Divya Maiya: Front and Center

Over the centuries, The Banyan tree has taken on significance as a symbol of fertility, life and resurrection. It is a fitting symbol for ‘DesiStoriesAshaUSA’ which presents the stories of South Asians who have wandered far and wide from their ancestral homes, traversing new frontiers and setting down roots and networks in the US. Our goal is to connect and establish closer ties within the diasporas of the South Asian community and facilitate a dialogue with our readers. We will showcase stories of achievement and success and also resiliency and hope.

Our story today features Divya Maiya, co-founder and CEO of SAATH (South Asian Arts and Theater House). Divya has brought positive attention to Minnesota’s vibrant Indian community by using Bollywood dance to connect people, and raise awareness for social causes.

Divya grew up in Bangalore, dancing recreationally as a child, and transitioned to exploring different forms of dance once she was in college. Grad School brought her to the US in 2009, and while at the University of Wisconsin, Madison she competed nationally on a college dance team. She moved to Minneapolis two years later to join her husband, and while her day job at Best Buy utilizes her technical skills, her passion for dance has moved to center stage.

Divya glows when she is noticed, when her dances causes disruption and flurry, always clad in vibrant and colorful costumes.

Divya uses dance deliberately to create her own community. In 2012, Divya and two friends approached Tapestry Folk dance center about offering a weekly ‘drop-in’ class: ‘Bollywood Dance Scene’, which soon became the most popular offering at Tapestry. The group started performing around town, and charged a small fee to cover expenses for their weekly dance programs. Dance sessions were devoted to one routine, from introduction to performance, and open to both beginners and dancers at all skill levels, offering a new experience at each session.

As Divya says “Bollywood dance is inspired by various dance forms like classical, folk, as well as street dances. So it’s a huge mash-up of those forms along with hip-hop, belly dancing and jazz. People of all age groups can dance together. It is over the top ridiculous, and you need that to forget all the serious and grim happenings in your life. It is loud and colorful; just what Minnesota needs especially in winters”.

Since its founding, Bollywood dance scene has strived to advance cultural and social understanding. Divya has organized dance flash mobs in celebration of India’s Independence Day and on the frozen Minnesota lakes. Divya and her friends gathered on a pristine white field, pouring their hearts into dance, drawing attention to the beauty of a cold February day in Minnesota. As Divya recalls, “It was a very beautiful day, and many people showed up.” With the combination of vibrant color and loud, pulsating music, the dancer’s storytelling captured the passers-by.

The company’s mission is to bring awareness to social causes through dance, and have organized the ‘One Billion Rising to End Violence Against Women’ event to end violence against women and girls.
They have also partnered with ‘Out in The Backyard’, a group that helps the LGBTQ community to counter isolation. This resulted in a bi-weekly program teaching Bollywood dance to promote health and wellness for the LGBTQ community, and bridge the gap between community and non-community members.
Their latest production in September 2023, ‘AKS – Acceptance, Kindness, Support’ was about ‘reflection’, a show about self-discovery and resilience, continuing to support the LGBTQ community. A diverse cast of 70+ people presented a 3-act story to celebrate trans joy – the delight of living authentically.

Bollywood Dance Scene has evolved and is now known as ‘South Asian Arts and Theater House’, or SAATH, which means ‘togetherness’ or ‘companionship’ in Hindi and other Indian languages. Divya says she wanted a company that would be welcoming to all. “You find fewer opportunities for adults to perform, and this type of dance is energizing”; her goal is to provide a “center place” where a diverse group of amateur dancers can enjoy themselves and let loose their creativity.

Since it’s founding, SAATH has put on shows at the Minnesota Fringe Festival where they were the top selling show in 2014, 2015 and 2016 before starting their own festival ‘MinneUtsav’. We’ve done this on a shoestring,” says Divya. “From tech to songs, it just kind of flowed.” 
These shows are available for viewing on the SAATH website at https://SAATHmn.org

‘Hi Hello Namaste’ in 2014 on following your dreams;

‘Spicy Masala Chai’ in 2015 on the issues of love in all forms including LGBTQ relationships ;

‘Bezubaan: The Voiceless’ in 2016 on the issue of Islamophobia;

‘Love You Zindagi’ in 2017 on the issue of mental awareness especially in the South Indian Community;

‘The land of Maaya’ in 2018 on the issues of disability and ableism;

‘Home Sweet Ghar’ in 2019 on the issue of home and creating a home after moving to a new country;

Desi Heart Crust’ exploring the relationship of a black and Indian couple through the lens of race, culture and activism.

“I’m all about bringing people together,” Divya passionately states, “and dance is one way I know how to do that.” 

SAATH has continued to teach dance since 2012, and the joy that Bollywood dancing elicits draws the wider public to her weekly ‘drop-in’ dance classes held on Thursday nights. They are inclusive, and welcome folks of every gender, identity and race. There are returning dancers who know each other, the music, and the dance moves well, and newcomers who are made to feel a core part of the group On average, there are 25 attendees who exuberantly respond to the vibrant music and choreography of the South Asian continent. Divya draws from a pool of about 20 choreographers who keep the classes fresh using different styles, language, dance movements and music.

At her classes, Divya’s sparkle shines through her exertions, and her spirited assessment, that SAATH and performance is “less about the audience, and more about the people in the community of dance, and the classes” is on the mark!.

The social ecosystem Divya wanted to build for herself and for her community through dance, is alive and well! And that, she says, “feels like home.” 

Divya’s love of adventure combined with her desire to constantly do something unique has resulted in a broad social media following. Her exploits of sking in a ‘sari’ have gained her positive notoriety. After practicing the sport not just in a sari, but also skirts, suits and lehengas, she has become a mini celebrity on the internet with many of her videos going viral and garnering millions of viewers.
And they also have another purpose close to Divya’s heart, “I see these videos being extremely empowering for myself and a lot of women”. She also finds it “liberating” to see that people were motivated by witnessing a brown woman participating in sports, wearing a non traditional outfit like a sari.

Divya’s skiing in a sari is captured in a short video through the You Tube link: https://youtu.be/ytCyQ4mTTpM?si=TEL5h9wY-w5JweYm

Divya aptly captures who she is, “As a sportswoman and a dancer performer, this feels like these two worlds were coming together. This combination of adrenaline and pride is what I thrive on”.

Divya’s own words sum her up perfectly: “I’m a very confident person. I don’t have inhibitions. [When I was little], they kept putting me in the back row, or gave me boy’s parts because I had short hair. I’m not doing that. I’m not staying in the corner. I want to be front and center”.

Featured Photo Courtesy:Pollen

DISCUSSION : Our goal is to start a dialogue through the stories we present here. Please send us your comments, either by posting a comment at the bottom of this blog, and/or sending an email to ’ashausastories@gmail.com’.

AshaUSA’s mission is to provide culturally specific programs to the South Asian community to foster health and harmony in their lives. Please visit our website ‘ashausa.org’ for more information on our programs, volunteer opportunities and resources.