Our Mission
We celebrate cultural diversity and social harmony in the community through the joyful medium of dance, performing arts, and related South Asian cultural traditions.
Our founders Jinal Vakil, Rashi Mangalick, and Divya Maiya.
Our Board
We are a 501c3 non-profit, led by a group of fearless leaders:
Executive Director: Divya Maiya
President: Nikita Basandra
Vice President: Gautham Raja
Treasurer: Madhu Bangalore
Secretary: Tasnia Tabbasum
Members At Large:
Anjali Gopal, Dylan Saul, Lakshmi Rajaram, Mounisha Gorle, Nirmal Sundhar, Sindhusha Kasinadhuni Dakwale, Vandana Rao
Timeline
2012
We were founded as Bollywood Dance Scene by three dynamic dancers who began teaching weekly classes at Tapestry Folkdance Center.
2013
As the class grew in popularity, we began performing as a small group at various community events.
2014
Our membership exploded in size and we produced a 50+ member cast show called Hi! Hello! Namaste? It was the first Bollywood dance drama ever performed at the Minnesota Fringe Festival and became the highest selling show of the festival.
2015
With a 70+ member cast, we produced Spicy Masala Chai for the Minnesota Fringe Festival. Not only was it the highest selling show of the 2015 festival, but it was also the highest selling show in the history of the Minnesota Fringe Festival!
2016
With a 90+ member cast, we produced Bezubaan: The Voiceless for the Minnesota Fringe Festival.
2017
We decided to create our own Bollywood performing arts festival called MinneUtsav. Not only did it feature another original Bollywood dance drama called Love You Zindagi with a huge cast, but it also featured a fashion show, an improv comedy show called BollyProv, and workshops for children. One of our goals for the festival was to raise awareness about important social issues!
2018
Once again we hosted MinneUtsav which featured another original Bollywood dance drama called The Land of Maaya, along with the improv comedy show called BollyProv, and more workshops for adults and children.
2019
We changed our name from Bollywood Dance Scene to SAATH, the South Asian Arts & Theater House. (Because we do a lot more than just Bollywood dance!) Speaking of which, we ventured into film-making and filmed the pilot episode of a rom-com series called Chai Again.
We produced Home Sweet Ghar, a dance drama featuring a diverse cast of 65+ performers, toe-tapping choreography, memorable characters, and a heartfelt perspective on the idea of home and the process of creating a home after moving to a new country.
2020-2021
During the challenging times of 2020 and 2021, when the COVID-19 pandemic was at its peak, SAATH made a seamless transition to the virtual world. We ensured that our community stayed active and engaged by conducting online dance classes and workout sessions.
In a pioneering move, we also launched GIDO - the Great Indian Dance Off. This was our first-ever virtual dance competition, open to all, and it was met with an overwhelming response from our community. Despite the distance, we stayed connected through the universal language of dance, proving that no obstacle is too big when we move together.
2022
We went back to our annual show roots, the Minnesota Fringe Festival, where we launched our 90+ cast show “Desi Heart Crust”. It tells the story of a Black and Indian couple exploring how race, culture, and activism shape their relationship. The show features Afrobeats, Bhangra, and other powerful acts. We won the Golden Lanyard award for the most-sold show at the Rarig Thrust venue.
Participant’s bill of rights
SAATH is committed to celebrating cultural diversity and social harmony in our communities through the joyful medium of dance, performing arts, and related South Asian cultural traditions. As such, all SAATH spaces are safer spaces, explicitly welcoming to everyone regardless of age, race, sexual orientation, gender expression, cultural or educational background, or ability.