Diwali in the Sunshine State: Dancers From Around America Light Up Disney World Resort
- Hosted by Jashn Productions, the first-ever Dance Fest was held from Oct. 26-28 at at Disney Springs and Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park in Florida.
Disney World Resort came alive with the sights and sounds of Diwali this past weekend as more than 400 dancers came out to celebrate the festival of lights. Hosted by Jashn Productions, the first-ever Dance Fest was held from Oct. 26-28 at the Disney Springs and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park in Florida.
Hosted by Jashn Productions, the three-day event was directed by founder Jeanie Beri. Over 1,000 guests experienced the sights and sounds of Diwali as the Theater in the Wild was filled with vibrant colors, stunning costumes, and incredible performances by dancers from around North America.
The entire experience was “exhilarating” for Jashn Productions founder Jeanie Beri. “We created history by sharing the joy and excitement of this important festival with the South Asian dance community,” she said in a statement. “Celebrating the magic of Diwali in ‘The Most Magical Place on Earth’ was truly a dream come true.”
The festival kicked off with an official parade at Disney Springs, where dancers performed a 20-minute choreographed piece while parading the streets. The Dance Fest Showcase, held at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, included 17 dance schools and performances from various regions of India, weaving elements of pop and hip-hop. The evening was hosted by television personality Nisha Mathur and actress Sway Bhatia.
Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse opened the event alongside children with special needs who were sponsored by the SKN Foundation and the n-lorem Foundation. Jashn Productions donated $10K to the N-Lorem Foundation whose mission is to discover, develop, and provide personalized experimental ASO medicines for free to patients with nano-rare conditions.
Multi-talented singer and performer Raghav closed out the Dance Showcase with his hit songs, “Angel Eyes” and “Desperado.” The event concluded with an afterparty at the iconic Hambre Theatre at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, where children, parents, and team members celebrated months of hard work and this milestone in their performing arts journey.