A local Indian Dance group has put fun twists on the latest social media trends to showcase classical Indian Dance. With energetic reels dancing to the likes of Shakira’s ‘Waka Waka’ as well as a classical Indian version of Ed Shereen’s ‘Shape of You’.
The Mitra Tribe began as a simple idea by Roja Erukulla and Smruthi Manikireddy, a group of friends coming together once a week to dance, laugh, and lift each other up. Their casual meetups inspired by dance quickly turned into something more meaningful. It became a creative outlet for members, where they could find their flow and express themselves through dance.
“With each session, the energy grew, we had fun doing the performances and reels on Instagram in our gardens, inspired by our shared love for fusion dance and connection with our cultural roots. Viva Slough recognised this talent. Vineet and Jho coordinated with us to take it a step further by offering a venue to practice.” – Smruthi
The group became part of the Rhyzome Creative Network, an initiative by Viva Slough to connect and support local self-led creative groups, giving them the means to grow and establish themselves.
The group started to grow, with more people wanting to join the sessions, and they successfully launched a semi-classical dance workshop. The 4-week workshop helped people go from taking their first steps to building their confidence and sparking joy.
The Mitra Tribe has become a group that isn’t just about dancing but a place where people show up for themselves and each other.
