BollyX is a high-energy fitness program that combines dynamic Bollywood-inspired dance with cardio and strength training. Set to the vibrant beats of popular Bollywood music, BollyX classes provide a full-body workout that’s both fun and effective. The routines are designed to be accessible for all fitness levels, incorporating elements of traditional Indian dance with modern fitness techniques. BollyX aims to not only improve physical fitness but also to celebrate culture, encouraging participants to move, sweat, and have fun while exercising.

Chitra Nair is a certified Bharatanatyam and BollyX dancer, as well as a dedicated yoga practitioner with a deep love for exercise and cultural expression. Chitra combines a passion for dance and yoga to inspire movement and celebrate diversity among people of all ages,

Open to ALL levels. No prior dance experience needed. 

Date: November 8, 2024
Time: 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm 
Location: Narrow Bridge Arts Club (6028 S. Champlain Ave, Chicago)

To make our workshops accessible to everyone, we are offering a two-tier ticket pricing system. When purchasing your ticket, please choose the tier that best reflects your financial situation. No proof of income is required; we trust you to select the tier that’s right for you.

• Ticket Price 1: $20 (Full Support): Your support helps sustain our workshops and ensures their continued success.

• Ticket Price 2: $10 (Community Support) We believe that financial barriers shouldn’t prevent you from joining us and benefiting from our workshops.

Purchase tickets here >>

This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council and the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events.

Chicago Cultural Center Open House: World Music Festival Edition

SEPTEMBER 20, 2024 - 4-8pm

Chicago Cultural Center Open Houses offer a later hours experience of DCASE's artists in residence, music programming , gallery exhibitions, shopping, socializing & more in our architecturally stunning homebase.

Celebrating the 2024 World Music Festival and the official preparty to kickoff event Ragamala. The event features music, dance, films, food and more.

Join Ishti Collective and Firebird Dance on Friday, September 20 at 5 pm for another performance of Indo-Ruska Romani Dance Journey!

All programming FREE! Stay for Ragamala which starts right after at 6 pm.

>> More information and free tickets here

Ishti Collective and Firebird Dance are bringing back this exciting collaboration!

 "Indo-Ruska Romani Dance Journey" an interactive dance concert that tells the story of the Romani people and their migration. The performance showcases Romani dances from India and Russia and illuminates the interconnectedness between these cultures, and in turn, each of us. The event will feature narrated dance and colorful costumes, and finishes with an audience participation group dance.

We’re collaborating with Global Garden Refugee Farm, located next door to the park, who will be offering a farm tour as part of this performance. Learn more about the amazing things Global Garden Refugee Farm is doing here: https://www.globalgardenfarm.org.

Ishti Collective and Firebird Dance are bringing back this exciting collaboration!

 "Indo-Ruska Romani Dance Journey" an interactive dance concert that tells the story of the Romani people and their migration. The performance showcases Romani dances from India and Russia and illuminates the interconnectedness between these cultures, and in turn, each of us. The event will feature narrated dance and colorful costumes, and finishes with an audience participation group dance.

Ishti Collective and Firebird Dance are bringing back this exciting collaboration!

 "Indo-Ruska Romani Dance Journey" an interactive dance concert that tells the story of the Romani people and their migration. The performance showcases Romani dances from India and Russia and illuminates the interconnectedness between these cultures, and in turn, each of us. The event will feature narrated dance and colorful costumes, and finishes with an audience participation group dance.

Immediately following this performance will be a concert by FUGU DUGU featuring music from their debut album. An internationally inspired collection of songs in English, Russian and Romanian, performed with the flavor of post-apocalyptic gutter folk, encouraging you to dance! Listen to more here: https://www.youtube.com/@fugudugu

Licensed dance/movement therapist and psychotherapist, Ashley Fargnoli brings a workshop to help us listen to our bodies and find our ground. Our bodies respond to stress, trauma and anxiety in many ways. This collective movement space will help participants ground through a guided and interactive movement experience.

We will explore simple movement practices to help self-settle when feeling overwhelmed and to reinstall a sense of strength in our bodies to navigate these uncertain times.

Ashley Fargnoli, MA, BC-DMT, LCPC is a dance/movement therapist and licensed psychotherapist specialized in working in conflict affected countries and with populations who have undergone severe trauma. Originally from the US, she has been residing in Sri Lanka for the past 4.5 years where she was a Fulbright Scholar.

Register here >>

This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council and the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events.

In high school, Preeti’s father gave her a checkbook with $50 in the bank account and told her to learn how to manage her money, to regularly balance her checkbook, and plan for the future. Since then, she has been managing her own finances as well as production budgets and company finances.

Budgeting and planning expenses can be overwhelming but with practice, it is a tool that can help create security in uncertain futures. In this workshop, Preeti will offer ways to plan for your future and provide worksheets you can use to also budget and forecast.

>> Register here

This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council and the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events.

Here’s a short tutorial on how to make the malas incase you missed it or need a refresher!
Hand mala demostration>>

In collaboration with SpaceShift Collective and SuperKhana International, join us at Shamiana for a pop-up on Devon, featuring multilingual poetry, readings, mala making, and street snacks made especially for the occasion by Chef Zeeshan Shah.

Learn how to create flower malas (garlands) with master mala maker Shanta Veerlapati. For decades, Shanta Veerlapati has been creating gajamalas as spiritual offerings as well as for close family and friends for their special events. You will have the opportunity to learn 2 styles of mala: single strand garlands to use as decor or in your hair with carnations and garlands made with needle and thread using marigolds.

While open to all ages, please keep in mind we will be utilizing sewing needles. No experience needed. All materials will be provided for free.

RSVP here >>

This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council and the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events.

GARBA GATHERING! Join us October 21 at 4:00 pm at High Concept Labs as we gather and celebrate the Fall. This event is free and open to the public!

Come dance Garba and Dandiya with us. All ages and experience levels welcome. Dress up, dress down, we don’t care. We are just excited to share space with each other!

This program is co-presented by Ishti Collective and High Concept Labs (HCL) in Joint Residency with the Monira Foundation at Mana Contemporary.

The Shades of Blue, all building open house programs are featured in conjunction with the South Asia Institute’s upcoming “Indigo: The Blue Gold” art exhibition by Shelly Jyoti which is focused on and is themed around the history associated with the blue dye derived from the indigo plant that has touched many communities across the world. Through this series of free performances and events, the South Asia Institute (SAI) looks to help highlight, educate, and celebrate the roots and journeys of Chicago blues music and jazz music, and South Asian performing arts and share the parallel stories of the color blue dye and Indigo plant’s own journey.

WHEN: Saturday, October 7, 2023, 2:00PM (Doors open at 1:30PM

WHERE: South Asian Institue : 1925 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60616

Here are the featured performers and film for the third edition of Shades of Blue.

Ishti Collective (Dance)

Kavita Shah's Cape Verde Blues Project (Music)

The Arab Blues with special guest Arun Visvanath on mridangam (Music)

Billy Branch & Saraswathi Ranganathan Duo (Music)

Join us for an evening of Kolum/Rangoli art workshop, dance performance and communal healing ritual. We reflect, honor and celebrate everyone who has returned to this earth with Returning Home III. 

Performances are FREE and for ALL ages! Bring your chairs, blankets, friends and family! 

Returning Home is a series of outdoor performances featuring works by Ishti Collective and collaborating guest artists. Audience members and artists come together, rediscovering ways to connect and share a special moment in time, creating and healing communally. This year, we share our in-development work “Antarabhava", exploring grieving and healing rituals, embracing impermanence and mortality. Featured collaborating artists for this series are Jasmine Mendoza and Solomon Bowser.

Ishti Collective's Returning Home is presented as part of the Chicago Park District’s Night Out in the Parks series, supported by the Mayor’s Office and Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. Now in its 10th year, the 2023 Night Out in the Parks program presents cultural events year-round in neighborhood parks throughout the city. The Chicago Park District in partnership with over 100 local artists and organizations, present engaging events and performances that enhance quality of life across Chicago and amplify the artistic and cultural vibrancy in every
neighborhood.

Join us for an evening of Kolum/Rangoli art workshop, dance performance and communal healing ritual. We reflect, honor and celebrate everyone who has returned to this earth with Returning Home III. 

Performances are FREE and for ALL ages! Bring your chairs, blankets, friends and family! 

Returning Home is a series of outdoor performances featuring works by Ishti Collective and collaborating guest artists. Audience members and artists come together, rediscovering ways to connect and share a special moment in time, creating and healing communally. This year, we share our in-development work “Antarabhava", exploring grieving and healing rituals, embracing impermanence and mortality. Featured collaborating artists for this series are Jasmine Mendoza and Solomon Bowser.

Ishti Collective's Returning Home is presented as part of the Chicago Park District’s Night Out in the Parks series, supported by the Mayor’s Office and Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. Now in its 10th year, the 2023 Night Out in the Parks program presents cultural events year-round in neighborhood parks throughout the city. The Chicago Park District in partnership with over 100 local artists and organizations, present engaging events and performances that enhance quality of life across Chicago and amplify the artistic and cultural vibrancy in every
neighborhood.

Join us for an evening of Kolum/Rangoli art workshop, dance performance and communal healing ritual. We reflect, honor and celebrate everyone who has returned to this earth with Returning Home III. 

Performances are FREE and for ALL ages! Bring your chairs, blankets, friends and family! 

Returning Home is a series of outdoor performances featuring works by Ishti Collective and collaborating guest artists. Audience members and artists come together, rediscovering ways to connect and share a special moment in time, creating and healing communally. This year, we share excerpts of our work, “Antarabhava", exploring grieving and healing rituals, embracing impermanence and mortality. Featured collaborating artists for this series are Jasmine Mendoza and Solomon Bowser.

Ishti Collective's Returning Home is presented as part of the Chicago Park District’s Night Out in the Parks series, supported by the Mayor’s Office and Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. Now in its 10th year, the 2023 Night Out in the Parks program presents cultural events year-round in neighborhood parks throughout the city. The Chicago Park District in partnership with over 100 local artists and organizations, present engaging events and performances that enhance quality of life across Chicago and amplify the artistic and cultural vibrancy in every
neighborhood.

See an excerpt of Kinnari Vora’s production, Antarabhava which will be presented as part of Elevate Chicago Dance 2022 Festival’s Closing and Lab Artists Celebration!

Antarabhava is a meditation on mortality, the journey of consciousness and impermanence. What can we learn from our ancestors, nature, different religious, cultural and societal practices to bring acceptance, preparedness, and celebration to the death transition? What must we do to be at peace with ourselves so that we may live presently and die gracefully? We propose to initiate a dialogue about alternative ways of approaching aging, death, and end-of-life care in our society. 

The closing party for the Elevate Chicago Dance 2022 festival will include...

• Performance of “Antarabhava” (excerpt-in-progress) by 2022 Lab Artist, Kinnari Vora / Ishti Collective at 6:30PM

• Celebration of the soon-to-be-announced 2023 Lab Artists

• Festival Closing Dance Party with DJ

$15 TICKET includes reception with open bar. Click here to purchase tickets.

Venue is wheelchair accessible.

If you can’t make it, watch portions of the Festival Closing and Celebration of the 2023 Lab Artists LIVE on Twitch.

For more information including directions, program, and accessibility, please visit https://chicagodancemakers.org/show-item/oct-16-21c-museum-hotel-chicago/.

Save the date for Ishti Collective’s workshop and performance on September 18th, 2022. Workshop and performance times will be announced soon!

The Mayfair Arts Center presents a new, monthly performance and class series featuring dance and music with 6 FREE introductory classes and a collaborative, free and affordable performance

Three free classes from 1-1:50pm, three free classes from 2-2:50pm, informal performance from 3:30-4:30pm features 3-4 companies sharing the stage with a wide range of music and dance.

Register and Questions: https://www.chicagotap.org/mayfair-arts-center

Ishti Is back performing for Chicago’s Night Out in the Parks Event Series!

“Returning Home II” features live performances by Ishti Collective and various collaborating artists to honor and celebrate those who have returned to this earth which we consider our home. Audience will also be guided to co-create Rangoli designs.

This is a free event for all ages!

Ishti Is back performing for Chicago’s Night Out in the Parks Event Series!

“Returning Home II” features live performances by Ishti Collective and various collaborating artists to honor and celebrate those who have returned to this earth which we consider our home. Audience will also be guided to co-create Rangoli designs.

This is a free event for all ages!

Ishti Is back performing for Chicago’s Night Out in the Parks Event Series!

“Returning Home II” features live performances by Ishti Collective and various collaborating artists to honor and celebrate those who have returned to this earth which we consider our home. Audience will also be guided to co-create Rangoli designs.

This is a free event for all ages!

FREEDOM FESTIVAL DAY 02 - August, 14th 2022

Celebrating 75 Years of Independence with TWO days of very special music and dance performances. Presented in conjunction with the exhibition Unbearable Memories, Unspeakable Histories: The Partitition Anti-Memorial Project

Day 02 LINE UP

1PM: Zeshan B: Chicago-based, multi-instrumentalist soul, opera, gospel, and ghazal singer, who is also a songwriter and recording artist

2PM: DJ Ase Wonder: Chicago-based cultural producer, community organizer, interdisciplinary artist, and disc jockey (Opening and playing during intermissions) 

3PM: Ishti Collective: Chicago-based, classically trained, contemporary Indian dancers and choreographers.

4PM: Jina Brass Band Featuring Members of Funkadesi: Jina Brass Band, Chicago’s first Indian baraat dhol and brass band in their first collaboration with Chicago-based bhangra, Bollywood, folk, reggae, funk, and Afro-Caribbean band, Funkadesi.  

THIS IS A FREE EVENT - Registration is required!

ALSO CHECK OUT DAY 01 LINE UP - August 13th 2022

1PM DJ Spin Cycle: Ankur Malhotra: Delhi and Midwest-based record label owner and disc jockey (Playing during intermissions) 

2PM: Riyaaz Qawwali: USA-based, Pakistani Qawwali music ensemble

3PM: Soham Dance Space: Chicago-based dancer, choreographer, musician and teacher Anjal Chande creates, innovates and introspects through multidisciplinary dance.

4PM: Karsh Kale & Fareed Haque Project featuring special guests Priya Darshini, Max ZT with musicians Alex Austin on bass and Greg Fundis, on drums.

USA/India based percussionist, composer, DJ, producer, Karsh Kale collaborates with Pakistani Chilean Chicagoan, and noted jazz guitarist, composer, and music professor, Fareed Haque, noted jazz guitarist, composer, and music professor. Joined by special guests Grammy nominated vocalist Priya Darshini and dulcimer wizard and House of Waters band leader, Max ZT.

Join us for a FREE HCL Open Labs event the evening of Saturday, July 23, 2022

7:00 PM Sarmishtha Sarkar Workshop Presentation and Artist talk

8:00 PM Antarabhava: An Existence in Intervals Process Sharing

This program is co-presented by Ishti Collective and High Concept Labs (HCL) in Joint Residency with the Monira Foundation at Mana Contemporary. It is supported by the Chicago Dancemakers Forum Lab Artist Program and partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency.

While the event is free, registration is strongly encouraged. Register Here!

If you are an individual with a disability and need any accommodations to attend, please contact Kinnari Vora at kinnari@ishticollective.org.

This workshop will be guided by Ishti’s Artistic Co-chair, Tuli Bera. Bera began her classical ballet training at the age of 5 at Champaign Urbana Ballet Academy. She continued her dance training, receiving her BFA in Dance at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Since then she has continued teaching ballet at various dance studios throughout Chicago. Bera understands that Ballet can be an intimidating art form. Her goal in sharing her knowledge of this art form is to make it accessible to anyone who wishes to experience it.

Join us for a very beginner friendly workshop at Old Town School of Folk Music!

Workshop price: $25 ($23 for members)

Click here to register!

Prakriti II: We Are Here explores how we as individuals and as a collective, persist and move forward in the current polarized socio-political world. We are guided by hope and trust in humanity that we can do better; we deserve better than the anxiousness and rage caused by the divisiveness. Maybe we can find ways to channel our differences in a way that doesn’t destroy us. We recognize that it requires on-going work and there may not be one particular or any resolution. We look inwards to pause and heal, reach for grounding strength, listen and open our minds, shed our egos, bring brevity and find joy in little things and seek empathy and kindness.

Ishti is thrilled to share excerpts of Prakriti II as a site specific performance at the Nature Center at Indian Boundary Park. Prakriti I: A History of Present was initiated at Indian Boundary Park in 2018; four years later, the second installment emerges. This work is co-created by Tuli Bera and Kinnari Vora along with co-choreographers and performers Lauren Reed, Emily Loar and Ashaand Simone, music by Bob Garrett, costumes by Erika Ochoa and Kinnari Vora.

This is a FREE event! Be sure to check out all the other amazing artists and workshops happening during this festival. Click here for more information.

This presentation is partially supported by Tuli Bera’s Individual Artist Program Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events, as well as a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency, a state agency through federal funds provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.

Prakriti II is an exploration of how we, as individuals and as a collective, sustain and move forward in the current socio-political polarized world. We are guided by hope and trust in humanity that we can do better; we deserve better than the anxiousness and rage caused by the divisiveness. Maybe we can find ways to channel these differences in a way that doesn't destroy us. We recognize that it requires on-going work and there may not be one particular or any resolution. We explore ways to pause and heal, reach for grounding strength, listen and open our minds, shed our egos, bring brevity and find joy in little things and seek empathy and kindness. 

Throughout the past 5 years, we have morphed and grown as artists, as a collective and more importantly with our creative collaborative process. This work is directed and choreographed by Tuli Bera and Kinnari Vora along with co-choreography by Ashaand Simone, Lauren Reed and Emily Loar. Music composed by Bob Garrett and costumes by Kinnari Vora and Erika Ochoa.

For more information click here. Save the date, ticket info coming soon!

This workshop will be guided by Ishti’s Artistic Co-chair, Tuli Bera. Bera began her classical ballet training at the age of 5 at Champaign Urbana Ballet Academy. She continued her dance training, receiving her BFA in Dance at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Since then she has continued teaching ballet at various dance studios throughout Chicago. Bera understands that Ballet can be an intimidating art form. Her goal in sharing her knowledge of this art form is to make it accessible to anyone who wishes to experience it.

Join us for a very beginner friendly workshop at Old Town School of Folk Music!

Workshop price: $25 ($23 for members)

Click here to register

Ishti has performed and taught folk dance at Chicago Summer dance, various Chicago Park Districts and CPS. This workshop will be guided by Ishti’s Artistic Co-chair Kinnari Vora. Kinnari grew up in Gujarat, India and learnt these folk forms as social practice before she joined a professional company where she was trained in dances from other regions of the country. Kinnari is thrilled to share the joy of these folk dances with the community.

Join us for this exciting 90-minute workshop at Old Town School of Folk Music

Workshop price: $25 ($23 for members)

Click here to register.

Join us for the first Ragdale In Chicago event. It will be an opportunity to learn more about Ragdale during their open application window which runs from March 1-May 15, 2022. There will also be a special performance from Ishti Collective .

7 pm-7:30 pm Learn about residency + fellowship opportunities at Ragdale
7:30 pm-8 pm Performance by Ishti Collective, featuring Ragdale alumna, Kinnari Vora
8 pm-8:30 pm cash bar cocktail reception and conversation with Ragdale staff and alumni

This event is free and open to the public. To register, click here.

Links Hall's COVID-19 Health & Safety Information:

Proof of vaccination OR a negative COVID-19 PCR test (taken within 72 hours of the event) is required for entrance to Links Hall. Please see our website for additional details about these policies, and ongoing health and safety measures.

Visitors, staff, and artists are still expected to wear masks at all times in public spaces, or when two or more people are gathered.

Learn more about Ragdale here.

Free public program, presented by ComEd!

Join us for the celebration of Holi at Navy Pier, a part of the Global Connections series presented by ComEd, on Saturday, March 19 from 1pm-5pm.

This FREE event, sponsored in part by the Delhi Committee of Chicago Sister Cities, will feature live music, dance and educational programming in the Aon Grand Ballroom, along with the iconic powder throwing and DJs outdoors at Navy Pier’s Beer Garden from 1pm-4pm.

Powder will be available for purchase on-site while supplies last! Enjoy food from Bombay Wraps in the Aon Grand Ballroom as well as beverages that will be available for purchase in multiple locations throughout the event.

• Introduction by Ravi Baichwal from ABC7 News

• Master of Ceremonies – Rahul Sharma from Funkadesi

Performances by:

Funkadesi

Surabhi Ensemble

DJ Krush & DJ Jeet

Natya Dance Theater

Bollywood Groove

Meher Dance Company

Ishti Collective - Performing at 3PM!

Mandala Arts

Chitrahar Cultural Academy