For the fourth year in a row, a UF dance team took first place at India Festival in Tampa.
Twelve UF students from Gator Garba competed against the University of South Florida in the 27th annual festival.
At the competition, the dancers put a modern spin on a traditional colorful folk dance from Gujarat, a state in the western part of India.
Dance captain Anjali Desai, 20, said the team usually practices three times a week for few hours, but during the competition, practices were every day.
“Our girls were really dedicated, and they performed very well,” the UF sociology junior said.
The four-minute and 15-second dance landed the team a trophy and $500. Desai said the money will go toward costumes. This year’s cost $140 per dancer.
Desai said the festival provides an opportunity for the dance group to experience Indian culture.
“It’s really interesting because there’s always different performances, and we get to see different cultural aspects of India,” she said.
Jemma Patel, who is also dance captain on the team, said the next dance competition will be in Orlando on Saturday. Patel, 21, choreographed the dance with Desai and other teammates. They used a classical Garba song and made a mix to add a modern touch.
Patel said dance is a way for her to connect to her Indian culture. She has practiced Garba since she was young.
Claudia Anez, a 20-year-old member, said she was anxious before the competition. Despite nervousness, the UF biology junior said her favorite part of the festival was dancing with her teammates and the culture.
“We get to experience all of the different Indian food,” she said. “Also the different dresses they wear.”
Anez said other UF Indian dance teams such as GatorRass Dance Team and Gator Bhangra also competed, but they were in different categories.
More people should join dance teams, regardless of cultural affiliation, she said.
“When you give something a chance, you get to see how great it is.”
[A version of this story ran on page 4 on 11/17/2014]
