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Cal Poly’s Bollywood-fusion troupe Andaaz returned from a national stage in Las Vegas with unexpected hardware and fresh momentum, earning both a podium finish and a theme award at the National Desi Dance League finals. Their performance — a five‑minute routine inspired by the mobile game Subway Surfers — signaled how a student group in its fourth year is quickly becoming a competitive presence on the collegiate Desi dance circuit.
The team’s result matters beyond trophies: it raises Cal Poly’s profile among college dance programs and shows how campus cultural groups can turn social connection into competitive success.
From campus showcases to a national podium
Andaaz, which performs annually at Cal Poly’s cultural festival Illuminate, took the same Subway Surfers routine they debuted in February to Las Vegas for the National Desi Dance League showcase. The set was staged like a run through the game, with dancers portraying distinct characters and moments from the story arc.
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Until this season, the club’s public shows were mostly campus-focused. This year, after placing fourth at Purdue University’s Nasha in January and third at UC Santa Barbara’s Nachle Deewane in March, the UCSB result secured them a berth at nationals — their first appearance at a bidded national competition.
For many members, the final ranking was unexpected. Entering the weekend ranked below several rivals, Andaaz closed the competition in third place and also won the award for Best Theme, an outcome team leaders described as both validating and surprising.
How the routine came together
The production’s sound design and flow were crafted by Sreshta Talluri, a recent computer science graduate and former captain who returned to help the team. Talluri’s mix traces the performance’s narrative beats and stitches together a range of forms: hip‑hop and contemporary transitions sit alongside the South Indian street style Kuthu, Punjabi Bhangra pulses, and moments of Bharatanatyam.
That fusion is central to Andaaz’s identity. As a Bollywood fusion ensemble, the group blends mainstream American pop with South Asian rhythms to convey cultural stories that can resonate with audiences regardless of language familiarity.
- Event: National Desi Dance League finals, Las Vegas
- Routine theme: Subway Surfers (five‑minute narrative set)
- Placements this season: 4th at Nasha (Purdue), 3rd at Nachle Deewane (UCSB), 3rd at nationals
- Awards: Best Theme at nationals
- Mix & choreography: Sreshta Talluri — hip‑hop, contemporary, Kuthu, Bhangra, Bharatanatyam
Competition experience and community impact
Beyond rankings, Andaaz members emphasized the value of representation and teamwork. Freshmen who joined the club this year described finding an immediate sense of belonging; veterans pointed to late rehearsals and travel as bonding experiences that strengthened the group’s performance under pressure.
Judges and guest artists on the panel included well‑known figures in the Indian dance world. Teams also participated in a street‑dance workshop led by River Novin, and Andaaz performers received onstage feedback from choreographer and filmmaker Remo D’Souza, a moment members said left a lasting impression.
Several dancers noted that small errors during the finals didn’t dampen the overall experience — the adrenaline of performing and the crowd’s energy carried the team through.
What this means going forward
Finishing on the podium and taking home a creative award gives Andaaz more than bragging rights: it places Cal Poly within a national network of college Desi teams and opens doors for future invitations, collaborations and possibly hosting events on campus. Leaders say they hope to leverage this season’s momentum to build the club’s competitive program and expand its reach.
For now, the troupe is celebrating both the outcome and the relationships forged along the way — a reminder that collegiate cultural groups often measure success in trophies and in the tighter social ties that survive long past the competition season.
