Get ready for a weekend filled with vibrant music, storytelling and plenty of dancing as Raas Leela: An East Side Story takes the stage at the Long Center.
The Bollywood musical brings together an incredible group of artists for a production featuring 130 performers, nine dance pieces and 12 choreographers, creating a large-scale celebration of dance and culture.
Suhaani Srireddy, actor, Sayeli Sabins, performance team dancer, and Neha Mamabapoor, choreographer and performer, joined We Are Austin to give Sierra Waggoner a special sneak peek at the production and what audiences can expect when they experience it live.
Suhaani Srireddy, actor, Sayeli Sabins, performance team dancer, and Neha Mamabapoor, choreographer and performer, joined We Are Austin to give Sierra Waggoner a special sneak peek at the production and what audiences can expect when they experience it live.
At the heart of Raas Leela: An East Side Story is a Bollywood twist on a classic love story.
“Leela is kind of a Romeo Juliet remake, but with a bit of a Bollywood twist on it,” the group explained. “So it follows the two main characters, Ram and Leela, and their love story. But there’s a lot of drama and family opposition, so be expecting a lot of dance and drama.”
The production features more than 130 performers, 20 crew members and a variety of dance styles.
Suhaani Srireddy, actor, Sayeli Sabins, performance team dancer, and Neha Mamabapoor, choreographer and performer, joined We Are Austin to give Sierra Waggoner a special sneak peek at the production and what audiences can expect when they experience it live.IMG_5932.JPG
“We’re doing jazz, we’re doing hip hop, Bollywood, heels, Indian classical styles like Kathak and Odissi,” the performers said.
For audiences who may be new to Bollywood musicals, the production offers an energetic experience filled with colorful choreography, music and storytelling. Rather than simply using dance as an entertaining addition, movement plays an important role in telling the story and bringing the characters and world of the show to life.
“Leela is kind of a Romeo Juliet remake, but with a bit of a Bollywood twist on it,” the group explained. “So it follows the two main characters, Ram and Leela, and their love story. But there’s a lot of drama and family opposition, so be expecting a lot of dance and drama.”
Suhaani Srireddy takes on the role of Leela, the female lead. Her connection to the production and Agni Dance Company goes back nearly a decade.
“I’ve been involved with Agni for around ten years now. I used to do their little dance classes as a kid, and then I joined their performance team,” Srireddy said. “And I got to perform and do workshops with them. And then I also started teaching with them.”
“I’ve been involved with Agni for around ten years now. I used to do their little dance classes as a kid, and then I joined their performance team,” Srireddy said. “And I got to perform and do workshops with them. And then I also started teaching with them.”
More recently, she has been involved with Agni Cutthroat, which she described as the storytelling branch of Agni Dance Company. Through that work, she has been able to explore both performing and the behind-the-scenes side of production.
“And with that, I did a lot of not only performing, but behind the scenes as like marketing and backstage work,” she said.
That experience made taking on the starring role even more meaningful.
“So when they offered me the opportunity, I was really grateful because I know how much of an amazing team they are,” Srireddy said. “And so I’m super grateful to the dance company that is amazing and to be the star role, but also have worn all the hats to know everything that goes into it. It’s a different type of appreciation.”
Behind the scenes, Neha Mamabapoor is helping bring the production’s choreography to life. With such a large cast and multiple dance pieces, choreographing the show has been an enormous undertaking.
“I’m choreographing the body heels piece and it’s been a whirlwind for sure,” Mamabapoor said. “But it’s like beautiful chaos, you know, being able to be a choreographer but also a performer. I think you get to see different elements.”
“I’m choreographing the body heels piece and it’s been a whirlwind for sure,” Mamabapoor said. “But it’s like beautiful chaos, you know, being able to be a choreographer but also a performer. I think you get to see different elements.”
And while the performances are at the center of the production, the cast says the community they’ve built throughout the process has become just as meaningful.
For Mamabapoor, the experience has been about more than just putting choreography together. It’s also about creativity, collaboration and building relationships with the people involved.
“And it just like I’m really grateful to be here, but also within like creativity and getting to know everyone. It’s like everyone’s working towards the same thing,” she said.
While the process has certainly come with its challenges, Mamabapoor said the cast has created something special together.
For one performer, the favorite part of putting the show together has been getting to work alongside so many different people and communities.
“Yeah, it’s not easy at all. And there have been ups and downs, but it’s like amazing. Yeah, it’s family and it’s like lit. So it’s, yeah, it’s a good time.”
That sense of family is something the performers hope audiences will feel when they see the show.
One of the biggest takeaways, they said, is the incredible amount of thought and work that goes into every detail of the production — even the details audiences may not immediately notice.
“Well, I hope they take away the amount of hard work that we put into it. The amount of energy and thought that goes into every single detail from like, what color to paint the sets from. Should we drape our costumes to the left or to the right because it has a different symbolic meaning?”
“ Every single thing that we have put into it has really been like a part of our heart and soul. So I hope that all of that comes through and kind of we build a good homage to Indian storytelling, which is a huge part of our culture.”
Dance itself is another major storytelling tool throughout the production. The performers say movement helps amplify the emotions and themes that are already being communicated through the characters and dialogue.
“As I said earlier, everyone is working together, right? So it amplifies like language and self-expression,” one performer explained. “And so like acting and dancing, they all like, merged together. And it makes like it adds for sure.”
During the We Are Austin segment, the guests even gave viewers a taste of that storytelling through a live dance demonstration, teaching Sierra Waggoner a simple move known as “row the boat.”
During the We Are Austin segment, the guests even gave viewers a taste of that storytelling through a live dance demonstration, teaching Sierra Waggoner a simple move known as “row the boat.”
And while the performances are at the center of the production, the cast says the community they’ve built throughout the process has become just as meaningful.
For one performer, the favorite part of putting the show together has been getting to work alongside so many different people and communities.
“For me, I would say is just getting to work with such an amazing group of people,” she said. “We have so many different communities coming together, all working towards the common goal. And between late night rehearsals and long practices, it’s really each other, what you know, that’s what gets us through it.”
She said having such a supportive cast has made the experience even more rewarding.
“And having such a supportive and uplifting cast and performers. I just love getting to meet everyone and they really inspired me to grow.”
Sayeli Sabins agreed that the community is one of the most special parts of the experience.
“And having such a supportive and uplifting cast and performers. I just love getting to meet everyone and they really inspired me to grow.”
“The community for sure,” Sabins said. “I think everyone on this team is authentic and not afraid to express how they feel, so it’s very inspiring to be around.”
For another performer, the experience has been especially meaningful after recently moving to Austin.
“I just moved to Austin, just like almost exactly to the day a year ago,” she said. “So I came in being like, I don’t know how to make friends and like, how do we make friends when we’re not in kindergarten?”
She quickly found her answer through the production.
“And this was it for me and I didn’t. I walked in hoping to make friends, and I walked out making a family,” she said. “And I, like, couldn’t have expected or couldn’t have hoped for anything better.”
With 130 performers, nine dance pieces and 12 choreographers, Raas Leela: An East Side Story offers audiences a chance to experience the many ways dance can tell a story while celebrating community, culture and connection.
The production is taking the stage at the Long Center for one night only on Saturday, August 22, at 7:30 p.m., giving Austin audiences a limited opportunity to experience the Bollywood musical live.
For tickets and more information, visit agniartsfoundation.org!
For tickets and more information, visit agniartsfoundation.org!
After months of rehearsals, choreography and collaboration, the cast is ready to finally bring Raas Leela: An East Side Story to the stage — and they’re hoping audiences will come ready to experience the energy, emotion and heart they’ve poured into the production.
And, of course, maybe even learn a few moves along the way.