Desis ‘n’ Dating: No Swiping Right or Left But Taking a ‘Leap’ Towards Authentic In-Person Connections
- For those seeking a meaningful connection, a stand-up comedy performance helped unwind and mingle at a social event in San Jose, California.
In the age of dating apps and swiping fatigue, it’s refreshing to find a social event that brings together like-minded individuals seeking genuine connections. Recently, “Leap,” a dating social event, aimed to bridge the gap between South Asian professionals. With its unique blend of music, comedy, icebreaker games, and a relaxed atmosphere, Leap provided a platform for young individuals to break free from the limitations of dating apps and embrace the opportunity to meet multiple people face-to-face. This meet-up took place in San Jose, California at “Fuze” Lounge on June 17. In total, 357 participants attended with a ratio of 49% women and 51% men.
We started the evening with a fun stand-up comedy performance which allowed everyone to loosen up and mingle. This was followed by an ice-breaker and dancing. I was pleasantly surprised by how quickly I adapted to the new environment and tried to talk to as many people as possible. I think the music helped to set the mood and ease social interactions with strangers. Unlike the virtual dating world — this non-intense vibe — allowed connections to develop organically without the pressure of snap judgments based on profile pictures alone. By placing personality and genuine interaction at the forefront, Leap created a space where participants could truly project who they were and establish connections beyond surface-level attraction.
The ice-breaker session was followed by the speed dating segment. The attendees were split up into two groups by age: 33 and younger/ 33-45. Each person had 5 mins to interact with another person. This doesn’t seem like enough time initially, but given we already socialized with these individuals earlier in the evening, it was a good way to reconnect. In my opinion, a big strength of this session was there was no pressure to give out personal contact information. For example, if there was initial interest from one person, the other person didn’t feel immediately obligated to exchange phone numbers. In fact, Leap encouraged everyone to add/”like” their interests/profiles in the event app and allow the personalized connections to continue virtually after the event.
Rather than relying on algorithms and superficial judgments, these events prioritize genuine human connections, by bringing people together in a fun but safe, social setting,
While Leap provided an excellent platform for mingling and making connections, some participants expressed a desire for more structured activities. One critique was that both age groups could benefit from simultaneous speed dating sessions in a bigger venue. By organizing timed interactions, participants could engage with a greater number of potential matches, maximizing the opportunities for meaningful connections within the limited event time. This enhancement would add a dynamic element to the Leap experience and help eliminate any idle time that participants may have experienced.
This was my first event hosted by Leap. However, other similar events are taking place across the country in cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago. Some of the participants I met expressed going to the other Leap events in major cities as they felt it was a great way to build an authentic, in-person, organic connection and check out a new city. Considering this was a one-day event held on a weekend, it was not a huge social commitment for busy professionals.
I genuinely believe, in a world dominated by swiping and endless profiles, meetups like Leap offer a superior alternative and get us back to the pre-app era of dating. Rather than relying on algorithms and superficial judgments, these events prioritize genuine human connections, by bringing people together in a fun but safe, social setting,
If you’re tired of swiping and are truly seeking a meaningful connection, it may be time to take a chance on this new App and check out one of their upcoming events in a city near you!
Dr. Abha Soni is a young physician new to the Bay Area, who specializes in diagnosing skin diseases. Outside of work, she finds joy in sharing stories about her experiences and attending social and cultural events. She is also passionate about food, beauty/skincare, and travel blogging. Her artistic sensibilities find expression through visual art, music, and singing, which enrich her multifaceted life beyond medicine.