If you like dance, the South Asian Showdown was the place to be on Saturday, March 1^st, 2025! The dancing was fantastic and the audience was packed!

The concept of Showdown is to showcase the best Fusion and Hindi-Film teams on one stage.  Bollywood represents the Mumbai movie industry and the story lines that come with it.  South Asian fusion brings all styles of dance together on one stage to showcase the talents of South Asian dancers.  Bring these dance forms together in this competition and you saw how explosive and entertaining South Asian dance can truly be!

South Asian Showdown, SAS for short, had teams from all over North America competing to be crowned the Showdown Champion.  Teams from Florida, New York, Connecticut, California, Missouri, Vancouver (Canada) and Massachusetts all showcased their extreme talent to the Boston audience.  However, only 3 teams could win:

1 Place: UCI Zamana
2nd Place: Desi Dhamaka
3rd Place: Miami UJhoom 

We also had these ancillary prizes as well:

Best Dancer: Uconn Surya
Best Mix: Uconn Surya
Best Theme: MIT Mirchi
People’s Choice: Desi Dhamaka 

Here is a quick description about each winning team:

UCI Zamana (1st Place):
Zamana is the premier Bollywood Fusion competitive dance team at the University of California, Irvine, featuring talented dancers with various backgrounds. Along with a foundation in Bollywood, the team incorporates a variety of styles, including hip hop, bhangra, kuthu, contemporary, and classical. Zamana is an award-winning Bollywood Fusion dance team that participates in circuit competitions across the nation. Founded in 2009 and now in its 15th generation, Zamana has performed at prestigious events across the country, and has been invited to audition for America's Got Talent. We are always proud to showcase our passion and energy during our performances.

Desi Dhamaka (2nd Place):
Desi Dhamaka is a dynamic co-ed, independent Bollywood fusion dance team based in Tampa, FL. With a passion for entertainment, they captivate audiences through their vibrant dance performances and engaging storytelling. As a united team, they foster a supportive environment that inspires each member to grow and flourish in their dance journey.

Miami UJhoom (3rd Place):
The University of Miami’s premiere Bollywood-fusion dance team, Miami UJhoom, has been lighting stages on fire since its inception in 2013. UJhoom comes from the Hindi phrase ""Jhoom Barabar Jhoom"" meaning to dance, swing, and cheer without any limitations, clearing any tension, doubts, or fear. With a diverse group of dancers from all across the world, Miami UJhoom brings together an eclectic fusion of dance styles such as Bollywood, Bhangra, Contemporary, Hip-hip, Classical, and more. Beyond dance, UJhoom is a family, united by the joy of dance and a shared love for creative expression.

We had great food served by Shanti restaurant and everybody ate that up as well!

To learn more about South Asian Showdown, visit our website @ www.southasianshowdown.com, or contact us @ info@southasianshowdown.com or call 617-448-2508

Our larger sponsors included Barr Foundation, City of Boston – Arts and Culture, Shanti Restaurant Mass Cultural Council and Chardikla TV.

Be sure to keep February 28^th, 2026 booked on your calendars for next year's event!! You don't want to miss out!

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