by Nritya Vijeta team left a very distinct mark on this years competition.
• Avishkar’s Lavani team, whose traditional Maharashtrian folk dance brought the house down with its vibrant energy
• NK Studio Ladies’ Punjabi folk dance, which gave a fresh twist to the competition with its innovative fusion.
• Divine Grace raised the importance of one-on-one conversations by use of three generation when interactions are getting limited by all-pervading social media.
• Suhani’s Ghoomar dance, which transported the audience to Rajasthan with its regal elegance.

In between the intense competition, the future of Indian dance was on full display as young dancers from Atharva Dance School, some as young as toddlers, performed two delightful routines. Their exuberance and coordination brought pure joy to the audience, a heartwarming reminder of the future generation of competition.

As the event drew to a close, all the participants gathered on stage, a vibrant display of teamwork, creativity, and cultural pride. Each performance reflected not only technical skill but also a personal interpretation of the themes, underscoring the depth and diversity of Indian dance traditions.

 The competition was made possible through generous donations and support from community members and local businesses, including Salil Mishra, Prem Mehrotra, Chris Patel, Vipul Patel, Amit Amin and many others. Felicitations were carried out by Chairman Salil Mishra, President Lucy Pandey, and other distinguished members of the AIA Leadership team. This year’s event was a resounding success, leaving attendees inspired and eagerly anticipating the next chapter in this longstanding tradition.