At a glance
Desi Dhamaka is an annual, student-run showcase celebrating South Asian culture through dance, music, and performance. Held at… Read full summary
- Funding received
- 2025-2026
- Mini
- Awarded
- $4,000
- Funding partners
-
- Services and Activities Fee (SAF)
Desi Dhamaka is an annual, student-run showcase celebrating South Asian culture through dance, music, and performance. Held at Meany Hall, the event brings together students, families, alumni, and the Seattle community to experience and learn about the cultural significance behind these art forms. By blending traditional and contemporary elements, Desi Dhamaka promotes both cultural preservation and creative expression. Funding will support a Meany Hall reservation.
Desi Dhamaka is an annual, student run showcase that highlights South Asian culture. Our mission is to provide a stage for students to celebrate South Asian culture through the performing arts. Our event showcases vibrant dance performances, lively singing, and energetic music. Students, parents, alumni, and other members from the Seattle community generally attend our showcase. We hope that attendees who come to support their friends and family, can also learn more about the cultural importance embedded within these artistic talents, fostering engagement within the UW community. Through our recurring event, we hope to establish an accessible space that contributes to cultural celebration and inclusion on campus. This year, our event is being held on May 2nd in Meany Hall, and we hope to utilize the CSF funding towards our booking at Meany Hall. The resources provided by Meany, such as lighting, sound, and other technical equipment, are crucial to our performers' success. Additionally, using Meany Hall will allow for an event at this scale while keeping it financially accessible to attendees. Through this showcase, we hope to deepen the diverse cultural presence at UW through a long term recurring event. Many of our performers have been dedicated to their craft for years, and we believe that they are deserving of a platform that gives recognition to their work. Additionally, each year this showcase fosters mentorship and collaboration, where knowledge is passed down to new student leaders to preserve the professional standard of the event. Furthermore, many performances blend traditional values and modern influences, providing a space for both cultural preservation and creative evolution. This allows Desi Dhamaka to honor cultural heritage while being inclusive, relevant, and engaging for the present day UW campus environment.
Sushma Shankar
Project lead
- sshan854@uw.edu
- Affiliation
- Student
- Years
- 0 year(s) remaining at UW
- Affiliated groups
- Desi Dhamaka
Maisha Sinha
Team member
- msinha21@uw.edu
- Affiliation
- Student
- Years
- 0 year(s) remaining at UW
- Affiliated groups
- Desi Dhamaka
Ashwitha Korlipara
Team member
- akorli@uw.edu
- Affiliation
- Student
- Years
- 0 year(s) remaining at UW
- Affiliated groups
- Desi Dhamaka
Sarah Wilke
Senior Director of Operations and Planning
- skwilke@uw.edu
- Affiliation and department
- Faculty; Meany Center for the Performing Arts
- Stakeholder approval form
Request amount and budget
Plans for financial longevity
We hope to put our CSF funding towards our Meany Hall reservation. We hope to gain other funds, and plan to use the revenue we earn from ticket sales towards the rest. If we have any leftover funds, we will be putting them towards our event for the next year.
We have currently booked Meany Hall for our specific project. We are also currently obtaining funding through other channels at UW. We also plan to host some fundraisers next quarter, while we wait to hear back from the other funds that we have applied to.
Plans for long-term project management
This year is Desi Dhamaka’s 25th year anniversary, highlighting the effectiveness of our system that has been in place for years to maintain the event’s continuity. Our board consists of members ranging across all grade levels to ensure a constant stream of leadership. We have many teams, where underclassmen are able to work their way up to becoming team leads, and team leads eventually work their way up to becoming presidents or members of the executive board.
Problem statement
Desi Dhamaka was started as a way for existing South Asian cultural talent at UW to express and showcase their art forms. From UW Kahaani that embraces modern South Asian styles of dance to UW Natya which highlights classical, traditional styles of dance, UW is rich with South Asian RSOs. As a whole, we came to the conclusion that it is important for students to have a platform that is supportive, encourages them to stay close to their roots, and allows them to showcase their dedication to their craft. We believe that Desi Dhamaka can make this possible, while also inspiring others to get more involved within the South Asian UW community.
Problem context
Currently, UW has over 15 different South Asian RSOs that support a unique aspect of its culture. Through Desi Dhamaka, we hope to bring together and unite these different art forms under a single event. We hope that this showcase can further foster cultural unity and connect the UW community as a whole.
Measure the impacts
| Impact / goal | Metric(s) of success | UW stakeholders impacted |
|---|---|---|
| Through this event we hope to provide a platform for the UW and Seattle community to engage with South Asian performing arts. We hope that Desi Dhamaka can deepen cultural understanding and awareness, to foster learning with our attendees. | Our target number of attendees is around 500 to 700. | Undergraduate, Graduate, Alumni, Academic staff, Admin staff |
| Through this event, students are given the opportunity to act as leaders in avenues such as performing and organizing. Therefore, Desi Dhamaka creates a space for mentorship to be passed down, establishing a continuous path for leadership skill building. | Our event aims to have around 80 to 100 active student participants. | Undergraduate, Alumni, Admin staff |
| By hosting this showcase on campus in Meany Hall, we are able to reduce transportation emissions. Additionally, this project reduces physical waste by utilizing digital marketing tools and online ticketing opposed to printed materials. | Our target is to add 3-5 new sustainability initiatives each year. | Undergraduate, Graduate, Alumni, Academic staff, Admin staff |
Communication tactics and tools
Our main communication channel is social media, specifically Instagram. On Instagram we are consistently posting about our event, as well as showing our support for other South Asian RSOs. We also table at the RSO fair, as well as sell tickets in Red Square so we can further promote and educate the UW community about Desi Dhamaka.
Outreach communication plan
Each of our performances will showcase a variety of facets of South Asian culture. From modern bollywood dance to traditional carnatic music to kuthu to classical bharatanatyam, Desi Dhamaka will highlight the richness and diversity within this culture. We hope that every attendee, from current students to faculty staff to Seattle community members, can learn something new about South Asian culture after watching the show.
Student involvement
This project has many opportunities for students to gain skills that are applicable towards their professional development. Students are tasked with interacting, contacting, and building relationships with various entities such as sponsors, venues, and additional organizations. Furthermore, this event provides opportunities for mentorship and volunteering. Current leaders help train future student leaders, allowing them to gain skills that are valuable for this event and beyond. Additionally, the event offers many opportunities for volunteering and service. Overall, we hope to teach our members skills that they can utilize within their careers and lives.