SLU’s Indian Classical Dance Team Omkara Earns National Trophy

02/04/2025

SLU Omkara has made history. 

Omkara, Saint Louis University’s Indian classical dance team, recently took part in a national competition against seven other university dance teams at the first competition of the season hosted by North Carolina State University’s Navarasa in Raleigh, NC. In just their second year of national competition, the team earned its first-ever trophy by placing second. 

“As a captain for the past two years, I have had the opportunity and blessing to see this group of amazing women grow into a nationally competitive dance team and second family,” said Jessica Michael, co-captain of the squad. “Choreographing for this team has been a fulfilling part of my college experience and has made me truly appreciate the power of communicating profound messages through dance while promoting our cultural heritage to new audiences. Lifting up that second-place trophy with the team was an indescribable feeling.” 

Omkara was founded nine years ago with a mission to combine modern themes with traditional dance to convey stories that everyone can relate to and learn from. This year’s group has 13 women, all of whom have trained for nine to 15 years in various styles of Indian classical dancing. The main style performed by the group is called Bharatanatyam, one of the main classical Indian dance styles.

The captains of this year’s team are Michael, Saachi Kumar, and Arya Ramadas.

In years past, the group has performed on SLU’s campus and throughout the St. Louis region but has always had their sights on competing on the collegiate circuit. In 2024, the team qualified for the first time to compete nationally. 

“Omkara gave me an immediate sense of connection to my culture, and provided an uplifting environment and creative outlet for me,” said Kumar. “As a captain for the last two years, helping to bring this team to a nationally competitive level last year and placing at a competition for the first time this year has been incredibly rewarding.”

SLU Omkara’s theme for the 8-minute competition piece is a Bharatanatyam adaptation of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. The overall message of SLU Omkara’s piece revolves around the consequences of unchecked ambition, the ethical limits of scientific exploration, and the deep need for empathy and connection, told through dance. 

Omkara chose this story to recognize the impact of technological and scientific advancements on companionship and explore the nuanced emotions that make up the lived human experience. 

“As a captain for the last two years, helping to bring this team to a nationally competitive level last year and placing at a competition for the first time this year has been incredibly rewarding,” Kumar said. “Watching the story my co-captains and I have envisioned come to life on a stage and performing for different audiences around the country has transformed my understanding of dance as a form of incredible artistic expression. I’m constantly taken aback by the level of team spirit, grit, and motivation our team shares and I could not be more grateful. Omkara has remained my favorite part of my SLU experience and I cannot wait to see the team continue to achieve its goals in the years to come.”

Next up for SLU Omkara is a competition held at the University of Wisconsin Madison where they hope to have a strong performance as they once again represent SLU on the big stage. 

“Joining Omkara last year was one of the best decisions I’ve made,” Ramadas said. “I quickly realized I wasn’t just joining a dance team, but a family brought together by a love for dance and culture. Even during stressful school weeks, I always found myself looking forward to practice where I could spend time immersing myself in a creative and gratifying environment. This has been my first year as a captain, which has been an amazing experience, and I’m so grateful for the foundation our previous captains have built.”