The South Asia Club presented Mela 2002, "an enchanting evening full of exquisite South Asian dance, music and fashion," last Saturday in Levin Ballroom. Showcasing the seven countries of Bhutan, Maldives, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Nepal, Mela was an evening filled with dance, music and the most exquisite fashions of the diverse cultures. After a brief delay due to some technical difficulties, the show began with "Thillana," a beautifully sensual dance that was perfectly timed and replete with vibrant colors and intricate dance steps. It was followed by a group of international dancers who united together to depict a traditional wedding ceremony.

It was refreshing to see some new faces on stage at Mela 2002. Ami Chitalia '06 choreographed a beautiful folk dance, "Chudi Bhi Zid Pe Aaye Hai." As she and four other first year students performed, it became apparent that the future of Mela is in good hands.

Of course, Mela would not be complete without the Stud Express, eight guys with absolutely no rhythm but whose moves still made the audience laugh and cheer. The only other all-male group, whose performance was entitled 'Fuhgetaboutit,' danced to a mixture of hip hop and bhangra. These men are some of the most talented dancers at Brandeis, and both of these groups really knew how to appeal to the audience and get them involved in the performance.

Sandwiched between the multitude of dance numbers were two fashion shows, showing off both traditional and modern dress. The traditional fashion show was much more captivating, because it was shown as a story about two young lovers who suffer loss before finally getting married in a traditional South Asian ceremony. The clothing in both shows, which were designed by the Choonri Collection and Moghra Designs, were absolutely gorgeous and each costume was unique in its style.

Following a brief intermission, the only musical ensemble took the stage and performed a percussion and rhythm piece. With the instruments and musicians sitting on the floor of the stage, it was difficult to see the intricate hand movements and truly appreciate the rhythmic sounds of the music. The audience strained their necks to see the exceptionally talented performers, but much of the beauty of the piece was lost due to the logistics of the performance.

An incredible evening of a multitude of performances would not be complete without an emcee to tie everything together. Arunoday Singh '04 combined stand up comedy with his own personal anecdotes and dance moves to keep the audience interested and entertained in between acts. His charm captivated the audience, and his presence on stage was an integral part of the show and not just something to take up time between acts. His introduction to each performance gave the audience a better sense of what to expect and allowed them to have a stronger understanding of what was being depicted.

Although the performances at Mela 2002 were absolutely stunning, the show also included some slideshows and a video of lesser quality. The slideshow presented in the middle of the first act was just a collage of pictures depicting what can be assumed to be places and people across South Asia. With no captions or explanations, it was confusing and impossible to discern exactly what was being shown.

The middle of the second act was interrupted with a video entitled "The Making of Mela 2002." Complete with nauseating camera work and blurry shots, this video completely lowered the standard of what was actually being shown on stage at Mela 2002. Scene after scene was filled with cameramen and women shooting from bad angles and zooming in and out, never fully depicting what happened behind the scenes.

Aside from the slideshow and video, the performances at Mela 2002 were captivating, entertaining and educational. Each act showed a different aspect of the culture and used a multitude of outlets to narrate stories and ilustrate customs through dance. It was a wonderful way for those in the South Asia club to share their heritage with the rest of the Brandeis community.