Light up montclair 2023 program

Parul Shah, artistic director of the Parul Shah Dance company, utilizes performance and education to promote cultural awareness and explore stories around identity. Drawing from her North Indian Classical dance training in Kathak, Shah expands the classical medium beyond cultural boundaries. With a deep commitment to shining a light on marginalized communities, her stories highlight the oppression of women and practices that undermine human dignity. Her repertoire takes inspiration from her classical training in Kathak, while building on the dance form’s mythological storytelling roots to explore contemporary narratives. 

Parul Shah will perform a traditional Ganesh Vandana to inaugurate the event. 

Aalok Mehta is an actor, composer and instrumentalist. He combines his experience in both Indian classical and Western popular music to create a sound effective of his upbringing in NJ.

Stu Damm from Montclair's beloved School of Rock joins the line up this year!

The Montclair Dharma Band, a new collaboration by local community artists! Enjoy the sounds of Aalok Mehta on electric sitar, vocals and keyboards, Anisha Nagarajan on vocals and ukulele, Nick Lashley on guitar, Paul Riggio on bass, and Aaliya Mehta on vocals. Joining this group is Stu Damm, our percussionist on drums and dhol! 

Sudip Mukherjee will charm us with his renditions of evergreen Bollywood hits!

Performing Arts center for adults and children specializing in 

South Asian Performing Arts & languages.

BollyX, a Bollywood-inspired dance-fitness program that combines dynamic choreography with the hottest music from around the world, will be leading a communal dance session as a grand finale to Light up Montclair! 

Adults and children will light up the main stage with vibrant performances!

Raakhee Mirchandani joins us to read her latest book, She Persisted: Kalpana Chawla and her festive favorite, My Diwali Light. 

Special thanks to Watchung Booksellers for arranging this appearance.

Books will be available to purchase.

Warp + Weft is a special exhibition of Indian textile traditions. These textiles provide a glimpse of the varied regional traditions of Indian weaving and embroidery. 

Saris are on loan from treasured personal collections. for one day only. Don't miss this up close experience to learn about India's iconic drape - the sari.

Help build a tabletop mural celebrating Diwali with an artist from the Montclair Art Museum.

Join us for a variety of arts and crafts projects including a rocking diya, rangoli and painted clay diyas!

Dancers: Sahana Shah, Sonya Doshi, Eshal Khan, Asha Kansagra, Anaaya Shah, Zuri Shah, Samika Dhande & Sadhana Dhande

Choreography: Roshi George

Dancers: Mishika Bhargava, Arika Jain, Aveer Kapur, Rehaan Kappor, Sasha Bandara, Ivaan Madhok, Ayan Shah, Sky Puniya, Soumya Kapoor, Maya Mehndiratta

Choreography: Kaira Krishna

Dancers: Madeline Frech, Dipanshi Ganguly-Chmiel, Kaia Litton, Anaaya Madhok, Aaliya Mehta, Annika Naidu, Aarya Ram, Amara Sethi, Siana Sethi, Arya Shah

Choreography: Shreya Navile

Dancers: Rishi Bakaya, Tej Bakaya, Avnish Naidu, Aarthik Ram, Calvin Shiao, Carter Shiao, Dev Sutha, Vir Sutha

Choreography: Usha Naidu & Shobha Swaminathan

Dancers: Deepika Misra, Ruchika Misra, Usha Naidu, Dipsha Shah, Oksana Shevchuk-Shah, Saher Siddiqui, Namrata Suri, Shobha Swaminathan, Harpreet Twigg

Choreography: Kaira Krishna & Puneeta Kalra

Dancers: Punita Gupta, Shweta Gupta, Madhuri Mukherjee, Mona Shah, Neha Shah, Tripti Singh, Rashmi Saraogi, Deepika Misra, Puneeta Kalra

Choreography: Roshi George & Puneeta Kalra

Dancers: Usha Naidu, Harpreet Twigg, Priya Dwivedi, Sumeet Kapoor, Rajani Sethi, Shobha Swaminathan, Shuba Vasan, Puneeta Kalra

Choreography: Puneeta Kalra