When the Indian Student Association hosted its first annual Summer Show on Friday, August 31, it delivered on its promise to host an entertaining evening that showcased all kinds of Indian talent. The ISA is one of the largest groups on campus and is known for its Diwali show. Sunil Mahadeshwar, the group’s president, plans on making this an annual event here on campus.
The Summer Show featured two student-based college performances, two standup comedians, and an amazing performance by Ensemble Español. Besides being a nice way for the NEIU community to begin its fall semester, it was an excellent medium in which to help educate the general student body on Indian culture.
Chai Town, the Hindi-English Acapella group from the University of Illinois, did a few songs in a format that few in the audience have ever heard before. Some were beat boxing and were part of the chorus, while a singer did a solo center stage. They played off each other well and performed Hindi songs. For one of the members, that night was his last show. Chai Town illustrated how two different cultures can overlap and create a new style.
Sapna Kumar, an Indian lesbian comedian, recently returned to doing standup but managed to follow through on her performance here at NEIU. Kumar’s stories of her mom’s reactions to her sexual orientation were witty and entertaining. In her act, Kumar made references to the “free speech zone,” which was a bit unusual for someone outside the NEIU community to be aware of the controversies surrounding free speech here on campus. Ultimately, her unique perspective was refreshing for many in the audience.
The dance performance by NEIU students Monika, Bianca, Elizabeth, Binti, and Simi was excellent and well choreographed. They wore traditional Hindi dress and moved to rhythmic Indian music. Showcasing talent from NEIU students rendered a personal connection to the audience.
Samson Koletkar, an Indian Jewish comedian from San Francisco, also did standup.
A particularly hilarious part came when he described the experiences of relatives from India who were visiting the United States for the very first time. Koletkar talked about his engagement and upcoming wedding. He also did a couple jokes about women that fell flat. Nonetheless, he was able to pull of an entertaining performance.
A performance by the Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater was very professional and a highlight of the evening. The stage also had colorful scenery and the dancers wore beautiful dresses. It was a real treat to see this group in action and I would urge NEIU students who have not seen Ensemble Español perform to jump at the chance. They will surely not be disappointed.