Classical to Bollywood

Garima Patel ‘28 has been dancing for 11 years first at Ardell School of dancing then later at Star City Ballet. She does ballet, partnering, and pointe. She also participates in out of school cultural dance events.Some include her dances in Diwali and in the Festival of India. The Indian Festival is an event held by locals. There are many vendors and stalls that contain food, clothes, and artwork. This event is typically during the end of August. 
Diwali is the celebration of lights and new year in the Hindu culture, during this time many local idians from Roanoke and nearby cities come to attend this event where it is held at Northside High School. To Garima this holiday means ”celebrating a new year and celebrating our gods.” This year it was held on November 09, 2024. Garima Patel ‘28 has shown her enthusiasm for dance through her performances in previous years. This year she performed an upbeat bollywood dance to the songs Soni Soni, Aaj ki Raat, Tauba Tauba, Naachi Saree.  
When asked her favorite Indian holiday Garima Patel said “Holi is my favorite holiday since I can throw colors at people.” Holi is a festival that celebrates colors, love, and the coming of spring. This holiday is celebrated by throwing colored powders at your friends and family. Garima also used to do an Indian classical dance called bharatanatyam. Bharatanatyam is a dance using precise movements and expressive body language to tell a story. This is one of the oldest classical dances that originated from Tamil Nadu in South India. She has been doing it since she was 9. In all, Garima Patel shows her love for her culture and community by participating in the local events and classical dances. 

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