The sound of rhythmic desi beats filled Newcomb Ballroom Saturday night as students gathered for the Pakistani Students’ Association’s third annual Khul Ke Nacho, the organization’s largest event. Khul Ke Nacho is a cherished PSA tradition that invites students from across the University to celebrate Pakistani culture in a vibrant atmosphere.
Sarah Goraya, PSA president and fourth-year College student, talked about how their annual Khul Ke Nacho aims to showcase the Pakistani custom of dance.
“Whenever people think about Pakistani culture, the first thing that comes to mind is usually [that they’re] such hospitable people,” Goraya said. “It feels really good to be able to welcome so many people and share parts of our culture [and just] share the celebration.”
The event — originally called “Desi Dance” and held in collaboration with the Bengali Students Association — was rebranded three years ago as Khul Ke Nacho, a name that translates to “dance your heart out” in Urdu. This new name highlights the significance of dance in Pakistani culture. This year, more than 300 attendees filled the ballroom, up from an average of about 200 attendees over the past three years.
The theme of Saturday’s event was “Under the Stars,” a theme which worked to capture the magic of the evening. “Under the Stars” also alluded to the Pakistani flag, which has a white crescent and a five-pointed star at its center. According to Goraya, months of preparation from PSA’s 13-member executive board was crucial to the success of the event.
“We start from zero every single year,” Goraya said. “I’m impressed and proud of the effort that our team puts in, whether it’s getting the funding, coming up with decor ideas [and] just planning and executing the event.”
At the start of the evening, attendees mingled, enjoyed dinner from Desi Bethak — a Pakistani restaurant in Springfield, Va. — and took photos in front of colorful backdrops. They then enjoyed several pre-rehearsed dance routines, performed by the PSA executive board, PSA members and other CIOs, like the Hindu Student Council.
The MCs introduced the dancers with silly anecdotes and jokes related to Pakistani culture. Many of the performers gave their groups fun names, such as “Bengali Baddies” and “Masala Moves.” This kind of lighthearted energy carried through the performances, setting the stage for performers to dance with enthusiasm and pride. Goraya said that her favorite part of Khul Ke Nacho was seeing the performers dance with confident smiles.
“[During] my first year … [I thought], ‘There’s no way people are gonna choose to learn a dance on their own and then come up in front of 200 strangers,’” Goraya said. “But there were so many, and it’s so much fun to see everyone pull out their chops.”
Zuhayr Khan, Khul Ke Nacho performer and second-year College student, performed in a male-group dance with his friends. He hoped that the audience would be inspired to bring their own confidence to the dance floor after their performance.
“We all came together [to] dance [and] felt confident that we were dancing with each other,” Khan said. “I hope [our performance] inspires [more people] to dance … because it’s a way to express yourself.”
After the choreographed performances, the dance floor opened up to attendees, and the ballroom filled with the energy of hundreds of people on their feet. Whether dancing with a few friends or getting swept into the middle of a dance circle, everyone brought a free-spirited energy to the dance floor. Mariam Shaikh, Khul Ke Nacho performer and second-year College student, said that the open dance floor was her favorite part of the event, as students could let loose in a carefree atmosphere.
“Ninety percent of dancing is just having fun,” Shaikh said. “I just come here to dance and dance my heart out.”
The sea of attendees wearing desi attire and dancing joyfully throughout the night was a reflection of the thriving Pakistani community in and outside of PSA. For Khan, events like Khul Ke Nacho signify that Pakistani students have a home at the University.
“I didn’t expect the Pakistani culture to be this big [here],” Khan said. “It [is] really nice to have Khul Ke Nacho … everyone’s out here dancing [and] enjoying the culture.”
Khul Ke Nacho not only unites the University’s Pakistani community, but it also brings together students from across the University. According to Shaikh, dancing is a way for Pakistani students to connect with each other and others, as the universality of dance allows people to express themselves through movement.
“Everybody dances no matter what,” Shaikh said. “Even if you don’t think you dance well … it’s a human action [used to] express yourself.”
Throughout the evening, attendees of all backgrounds could appreciate Pakistani culture through dance, but also through food, music and traditional attire — a vibrant combination that allowed all students to thoroughly enjoy themselves. Goraya said that she is most proud of how the event has attracted an increasing number of non-Pakistani students since her first year at the University.
“We’re able to do something where [we] bring people from all different cultures all across the University together,” Goraya said. “It’s just a reminder of where a lot of us come from … [and] a way to spend a night celebrating that and sharing [it] with others. I think that’s really powerful.”
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