Vivid colors fly throughout the room as audiences gasp, whoop and cheer. Singers fill the space of Page Auditorium with music. Dancers of all kinds come together to tumble and flit across the stage, showcasing pieces that fuse different styles of dance into one incredible experience.
This is Awaaz, Duke’s largest annual student-run production.
Awaaz — the Hindi word for “voice” — is a celebration of South Asian culture presented by Duke Diya, Duke’s South Asian undergraduate student association. Duke Diya works throughout the year to celebrate the culture and traditions of South Asian students, including those from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, among other countries. This year, Awaaz took place Nov. 15 and 16. Over 600 students from various student groups came together to prepare the show, spreading community, joy and excitement. As explained by guest speaker Dr. Purnima Shah, Professor of the Practice of Dance, the event is a commemoration of the vibrance of South Asian culture that blends commitment to heritage and tradition with experimentation, innovation and contemporization.
In addition to putting on a show, Duke Diya gave back to the broader North Carolina community by partnering with local nonprofit Kiran, which provides culturally-specific services and comprehensive resources to South Asian victims of domestic violence. During the show’s intermission, as dancers flooded into the crowd, audiences were encouraged to donate to Kiran.
This year, the show’s theme was “Life in the Dreamhouse.” Playing on the success of last summer’s “Barbie” movie, the show’s emcees took on the roles of the “Bharthis” – Barbies – and “Khans” – Kens – to introduce each different dance group.
Between these themed skits, dancers, singers and other performers took center stage. “Awaaz: In the Dreamhouse” featured 16 Duke dance groups: First Year Dance, Deewana, Lasya, Momentum, Community Dance, Dhamaka, Nakisai, Raas, Sangeet, Sabrosura, Ishq, On Tap, Rhydhun, Swing, Defining Movement and Senior Bhangra.
These performances were unendingly energetic, creating a vibrant splendor that electrified the crowd throughout the night. Each performance provided a unique view of South Asian culture, with performers blending diverse inspirations to build pieces that felt both classic and new. Traditional and folk South Asian dance styles like bhangra, kuthu, raas and garba blended seamlessly with contemporary, tap and hip-hop techniques to create a vivid, celebratory fusion of traditional South Asian culture and the experiences of Duke students.
With each performance, the audience grew more and more excited. The room was alight with enthusiasm. Music from Deewana’s a cappella performance and Sangeet’s celebratory set filled the crowd alongside the sounds of saaps, rhythm and bells from performances by dance groups like Dhamaka and Lasya. No matter the style being performed, the audience remained thrilled. As each performance began, lights cast the silhouettes of countless dancers into vibrant color, and the entire crowd roared with excitement.
The audience remained invigorated even between acts. People shouted encouragement towards the stage and yelled their friends’ names into Page Auditorium. Choruses of excited chants filled the darkness as audiences anticipated the next dance group and the next opportunity to see a friend perform.
Awaaz doesn’t just celebrate the beauty of South Asian culture; it also demonstrates the power of the Duke community. With such a massive amount of students involved in the production, it seemed that everyone knew at least one person performing. Conversations surrounding Awaaz crackled with excited, supportive energy as people prepared to celebrate seeing the people they care about perform something meaningful to them.
As I left Page Auditorium, the air buzzed around me with the gleeful shouts and colorful energy of dancers swept up in hugs from friends and family. People lamented that their voices had gone hoarse from the excitement of cheering for their many friends as they celebrated. Awaaz demonstrates the power of the Duke community to come together to create unforgettable, vivid and celebratory works of art that give students support to lean on.
Get The Chronicle straight to your inbox
Signup for our weekly newsletter. Cancel at any time.