Mauri, the “Friend”, Utpalasia’s beloved mascot, lost her fight with illness this evening. She was allowed to pass peacefully and without pain, carrying with her our love, devotion, and gratitude. She was in a class by herself. Originally a shelter rescue, Mauri joined us in 2007 when she was just 3 months old. Constantly busy… Continue reading Utpalasia Loses Its Mascot
Author: Utpalasia
Himalayan Vintage & Designer Art
Summer has arrived with a big blast of heat. Some of us are out and about in our jobs, others are working online, and many are still sheltering safely at home. While we are all navigating the ‘new normal’, one thing to keep in mind is self-care. Do good things – eat better, exercise more… Continue reading Himalayan Vintage & Designer Art
Advanced Kathak Workshops – Summer 2020
Kathak is one of the main classical Indian dances that inspires and delights audiences with its fast spins, energetic footwork, intricate hand moves, and artistic presentation. Jaipur and Lucknow, the two principal schools of Kathak, differ considerably. The former is more athletic and vibrant, while the latter has a subtler and more emotive style. Like… Continue reading Advanced Kathak Workshops – Summer 2020
Summer Language Learning with Native & Bilingual Tutors
Everyone knows that along with dance, learning a foreign language is a great activity to keep you mentally alert, foster long and short term memory, and improve your all around knowledge base. Besides, it’s cool and a lot of fun! Education has been migrating to online platforms for quite a while, but it got its… Continue reading Summer Language Learning with Native & Bilingual Tutors
Bollywood Fusion Workshops – Summer 2020
Dance is a multi-faceted activity that not only works your body, but has a positive effect on mental health as well. It is a tremendous stress reliever and pumps you full of endorphins, essentially giving you a shot of happiness. Health organizations all recommend doing consistent cardio throughout the week and dance is a fun… Continue reading Bollywood Fusion Workshops – Summer 2020
International Dance Day
No time like the present to learn, practice, demonstrate, and share your love of dance! UNESCO’s CID is offering the opportunity of uploading your event for free tomorrow in honor of International Dance Day. So get up, get moving, and pass along some happiness by sharing your favorite style with the world. To catch some… Continue reading International Dance Day
The Magic of Lokta
For almost 2,000 years, the Daphne Cannabina, also known as “lokta”, has been prized as the source for handmade paper in Nepal. It grows at an elevation of 2000 to 3500 meters in the understory of forests. The bush, which is an evergreen shrub and a subspecies of laurel, grows wildly and in abundance. Amazingly,… Continue reading The Magic of Lokta
Nepal’s Tihar in a Nutshell
Tihar is a five day festival celebrated in Nepal. The first day is dedicated to the crow (or kaag) who is seen as the messenger of death. The second day focuses on the dog (or kukur). Dogs are believed to lead the souls of the dead to the underworld. They are also honored as trusted… Continue reading Nepal’s Tihar in a Nutshell
Cerdafied Dance Turns One!
Happy First Anniversary to Cerdafied Dance Studios in Alexandria, Virginia. We enjoyed that energetic vibe and watching students sample the many free demo classes. Tasherit worked on “Slowly, Slowly” with her group and their smiles said it all! If you’d like to experience Bollywood Fusion at its best, join her every Thursday evening from 6-8pm… Continue reading Cerdafied Dance Turns One!
Dashain Aayo!
It’s holiday time again in Nepal! Navaratri has begun and people are on the move to rejoin their families and friends for the largest Hindu festival of the year. Bus tickets have sold out and local bazaars are jammed with enthusiastic holiday shoppers looking for traditional gifts of clothing and accessories for their loved ones.… Continue reading Dashain Aayo!