On Sunday, Jan. 18,  SLU Raas, SLU’s traditional Gujarati folk dance team, performed in the Refractory Hall of DuBourg at 8 p.m. The team performed a sneak peek of their routine for a sizeable audience, in preparation for their first competition this upcoming Saturday, Jan. 24, at the University of Michigan.

The group contains both male and female dancers, who wore traditional costumes of magenta and orange for their fun, energy-filled performance. The first time performing their “Matrix”-themed routine for an audience, Raas’ dancers exhibited confidence, obviously from an advantage of consistent practice and dedicated team members. Their smiles, passion for dance and vitality were infectious. The fans cheered Raas members on by name; the excitement was not limited to the dance floor, and the audience was filled with friendship and community spirit.

The Gujarati folk dance style originates in India, a part of the Hindu tradition. The dance is popular during the festival of Navratri, which occurs in September or October each year.  More than 20 universities around the United States, like SLU, have teams that compete year-round.