About the Work

“Baraat” is a new work of dance, music, and theater by New York-based Rovaco Dance Company. It scrutinizes the institution of marriage in India through a queer and inclusive lens.

At the heart of the work is the tradition of 'Baraat,' a centuries-old ritual that celebrates the groom's arrival at Hindu weddings. Rovaco's interpretation fuses dance styles of Bollywood and Bhangra, a staple of the Baraat ceremony, with virtuosic contemporary movement and queer expression. The creative process features five performers -- Devika Chandnani, Siddharth Dutta, Karma Chuki, Isabele Rosso, and Nico Gonzales -- working collaboratively with choreographer Rohan Bhargava.

Musically, Rovaco’s resident composer Saúl Guanipa employs the captivating rhythm of the 'dhol,’ a traditional drum instrument synonymous with the ‘Baraat.’ He additionally fuses influences from Indian cinema and TV-sitcoms with religious and traditional sounds to create a culturally rich electronic soundscape.

Theatrically, the focus is on ‘Nukkad Natak,’ a style of Indian street-theater, rooted in social activism. Choreographer Rohan Bhargava is working with dramaturg Mahima Saigal, to co-write a script in Hinglish, a blend of slang Hindi and British English. The narrative takes a lighthearted, satirical approach reminiscent of Bollywood and Indian-TV style drama. It ironically mimics how sexism, colorism, casteism and classism is often ridiculed and downplayed in South Asian society.

About the Presentation

Baraat will premiere at Rovaco's signature annual event, Rovaco Dance Party, in Brooklyn, NY. This intimate evening of dance, live music, and cultural exchange aims to increase appreciation for contemporary performing arts. Rovaco Dance Party commences with an informal social mixer with complementary Indian snacks and drinks. The performances are emceed by Rohan Bhargava featuring dance pieces and guest music acts. The event culminates with a DJ'd dance party where boundaries between audience members and performers vanish and all move together in community.

Rovaco Dance Party takes place on Saturday, October 5th at 5pm! Buy tickets HERE

What Your Funds Will Support

Your donation will help cover the following productions costs:

Theater Rental - $2,000
Composer Commission - $1,000
Studio Space Rental - $750
Dancer Performance Fees - $750
Photography & Videography - $500

Note: Exceeding our fundraising goal will help us refine and expand this work in 2025 and beyond! Other expenses such as dancer rehearsal fees, production staff cost, food & decor for the final performance, etc. are being covered from funding provided by Brooklyn Arts Council, NYU Production Lab, and The Danse Mirage Foundation, Inc.

About the Company, Rovaco Dance

Rovaco Dance Company was founded in New York City in 2015 by Artistic Director Rohan Bhargava. Over the years, the company has produced a unique form of narrative dance-theater, which blends floorwork, ballet, bollywood, street jazz, bhangra, and contemporary partnering into one fluid whole, in multimedia collaboration with designers and composers.

In the past, Rovaco's work has found thematic context in the power dynamics of relationships, sex and addiction under capitalism, as well as the queer experiences of each. More recently, the company has dived into narratives of cultural representation and exchange with a focus on the Indian sub-continent. This dissecting and celebrating of Indian culture intends to create a safe space for contemporary Indian artists to explore their identities and artistic voices.

In 2021, Rovaco presented work at Little Island NYC and Battery Dance Festival, and was named one of Dance Magazine’s “25 to Watch 2021.” Rovaco has received annual funding from Brooklyn Arts Council from 2021-2024. It was awarded the Dance Advancement Fund 2022-23 grant from Dance/NYC, and the Choreography Pilot Program 2024 from the Danse Mirage Foundation, Inc.

Meet Choreographer, Rohan Bhargava

Rohan Bhargava, born and raised in New Delhi, India, began dancing at The Danceworx Academy for the Performing Arts. In 2012, he relocated to New York to pursue his BFA in Dance from Tisch School of the Arts, NYU. Bhargava founded Rovaco Dance Company in 2015 and has received commissions from The Dance Gallery Festival, Sam Houston State University, Jamaica Center for Arts & Learning, and Rhythmically Speaking Minnesota. In 2019, he completed a two-year residency through the CUNY Dance Initiative at LaGuardia Performing Arts Center, and he was awarded the 2020 Jadin Wong Fellowship in Dance through the Asian American Arts Alliance. Bhargava is a recipient of the Artist Development Program for Dance 2024 of NYU Production Lab, and he currently works for Kizuna Dance, Studio Susan Marshall, Notes in Motion Outreach Dance Theater, and Mare Nostrum Elements.

Meet Performer, Nico Gonzales

Nico Gonzales, a Colorado native, received his BFA in Dance from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. In addition to being a founding member of Rovaco Dance, he has performed with Studio Susan Marshall, Bryn Cohn + Artists, Christina Noel and the Creature, Heidi Latsky Dance, Periapsis Music/Dance and HOLDTIGHT Company. Nico completed his Pilates Training from The Kane School and teaches at April Nicole Studios as well as in his own virtual/in-home private practice.

Meet Performer, Devika Chandnani

Devika Chandnani is a performing artist from Mumbai, India. She graduated from Ailey/Fordham's BFA in Dance program in 2019 and received her MS in Data Science from Fordham University in 2023. In addition to performing with Rovaco, Devika is a company member with Third Rail Projects, creators of site-specific, immersive, and experiential performances, and she works for the Finance Team at MCC Theater.

Meet Performer, Siddharth Dutta

Siddharth Dutta, born in New Delhi, India, is an architect turned dancer. He graduated in contemporary dance from Attakkalari Centre for Movement Arts (Bangalore) and completed a one-year International Study Program at Peridance Capezio Center. Siddharth is currently pursuing his MFA in Scenic Design at NYU's Tisch School of the arts.

Meet Performer, Karma Chuki

Karma Chuki, born and brought up in Thimphu, Bhutan, is a versatile independent dancer in NYC. She dances with Rovaco, and is an assistant to Brice Mousset/Oui Danse. Recently she has joined HT Chen & Dancers. Karma has trained at The Danceworx Academy for the Performing Arts and toured nationally and internationally with Navdhara India Dance Theatre since 2013.

Meet Performer, Isabele Rosso

Isabele Rosso is a versatile dance artist and an interdisciplinary movement educator, born and raised in Brazil. She has worked as a professional dancer and choreographer with Nimbus Dance Company, and is currently a member of Kizuna Dance, Rovaco Dance, rogue wave, and Culpdid in NYC. She is also the founder of Humma, a movement platform for building connection and self-awareness.

Meet Composer, Saúl Guanipa

Saúl Guanipa, Rovaco's in-house composer, is a Venezuelan, Austin-based producer and composer and a Berklee College of Music graduate. His music has been used in film trailers, commercial advertising, and TV promos for HBO, Showtime, Netflix, ABC, and CNN. Saúl is a staff composer at VideoHelper Music and Sound Design Library.

Meet Dramaturg & Script Writer, Mahima Saigal

Mahima Saigal is an award-winning actor, choreographer, writer, and educator from New Delhi, India, with a Bachelor's in History and over 10 years of street theatre experience. She creates work that reveals the magic of storytelling, spreading beauty and understanding, and awakening audiences to the wonder of the human spirit.

About Mare Nostrum Elements

Mare Nostrum Elements (MNE) is a non-profit arts organization based in Queens, NY. Each year, MNE produces the Emerging Choreographer Series, an intensive crash-course in self-producing; offering rehearsal space, compensation, career development consultations, and professional mentorship to selected choreographers.

Rohan Bhargava currently works as the Program Coordinator of the Emerging Choreographer Series (ECS). He was a participant of the ECS program in 2016. MNE is supporting the crowdfunding campaign of "Baraat" by collecting tax-exempt donations on behalf of Rovaco through its Givebutter platform.

Mare Nostrum Elements, Inc. is a not-for-profit, tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) organization. All contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

"Baraat" by Rovaco Dance Company

By Mare Nostrum Elements, INC

"Baraat" by Rovaco Dance Company

Conceived and Produced by Rohan Bhargava & Collaborators