
Pamela Singh dances in Karma, A Bollywood Circus. The show was in August 2024 at the Luminary Arts Center and had no dialogue. Stories were told through aerial acts and Bollywood dance routines set to music. This scene was set to Navarasam by Thaikkudam Bridge, Vipin Lal and Dhanya Suresh Menon. Photos: Vishwanath Somashekhar
Edina couple’s art house celebrates a decade of fostering connection, culture and shared understanding.
As the energetic beats of the Bollywood song Ghani Bawri begin to fill an industrial dance space in Minneapolis’s Seward neighborhood, arms and legs suddenly strike out in all directions. Nearly three dozen men and women have shown up to the South Asian Arts & Theater House (SAATH) drop-in dance class on a Thursday evening to learn choreography from instructors Anjali Gopal and Divya Maiya. Step by step, the two women slowly piece together the 45-second routine for the class. Eagle eyes study their every move, eager for the chance to give it a try and as the music starts up again, a chorus of squeaks echoes throughout the space as tennis shoes bounce and stomp and kick against the rubber floor. Ninety minutes later, smiles, high fives and hugs are exchanged as the class comes to a close.
For Maiya, the drop-in dance class is a good representation of everything SAATH is trying to accomplish. “It’s about bringing people together and giving them an opportunity to be in a non-judgmental space,” she says.
Creating a Community
Maiya started SAATH in 2013, shortly after moving to Minnesota. “I was trying to find a community here,” she says. After some searching, Maiya realized that what she was looking for—essentially a community-focused group for creative types of South Asian descent—didn’t really exist in the Twin Cities, so the Edina resident set out to create it herself. “I thought, ‘What can I do?’” The answer came in the form of dance. “I love dancing,” she says. Maiya started teaching dance classes at Tapestry Dance Center, and as students returned week after week, a community began to form. In 2014, SAATH became an official non-profit organization as Bollywood Dance Scene, but after a few years of growth, it became clear that the name wouldn’t adequately encompass all the group wanted to do. “We do a lot more than dance,” Maiya says. “Bollywood is just a small piece of it. It doesn’t fully represent our community.” So, in 2018, Bollywood Dance Scene underwent a natural rebranding and became SAATH, opening the doors to all sorts of creative endeavors from theater and improv to writing and film making.

Madhu Bangalore (front row center) and Divya Maiya (front row, right) pose with SAATH members after a dance rehearsal.
“SAATH has become a community of open-minded, welcoming individuals who are artistically driven but more importantly want to create a safe space for everybody,” says Madhu Bangalore, Maiya’s husband. “The expansion of the community to be a place where every person can be themselves and find the support that they need is truly heartwarming to watch.”
Finding a Home
Gautham Vijayasankar Raja joined SAATH in 2017. “I came in first to check out their dance classes but stayed for the people and the vibrant community,” Raja says. He wanted to participate in the Hot Indian Dance Off, a competition held every year at the Mall of America. He needed a dance partner and asked Maiya for help. She partnered him with Amanda Lube.
“I showed up to auditions, knowing nothing about the group or South Asian dance styles. It was during a period of my life where I needed a change and was pursuing things I had always wanted to do. One of those things was to be part of a dance group,” Lube says. She didn’t expect that her dance partner would also become her life partner. “In 2022, some of the SAATH folks went on a ski trip, and we were invited,” Raja says. “Little did we know, they had planned a surprise party to celebrate our marriage. Every time I think about it, it warms my heart.”
For Swetha Subramanian, joining SAATH in 2023 helped her find her footing in Minnesota. “It became my bridge to a vibrant community, introducing me to people who not only shared my passions but also embraced me wholeheartedly,” Subramanian says. “What started as a way to meet people has now become family—one that uplifts, inspires and makes Minnesota truly feel like home.”
She now serves as the organization’s artistic administrator and social media manager, roles that she says helps to “create the same transformative experiences that shaped my journey.”
Putting on a Show
Every year, SAATH puts on a major theatrical show, tackling social topics considered somewhat taboo in the South Asian community. To date, they have addressed sexuality, trans rights, interracial marriage and, most recently, neurodiversity, always endeavoring to authentically cast people with experiences relevant to the show. “That’s how we’re raising the bar,” Maiya says.
Nishanth Peters is one of SAATH’s newest members, joining the organization last year to be a part of Karma, A Bollywood Circus. As a neurodivergent himself, being a part of a show about neurodivergence meant a lot to Peters. “When I met with Divya and Madhu, I was immediately struck with how inclusive and creative they were, and that they were willing to take a gamble on someone with autism,” he says. “The people in SAATH are eager to learn about neurodivergence in particular, and other, broader issues in general.” Though the experience was not without its personal challenges for Peters, he says the show was “one of the defining moments of my life and my theater career.”

Karma, A Bollywood Circus, was a collaboration between SAATH and The Queer Circus. This photo is from was one of the aerial acts performed by Midnight Waterfairy. It was set to the song Euphoria by Loreen. The whole routine was done without a safety net and required a considerable amount of strength and agility.
Himali Patel was also cast in Karma, A Bollywood Circus alongside her son. “It was life-changing,” Patel says. “It gave my son and myself an opportunity to strengthen our relationship and develop a special bond.” She became aware of SAATH the year before while watching a friend perform at the 2023 show AKS: Acceptance. Kindness. Support. “While in the audience I wondered why I wasn’t on stage performing. I followed them on Instagram, and now I’ll follow them through life.”

From the show AKS: Acceptance. Kindness. Support. Aks is also Hindi for “reflection.”
This summer’s show is called 2 Suit Cases and runs at the Luminary Arts Center from July 11–19. “This year, our story is of divorce and separation of South Asian immigrants and the impact on their immigration status,” Maiya says. In the past, shows have played to sold out audiences, including at the Minnesota Fringe Festival.
Keeping the Momentum
SAATH’s biggest goal for the future is to find a permanent space of its own. “It’s such a struggle to find space to rent,” Maiya says. The group has raised $15,000 to date toward the dream of having a dedicated long-term studio space to create and expand programming. As it continues to work toward its goal, the group keeps expanding its offerings, giving its members a chance to flex their creative muscles while continuing to build their community.
“SAATH offers endless opportunities to connect, grow and explore,” Subramanian says. From performances and theater to outdoor adventures, book clubs and career networking, SAATH brings people together in meaningful ways.” It’s an inclusive space where stories, identities, and cultures come alive. “SAATH is a place that is welcoming to all, and that will be immediately apparent the moment you walk into a dance class, let alone join the group itself,” Peters says.
But perhaps Patel sums up the appeal of SAATH best. “It’s a community that nurtures your soul.”
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