UTSAV
"Utsav" is a performing arts showcase of the South Asian arts organised by OxSAAS once every year. This usually takes place around February-March time (mid-end of Hilary term) and is a celebration of the South Asian arts including the Classical arts and more modern elements such as Bollywood. In the past we have feautured a huge range of art forms including dance, music and poetry from several of the South Asian countries!
Make sure to check out our photo gallery for more photos and our youtube channel for videos!
Utsav 2018
These are a few images from Utsav 2018. The show featured various elements of the classical arts as well as Bollywood music and dance performances! The images here are from a photoshoot before the event. The dance forms featured were: Kathak, Bharatanatyam, Rajasthani Folk and Bollywood. The music form featured were: Hindustani Classical (vocals, tabla), Carnatic Classical (violin, vocals) and Bollywood (vocals with western violin and piano accompaniment). This year we also featured traditional poetry readings from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka as well as modern poetry inspired by ghazals in English!
Utsav 2017
Here are some images from Utsav 2017! This show was predominantly a lot more classical and there were several classical fusion choreographies incorporated into the show. The dance forms were mostly accompanied by live musicians (mainly Carnatic classical musicians). We also invited the stunning Odissi dancers, Elena Catalano and Katie Ryan as guest performers on the night. The dance forms featured were Odissi, Kuchipudi, Bharatanatyam, Kathak and the music forms featured were Carnatic Classical (violin and vocals), Hindustani CLassical (tabla) and Bollywood (vocals).
Oxford Odissi Fest 2016
Our first ever show as a society (then known as Oxford Odissi Center). Although this was not technically the first "Utsav" it was the first annual showcase (similar to Utsav). This show had a small team of dancers and built on Classical dance fusion concepts by a group of incredibly talented dancers, many who have graduated and are dancers now. The dance forms featured included Odissi, Kathak, Bharatanatyam and Mohiniyattam. This year we were also sponsored by the Nehru Centre, the Classical Arts body in London, to start the society in Oxford as well as having the opportunity to host the world-reknowned Odissi dancer Ileana Citaristi!
Besides Utsav, we also organise a huge variety of other smaller concerts, workshops, weekly sessions (some classes, some fun jam sessions), club nights and other social events/dance/music events. We try to incorporate as many of the art forms as we can get from the various south asian countries and encourage new students every year to let us know if they have trained in any of the arts in particular and would like to help us spread the word about their art form!
If you would like to see more images/ videos of the Utsavs or other events we have organised, take a look at our Facebook page, photo gallery and Youtube channel! And if you would like to join us, get involved or join the team, get in touch we would love to hear from you!