After eight years of training, Bolles sophomore Sahana Desai ’27 performed her Bharathanatyam Arangetram in the Lazzara Performance Hall at the University of North Florida on August 31, with more than 350 in attendance.

A Bharathanatyam Arangetram is a dancer’s debut on-stage performance, marking the culmination of years of rigorous training and mastery in the classical Indian dance form of Bharathanatyam.

Several Bolles faculty members attended Desai’s performance, which included seven solo dances for a total performance time of two hours. One particular dance was 26 minutes long. Desai said she has been dancing since the age of 3 and began formal Bharathanatyam training when she was 7 years old. She has participated in several competitions and performed at shows, fundraisers, social events and cultural gatherings.

“I love dancing and everything it brings me, whether it be discipline, patience or making friends,” she said. “For me, this has also been an opportunity to connect with and learn about my culture. Mastering this style of dance, which dates back to over 2,000 years, has been a tradition in my family and a very significant moment for my family and myself. Completing and performing in my Bharatnatyam Arangetram has been a very big motivation for me and something I have been looking forward to for a long time.”

Congratulations on this incredible accomplishment, Sahana! #BulldogProud