Dance

Creator: Bodalia, Chandra

Photograph of Scheherazaad Cooper performing Odissi at a charity event hosted by the United Way British Columbia (then United Way of Lower Mainland), and hosted at one of the Ismaili jamatkhanas in Lower Mainland, B.C.

Scheherazaad Cooper is a performer, choreographer, playwright, and dramaturg with over thirty years of experience as an Odissi classical Indian dancer. Her resume is extensive, highlighting a background in theatre, international performances, interdisciplinary collaborations, solo productions, as well as teaching in higher education. She received her PhD in Sociology and Performance from Goldsmith University of London. In 2022, she showcased a dramatic reading for her play, "The Bibliomancer." She has also published her academic work, including a journal article entitled, "The Alchemy of Rasa in the Performer–Spectator Interaction."

Odissi is a classical Indian dance style which originates from the eastern state of Odisha, India. It is one of eight classical dance forms in India. Since the 12th century, odissi has been danced by maharis (people devoted to the dance) in temples. Odissi expresses traditional poetry and songs through movements. Many of the poems performed through Odissi come from the Sanskrit collection of romantic poetry, Gita Govinda, written by Jayadeva Goswami.

United Way British Columbia (United Way BC) is a unified provincial organization with the mission to strengthen vital connections that support people in need in their local communities. Their vision is of creating and supporting a healthy, caring, and inclusive community. United Way BC undertakes many initiatives, such as maintaining a BC wildfire recovery fund, a BC flood response campaign, a campaign for Ukraine, and support for those vulnerable due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jamatkhanas, meaning "the house of the community," is a place of gathering and worship for Ismaili muslims. In jamatkhanas, the values of the Islamic faith are put into practice, including humility, generosity, kindness, compassion, pluralism, search for knowledge, and service to others.

Creator: Bodalia, Chandra

Photograph of Scheherazaad Cooper performing Odissi at a charity event hosted by the United Way British Columbia (then United Way of Lower Mainland), and hosted at one of the Ismaili jamatkhanas in Lower Mainland, B.C.

Scheherazaad Cooper is a performer, choreographer, playwright, and dramaturg with over thirty years of experience as an Odissi classical Indian dancer. Her resume is extensive, highlighting a background in theatre, international performances, interdisciplinary collaborations, solo productions, as well as teaching in higher education. She received her PhD in Sociology and Performance from Goldsmith University of London. In 2022, she showcased a dramatic reading for her play, "The Bibliomancer." She has also published her academic work, including a journal article entitled, "The Alchemy of Rasa in the Performer–Spectator Interaction."

Odissi is a classical Indian dance style which originates from the eastern state of Odisha, India. It is one of eight classical dance forms in India. Since the 12th century, odissi has been danced by maharis (people devoted to the dance) in temples. Odissi expresses traditional poetry and songs through movements. Many of the poems performed through Odissi come from the Sanskrit collection of romantic poetry, Gita Govinda, written by Jayadeva Goswami.

United Way British Columbia (United Way BC) is a unified provincial organization with the mission to strengthen vital connections that support people in need in their local communities. Their vision is of creating and supporting a healthy, caring, and inclusive community. United Way BC undertakes many initiatives, such as maintaining a BC wildfire recovery fund, a BC flood response campaign, a campaign for Ukraine, and support for those vulnerable due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jamatkhanas, meaning "the house of the community," is a place of gathering and worship for Ismaili muslims. In jamatkhanas, the values of the Islamic faith are put into practice, including humility, generosity, kindness, compassion, pluralism, search for knowledge, and service to others.

Creator: Bodalia, Chandra

Photograph of two unidentified women performing a small dance at an event entitled "Mehfil '02" organized by the UBC Indian Students' Association (UTSAV), and held at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, B.C.

The UBC Indian Students' Association (UTSAV) was incepted in 1980 and is the largest student-run club at the Alma Mater Society of UBC. Their vision is to provide a "home away from home" by helping students embrace South Asian culture. They have held events in celebration of Diwali and Holi.

Established in 1915, the University of British Columbia consists of two campuses: one is situated within the ancestral and unceded territory of the Musqueam people, also known as Vancouver, B.C., and the other is on the traditional, ancestral, unceded territory of the Syilx Okanagan Nation and their peoples, also known as Kelowna, B.C. As of 2025, UBC is ranked second and third in Canada, and 38th, 41st, and 53rd in the world.

Creator: Bodalia, Chandra

Photograph of two unidentified women performing a small dance at an event entitled "Mehfil '02" organized by the UBC Indian Students' Association (UTSAV), and held at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, B.C.

The UBC Indian Students' Association (UTSAV) was incepted in 1980 and is the largest student-run club at the Alma Mater Society of UBC. Their vision is to provide a "home away from home" by helping students embrace South Asian culture. They have held events in celebration of Diwali and Holi.

Established in 1915, the University of British Columbia consists of two campuses: one is situated within the ancestral and unceded territory of the Musqueam people, also known as Vancouver, B.C., and the other is on the traditional, ancestral, unceded territory of the Syilx Okanagan Nation and their peoples, also known as Kelowna, B.C. As of 2025, UBC is ranked second and third in Canada, and 38th, 41st, and 53rd in the world.

Creator: Bodalia, Chandra

Photograph of a young girl dancing in cultural attire at an event entitled "Mehfil '02" organized by the UBC Indian Students' Association (UTSAV), and held at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, B.C.

The UBC Indian Students' Association (UTSAV) was incepted in 1980 and is the largest student-run club at the Alma Mater Society of UBC. Their vision is to provide a "home away from home" by helping students embrace South Asian culture. They have held events in celebration of Diwali and Holi.

Established in 1915, the University of British Columbia consists of two campuses: one is situated within the ancestral and unceded territory of the Musqueam people, also known as Vancouver, B.C., and the other is on the traditional, ancestral, unceded territory of the Syilx Okanagan Nation and their peoples, also known as Kelowna, B.C. As of 2025, UBC is ranked second and third in Canada, and 38th, 41st, and 53rd in the world.

Creator: Bodalia, Chandra

Photograph of dandiya raas performance at an event organized by the Gujarati Society of British Columbia at the Orpheum in Vancouver, B.C.

Founded in 1969, the Gujarati Society of British Columbia is a non-profit, charitable organization dedicated to fostering community spirit by connecting and supporting both youth and seniors through events and activities, such as Diwali celebrations, Navratri festivals, and bhajans.

Constructed in 1927, the Orpheum is one of the Vancouver Civic Theatres. It is the home of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and hosts performances by some of the city's finest choirs, as well as performing artists visiting from around the world.

Creator: Bodalia, Chandra

Photograph of a dance performance at an event organized by the Gujarati Society of British Columbia at the Orpheum in Vancouver, B.C.

Founded in 1969, the Gujarati Society of British Columbia is a non-profit, charitable organization dedicated to fostering community spirit by connecting and supporting both youth and seniors through events and activities, such as Diwali celebrations, Navratri festivals, and bhajans.

Constructed in 1927, the Orpheum is one of the Vancouver Civic Theatres. It is the home of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and hosts performances by some of the city's finest choirs, as well as performing artists visiting from around the world.

Creator: Bodalia, Chandra

Photograph of a dance performance at an event organized by the Gujarati Society of British Columbia at the Orpheum in Vancouver, B.C.

Founded in 1969, the Gujarati Society of British Columbia is a non-profit, charitable organization dedicated to fostering community spirit by connecting and supporting both youth and seniors through events and activities, such as Diwali celebrations, Navratri festivals, and bhajans.

Constructed in 1927, the Orpheum is one of the Vancouver Civic Theatres. It is the home of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and hosts performances by some of the city's finest choirs, as well as performing artists visiting from around the world.

Creator: Bodalia, Chandra

Photograph of a dance performance at an event organized by the Gujarati Society of British Columbia at the Orpheum in Vancouver, B.C.

Founded in 1969, the Gujarati Society of British Columbia is a non-profit, charitable organization dedicated to fostering community spirit by connecting and supporting both youth and seniors through events and activities, such as Diwali celebrations, Navratri festivals, and bhajans.

Constructed in 1927, the Orpheum is one of the Vancouver Civic Theatres. It is the home of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and hosts performances by some of the city's finest choirs, as well as performing artists visiting from around the world.

Creator: Bodalia, Chandra

Photograph of a dance performance at an event organized by the Gujarati Society of British Columbia at the Orpheum in Vancouver, B.C.

Founded in 1969, the Gujarati Society of British Columbia is a non-profit, charitable organization dedicated to fostering community spirit by connecting and supporting both youth and seniors through events and activities, such as Diwali celebrations, Navratri festivals, and bhajans.

Constructed in 1927, the Orpheum is one of the Vancouver Civic Theatres. It is the home of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and hosts performances by some of the city's finest choirs, as well as performing artists visiting from around the world.