Raj Pravinbhai Bhakta, an alumni of The University of Texas-Austin, completed his undergrad with a B.S. in Physics, with a concentration in Radiation Physics, Nuclear Engineering, and Philosophy of Physics. He is currently a first-year graduate student at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, NC. At NCSU, he is in Nuclear Engineering but is actively trying to switch to Materials Science and Engineering. This change reflects his interest in research. After he graduates, he wants to pursue a career in technology entrepreneurship because start-ups really excite him and that’s where he believes his skill-set and interests overlap. He hopes to launch a high-tech start-up after he graduates or works at one. He says, "Start-ups are very much like running a competitive dance team; as you’re constantly trying to fundraise, try new dance concepts (R&D), and polish your dance routine (product), so that it appeals to the judges and audience (market), while meeting like-minded people and being a part of a small-knit and innovative community."
The Desi Dance Network has made some great accomplishments. It has helped to connect dancers across North America and create a sub-culture of compassion, camaraderie, and an active community and platform for like-minded dancers to discuss, be critical, and innovate. The cross-pollination of ideas has accelerated the innovation of the circuit and there are so many teams taking risks and innovating. There is also a lot of great sharing of cultures with non-south-asian people coming into the circuit bringing their own twist to the definition of bollywood-fusion. It is interesting to see the transformation happening before our eyes.
The circuit has changed a lot over the past 10 years. It is as connected as it ever was and dance competitions are more like five-star resort experiences compared to what they were half a decade ago (close enough when you’re a broke undergrad haha). However, go to any dance competition and after the judging results are announced there will be a flurry of differing opinions from audience members, dancers, and even judges as to who should have placed or won. This is a natural reaction and being critical is what progresses the dance community as it allows us all to think independently. I know I used to do this all the time and still do because being a dance-nerd, I always like to ask why a team placed or won and how...
