South Asian Showdown held its 17th annual Bollywood/Fusion dance competition on February 28, 2026 at the Strand Theatre in Boston. One of North America’s premier showcases of South Asian fusion dance, the event brought together some of the most celebrated dance groups from across the United States.

“Each year, this contest gets bigger and better,” said Rohit Bhambi, founder of South Asian Showdown. The emcee for the event was Jharna Madan.

This year’s winners were UMass Dhadak, MA (1st Place, $5000), JHU Zinda, MD (2^nd Place, $1000) and DFD Academy, MA (3^rd Place, $500).

The 2026 competitors for the South Asian Showdown were:

Cornell Sitara, New York

Cornell Sitara is Cornell University’s premier co-ed South Asian fusion dance team. Sitara blends classical, Bollywood, and bhangra styles with Western forms such as hip-hop and contemporary to create dynamic, narrative-driven performances. As Cornell’s longest-standing South Asian club, Sitara has been promoting South Asian culture on Cornell’s campus for over 40 years and has proudly competed in the South Asian fusion circuit for the past four.

DFD Academy, Massachusetts

DFD Academy is a bi-coastal dance company with programs in Boston, Los Angeles, and online. Their travel team has been competing in the fusion dance circuit since 2019. At DFD, dance is more than movement — it’s a way for dancers to take up space, honor where they come from, and express the parts of themselves they never knew they had.

JHU Zinda, Maryland

JHU Zinda is Johns Hopkins’s premier competitive co-ed Bollywood Fusion dance team that aims to share a positive outlet for culture and expression through dance. We combine and perform elements of both South Asian and American dance styles, both on and off campus. Through shared love of dance, Zinda brings together a group of passionate individuals who have created a home within a team.

Maryland Dhoom, Maryland

Maryland Dhoom is the premier, co-ed, South-Asian fusion dance team at UMCP! They strive to show their love for South Asian culture and their University of Maryland pride by competing around the country against fusion teams from various colleges. They share and spread their passion for South Asian dance and show their appreciation for culture everywhere they go!

MIT Mirchi, Massachusetts

Mirchi is MIT’s competitive Bollywood-fusion dance team. Formed in 2012, Mirchi’s collective spirit embodies a love for all forms of dance, representative of a Western influence on South Asian culture. Over the years, they’ve been honored to represent MIT and greater Boston at competitions and showcases across the country. Mirchi brings the spice and everything nice – they live to set the stage on fire.

Nova Nassa, Pennsylvania

Nova Nassa is Villanova University's first and only competitive fusion dance team. Bringing together countless dance styles such as Bollywood, hip hop, Indian classical, contemporary, and South Indian, they create performances that are incredible to watch and impossible to forget!

Queen City Ishaare, North Carolina

Queen City Ishaare is UNC Charlotte’s premier Bollywood fusion dance team, blending South Asian dance styles with Western influences to create unforgettable performances. They are a diverse group of passionate students from all class years who come together to embrace their culture through dance!

UC Dhadak, Ohio

Since 2008, Dhadak has brought the world of Bollywood Fusion to UC Students of ALL Backgrounds. Dhadak's #1 Priority is Inclusivity. They are a CO-ED Team composed of around 30 Members who Create, Compete, and Perform. Dhadak is all about connecting on stage to create something meaningful.

UMass Dhadak, Massachusetts

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