Written by Anish Vedantham '25

As the last notes of “Zinda Banda” filled the MAC, the audience broke into applause, celebrating a performance that went beyond dance.

Teachers, wearing traditional Indian lehengas and kurtas, took center stage in this year’s Diwali celebration Thursday — a vibrant performance Providence Day seniors Meha Khanna and Sia Matai choreographed.

The desire to lead their teachers in a Diwali dance performance came from personal connections and a wish to share something meaningful with those who had become mentors, friends, and role models.

“We were so excited to share something that we both love so much with some of our favorite people on campus,” Meha says.

Sia says traditional presentations feel like they only accomplished “half the job” of explaining Diwali. Dance does a better job of capturing the holiday’s vibrance, she says. And inviting teachers to participate added an extra layer of meaning.

“So wanting to provide a real glimpse into what Diwali is like, we decided there was no better way than to immerse the entire community into the celebration,” Sia says.

Rewarding experience

In the month leading up to Thursday’s event, the faculty practiced weekly, with some teachers taking extra time to practice outside of rehearsals.

Mr. Ted Dickson, the History Department chair, took the choreography internationally, practicing Bollywood steps while vacationing in Tulum, Mexico, and listening to salsa music.

Dr. Clint Crumley, an English teacher, returned for a second year of dancing after a memorable experience in last year’s performance. His motivation came from a desire to honor his students’ heritage.

“What's most rewarding is knowing--from last year's performance--how much our doing this means to the students and their families who have roots in India,” Dr. Crumley says. “It's fun, also, to enjoy the role-reversal of having students teach and train faculty week after week towards something tangible and memorable.”

For Dr. Stephanie Vanderford, an Economics teacher who admits to being initially apprehensive, rehearsals were a joy.

“When I was asked to participate, I was honored and knew I wanted to say yes, even though the thought of dancing in front of anyone terrified me,” she says. “Dance practice has been the highlight of my fall. Getting to work with a group to create something beautiful for the community has meant so much to me.”

Added Mrs. Lucy Singletary, the Science Department chair: “I have really loved the rehearsal[s]. “It gives us a much-needed brain break. And doing something new together is such a bonding experience”

The joy of Diwali

Meha and Sia selected music that resonated with the holiday’s spirit, blending traditional Garba roots with modern Bollywood beats.

“Garba is really group-oriented, so using this music allowed us to create collaborative choreography,” Meha says, adding that they used a lively Bollywood track to add an upbeat element, embodying Diwali’s celebratory nature.

“Our goal was for this to be fun, not stressful,” Sia says, describing how they broke down the steps to make them as accessible as possible for the teachers. “We wanted them to feel the essence of Diwali, not just the pressure of learning new moves.”

Ms. Tosha Arriola, Interim Head of Upper School, found learning the movements challenging but rewarding.

“One of the challenging parts has been remembering all of the moves and getting the timing right with the music,” she says. But, for her, the highlight was definitely “learning from Meha and Sia,” adding that “it’s great exercise!”

For Meha and Sia, the rewards of organizing the performance went far beyond the dance itself. Seeing teachers from diverse departments connect, laugh, and share in the spirit of Diwali brought new appreciation and joy.

“Some of the most rewarding parts of this for me have definitely been the connections,” Meha says. “We have faculty from across departments, so seeing them talk and laugh with the people they don’t always get to spend time with is a really big part of why we enjoy this.”

The students hoped they fostered greater cultural awareness.

“I hope that the performance incites a deeper appreciation for cultures as a whole among the school community,” Sia says. “By displaying Diwali as a fun, energetic celebration where their own teachers are dancing, I hope what resonates with them is how Diwali is really celebrated and how impactful it is when the entire Upper School community can gather together in the MAC to celebrate together.”