Established this semester, DePauw’s first South Asian dance club, NAACH, fuses an array of dance moves from traditional, Bollywood, and other modern dance styles. From novices to seasoned dancers, the organization welcomes students from all experience levels to attend workshops and learn the South Asian dance styles.
NAACH President Madhurima Roy Chowdhury ‘26 looked for dance opportunities upon arriving at DePauw in 2022. However, noticing there was no South Asian dance club on campus, Chowdhury gathered a group of friends and began choreographing dances for fun. The group found opportunities to perform at events such as the International Bazaar hosted by the DePauw International Student Association (DISA).
The process of registering NAACH as an organization began after Winter Break in 2023. Having already established a community and invested a significant amount of time in choreography and practices, Chowdhury’s group strived for more opportunities to share the South Asian dance styles with the greater DePauw community.
PR Chair Maheen Mirza ‘26 joined NAACH because she missed the dance celebrations from her home in Pakistan. “I am looking forward to combining different styles of dance in NAACH, particularly the fusion of Western and Eastern performances, as it is representative of our members who combine pieces of home and DePauw in their work,” Mirza said.
Similarly, Aahad Vakani ‘26 joined the NAACH executive board to manage their social media. Vakani said he was excited to “[bring] a taste of a different type of dance to DePauw’s campus.”
NAACH had their initial interest meeting on Saturday, March 16, featuring a short performance, mini workshop, and opportunity to learn a few basic South Asian dance moves. Chowdhury explained that NAACH will start by hosting occasional workshops. Students can sign up, join sessions, and learn more about the organization without committing to regular practices. During the initial workshops, executive members may select students who learn and catch up with the dances quickly to join the organization.
For the remainder of the semester, the organization strives to perform at events such as Mock Shaadi hosted by the South Asian Student Society (SASS) on Saturday, April 6, and the International Formal hosted by DISA on Sunday, April 21. More information and updates on NAACH can be found on their Instagram.