Minneapolis: A 'desi' cultural hub

The city has a significant number of Indians in this mid-northern portion of US, writes Lalit K Jha in Dakota Diary.

Located on the banks of the historic Mississippi River, the twin cities of Minneapolis and St Paul over the years have emerged as a hub of Indian cultural activities.

It is not that Minneapolis ranks top in the list of maximum number of Indians in any US city. That position continues to be grabbed by other popular metros like New York, New Jersey, Washington, Houston, Chicago and Boston.

The city does have a significant number of Indians in this mid-northern portion of the US and is increasing fast. As per an official estimate about 1,000 immigrants are coming here every year from India. The number of Indians in Minnesota - 85 per cent of whom reside in this city - is estimated to be about 25,000.

However, what has caught the attention of students of diaspora studies and academicians is the "strong foothold" the rich cultural heritage of India has managed to establish in this city.

More significant is the manner in which the Indian diaspora -- through various cultural activities - have made the traditional Indian culture like classical dances popular among the Americans here.

Bollywood does continue to have its share of popularity, but the classical Indian music, dances and other performing arts have created their own niche among the art lovers in this part of the US.

The credit definitely goes to the Indian diaspora here, which has not only maintained and preserved its culture, but has taken a step further. It is not only the Indian Music Society, now celebrating its 25 successful years, but also several other cultural organisations that have played their own part in making Minneapolis a cultural hub of Indian activities.

Founded in 1992 by Ranee Ramaswamy, the Ragamala Music and Dance Theatre has been busy popularising Bharatanatyam. Its vibrant classical work and pioneering cross-cultural collaborations demonstrate to diverse audiences the versatility, depth and also contemporary vitality of Bharatanatyam.

Katha Dance Theatre, founded in 1987 by Rita Mustaphi, is the only professional Kathak dance company in this part of the US that performs traditional Kathak dances as well as innovative dance-poems on contemporary issues and dance-theatre pieces.

As the name itself indicates, the Nrityalaya Dance Academy is performing the tough task of imparting dance classes to the second generation desis and also the Americans. Of late, there is increasing interest - it has four centres now -- among parents and their children towards classical Indian dances.

The couple -- Dipanker Mukerjee and Meena Natarajan -- has had their own significant role in popularising Indian culture through their Pangea World Theatre, set up in 1995. In 2004 it was bestowed with the Asian Pacific Leadership Award for Excellence in the Arts by the Council on Asian-Pacific Minnesotans.

Not to miss is the RGK Dance and Fitness Studio, which imparts dance class. Students here are as young as four years old and as elderly as 75 years. On popular demand, muscle toning on the beat classes has been added for the senior citizens from this year.

One of the late entrant into this area is the Leela Dance Theatre Company by Anu Sharma, choreographer.

The popularity of Indian classical dance and music could be gauged from the fact that the SPICMACAY also has opened its local chapter at the University of Minnesota, where it organises cultural events at regular interval.

The city also has a recording studio, which specialises in recording classical Indian music and dance. The Nine Volt Studio is a hub of such activities.

Providing the role of a local guardian is the Indian Association of Minnesota. In existence since 1973, the Association has played the role of a catalyst and true motivator to all such organisations motivating them to march ahead in their goals.