Dhirana
Dhirana is an intercollegiate Indian classical dance
competition hosted annually by students of the University of Pittsburgh. The
competition fosters an ancient and unique cultural tradition.
After placing first at Laasya 2011, Nrityamala, Pitt's premiere
Indian Classical Dance team, earned the opportunity to host Laasya 2012 at
their campus. The students' enthusiasm and immense support from the community
during Laassa 2012 inspired Nrityamala to create Dhirana. Not only is Dhirana
the first large-scale, student-run dance competition hosted by students at the
University of Pittsburgh, but it is also one of the only nationally recognized
competitions featuring numerous Indian classical dance styles such as
Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, Kathak, and Odissi.
Eight collegiate teams from across the country will be selected to showcase their remarkable talents through different styles of Indian classical dance. World-renowned judges, committed to preserving this ancient art form, evaluate the teams on nritta (intricate footwork), mudras (hand gestures), abhinaya (facial expressions), and other aspects of the dance. Hundreds of spectators enjoy this phenomenal show and are immersed in a powerful storytelling experience.
We aim to raise money for Dhirana through Pitt Day of
Giving to pay for various costs of the competition, such as the judges’ gifts,
program printing, event promotion, team hospitality, trophies and prize money,
lighting and sound, and our stage venue. Our organization wants to fundraise to
be able to financially support our goals and mission to promote awareness of
Indian classical dance, provide a platform for collegiate dancers to continue
pursuing the art, and better the Pittsburgh community through philanthropy and
service.
Please take a minute to spread the word to your family
and friends. We can’t make this show happen without the support of our dear
community. For more information on Dhirana 2025, please visit our website
https://dhirana.carrd.co/, or follow our Dhirana Facebook Page or Instagram:
@dhirana.pgh. Feel free to email us at dhirana.sponsorship@gmail.com with any
questions or inquiries you may have as well! A huge thank you in advance for
your support!