CURRY BEAR

Here is a list I compiled from memory of the 10 most kick-ass fusion performances this decade in the desi dance scene. The dance scene has just got bigger and bigger (that’s what she said) over the years this decade. I don’t know what the future holds, but I just hope the dance scene goes to the next level.

Drexel Jhalak – Good vs Evil – 2006 – Sapna III

Drexel Jhalak was the first team to incorporate their intro video into their performance. This killed the trend of slide-show video intros of people’s headshots. This was the performance that started the trend of incorporating the costumes into the theme (White=Good, Black=Evil). Before this, team’s costume were something that were just put together to look flashy but had nothing to do with the theme. Jhalak put an end to that. This was also the performance that made both the teams and audience aware what impact synchronization makes in your performance. This was also one of the very few teams, if any, that used 90% instrumental music in their performance and still gave a strong and powerful performance.

TCNJ Saathiya – Elements – 2005 – Dhamaka

TCNJ Saathiya! OOOH HAAA! This was the first team to do a theme properly. Baruch Andaaz had been doing storyline in their performance since 2005 but I believe TCNJ Saathiya was the first one to install a theme in their performance in a way to create a production. This started a trend of themes and gimmick. TCNJ used the moving box gimmick where dancers disappeared as the box went pass them.

USP Dhamaal – 2005 – Tamasha

This team came out of no where and exploded with a show stopping performance. I could say the same thing about my girlfriend from college. Stunts and fast paced choreography had the crowd screaming. This team ran an unstoppable reign during 2005. No team had the excitement in their performance like USP Dhamaal. Unfortunately, this team’s reign ended after a year.

Rutgers SAPA – 2005 – BOB II
The birth of filmi fusion and creative and intricate costume changes. This team won crowd and judges over with their hip-hop and Bollywood blend of choreography and mixes. No one will ever forget when the costumes came down from the rafters. This team was one of the innovators for costume changes and flashy costumes for fusion teams.

Baruch Andaaz – FilmFare Awards – 2008 – Naach Vention
This team undisputedly had the best performance of 2008. This was the first team to create a stage production equivalent to HFD teams on the West. The filmfare award theme was an ingenious theme. This performance comprised of a well produced intro video, amazing Bollywood/hip-hop choreography, and amazing song selection. The arena erupted and gave a standing ovation. The performance is truly indescribable and was a phenomenal and entertaining performance. After all the beatdown CurryBear gave to Baruch Andaaz all those years in my review, this team came out emerging as one of the most memorable ones.

Wanted Ashiqz – Hollywood/Bollywood – 2009 – Naach Naach Revolution/BOB

This team had such a huge impact in 2009 that they cleaned out every competition they went to. They were like the undefeated Australian Cricket Team in the 2007 World Cup. In fact, some of these guys look like they play Cricket. Daring stunts, unmatched choreography, and creative themes are what these guys are all about. I’m not sure which performance I liked better. Their BOB performance and NNR performance are very highly ranked in my opinion. Both performance had their ups and down. The NNR performance was a better production while BOB had better choreography and cleaner and improved formations. After their performance, every time I heard “Mar Jaani” or “Love Mera Hit Hit”, I always thought of Wanted Ashiqz.

TCNJ Saathiya – Toy Story – 2007 – PhillyFest

Though Drexel Jhalak made a strong impact the previous year with the Good vs Evil performance , TCNJ Saathiya was the first team to use a very intricate theme and incorporated it into every detail of their performance. The costume, the mix, the props, and the choreography all blended in extremely well. Watching this performance just made you feel like a kid again. This created the trend of teams thinking outside the box.

UPenn Dhamaka – iPod – 2007 – PhillyFest

This performance showed that guys can be clean just as well as girls and I’m not talking about shaving balls here. I felt like this team was the counter part of Drexel Jhalak. This team segmented their performance to a variety of dance styles from Bhangra and Garba to hip hop and Salsa.

John Hopkins Josh – Jail Break – 2007 – PhillyFest

JHU Josh made an impact in the dance scene with their non-mainstrean song selection and dance styles. This team rarely used Bollywood or desi songs but delivered a very entertaining performance. Their storyline was impressive and had a twist at the end. What a twist!

NYU Pandemonium – HipHop vs. Bhangra – 2007 – Phillyfest

Choli Ke Peeche Kai Hai? This was another crowd pleasing performance. They never got love from the judges but the crowd got on their knees, sucked and swallowed their performance. Their first HipHop vs Bhangra was great but they came back even stronger and better with part II in 2007. This was one of the most memorable performance of NYU Pandemonium history. The only way I see them out-doing themselves is by actually getting a Panda to do Bhangra on stage.

Other memorable performance:
NYU Pandemonium – Hiphop vs Bhangra – 2009 – PhillyFest
Drexel Jhalak – Jungle – 2008 – Phillyfest
Baruch Andaaz – Don/Bollywood Timeline – 2007 – Phillyfest
SJU Raaz – Stages of Life – 2009 – Naach Naach Revolution
Boston Chankaar – Elements – 2009 – Naach Naach Revolution
Wanted Ashiqz – Round 1 – 2009 – Naach Naach Revolution
SJU Raaz – Round 1/Mummy – 2009 – Naach Naach Revolution
Wanted Ashiqz – Round2/Panda Parody – 2009 – Naach Naach Revolution
SJU Raaz – Round2/Magician – 2009 – Naach Naach Revolution
Wanted Ashiqz – Dark Knight – 2008 – Showdown II