On the 14th of June, the Indian Dance Crew lit up the stage in front of over 2,000 people at Bollywood Showdown—the largest Indian high school dance competition in Aotearoa. Competing against high-level schools from around the country (many with professional support) our fully student-led and student-funded group stood out for their passion, originality, and sheer talent.

Bollywood Showdown is more than just a dance competition. It’s a labour of love, organised by performers who live and breathe dance. It’s a celebration of culture, community, and creativity, where dancers from diverse backgrounds come together to uplift and inspire one another.

Our crew delivered a flawless and widely applauded performance, the result of months of hard work, late nights, and endless rehearsals. From choreography and costume design to music mixing, promo videos, and management, every aspect of this performance was created by students.

On the day of the show, the team was hard at work from early morning until nearly 11 pm. We also spent the day cheering for other schools, soaking in the energy of the event, and feeling immense pride in our shared culture. The atmosphere was electric, and being surrounded by so many young South Asian creatives made the experience even more meaningful.

Special recognition goes to our incredible lead choreographers: Hasti Pandya and Parisha Kumar. They curated a vibrant set that masterfully blended tradition with modern expression. We’re also deeply grateful to Devika Lal who is a skilled dancer from Kelston Girls’ College. She gave her all to support our team. She offered her time and expertise to help refine our choreography. Her dedication did not go unnoticed by our crew.

This six-minute performance was the product of weeks of training, discipline, and creativity. Each dancer juggled schoolwork and other responsibilities alongside this major commitment. We could not be prouder.

Bollywood Showdown was a fantastic experience for all of us, and we are looking forward to competing for the third year in a row in 2026! Final congratulations to our dancers!!

Our Dancers:

Paras Patel, Akhil Yadav, Parisha Kumar, Devika Lal, Hasti Pandya, Prachi Kumar, Joevelle Aiyer, Nisa McCarthy, Nimisha Nand, Dhruvi Patel, Zia Prajapati,Bhumi Yadav, Dilru Chandraratne