Diwali at Disney: Over 300 Students Celebrate Festival of Lights With Parade, Dance Showcase

Disney World Resort came alive with the sights and sounds of Diwali earlier this month as over 300 dancers came out to celebrate the festival of lights. Hosted by Jashn Productions, the second edition of the Dance Fest was held from Nov. 7 to 10 at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park in Florida. 

Directed and produced by Jeanie Beri, founder of Jashn Productions, the festival of lights was celebrated through dance with three fun-filled days, including a special parade and a 3-hour dance showcase. Last year, the event made history as the first ever celebration of its kind that gave children the opportunity to showcase their talent on a world-renowned platform.

“After the success of the first Diwali Dance Fest, we knew we had to make year two even bigger and better,” Beri said. “Celebrating the magic of Diwali was truly a dream come true, she continued, adding that Jashn Productions is looking forward “to giving the next generation of dancers more opportunities in mainstream venues,” and also “hopes to create a sense of community and teaching the importance of inclusivity.”

The festival kicked off with a special celebration at EET, an Indian- inspired restaurant at Disney Springs by celebrity Chef Maneet Chauhan. An official parade followed with dancers performing a 20-minute choreographed piece for a line of spectators. And to add to the excitement, Disney characters opened the event alongside children with special needs that were sponsored by the SKN Foundation.

The signature Dance Fest Showcase closed out the festivities, at Disney’s Animal Kingdo Theme Park with 17 dance schools and performances from various regions of India, weaving elements of pop, hip-hop and classical forms of Indian dance. Special performances were held by BFunk, a Los Angeles-based Bhangra and Bollywood dance company, and SA Dance Company, led under the direction of artistic director Payal Kadakia Pujji. 

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The evening was hosted by former Broadway star Shoba Narayan who starred as the iconic Princess Jasmine in the long-running Disney hit “Aladdin.” Describing Diwali Dance Fest as being “truly unforgettable,” Narayan said “seeing so many passionate Indian dancers – especially the young performers- sharing their art and heritage on an iconic stage at Walt Disney World was beyond inspiring. To watch these dancers proudly celebrate our traditions in a place that means so much to so many was both emotional and magical. It was a powerful reminder of how our culture continues to shine through the next generation, and I couldn’t be prouder to have witnessed it.”

Jashn Productions donated proceeds to the Make Me Stronger Foundation which partners with various organizations. One of them is ne in particular is the National Marrow Donor Program, which works relentlessly in hopes of finding matches for patients with blood cancers.