Masti Show 2022 Digital Program

Penn Masti Masti began as a small group of friends who simply wanted to dance together, and over the years has evolved into one giant family across generations of students. Now, Masti is Penn’s Premier South Asian Co-Ed Fusion Dance Team, and we are all eager to dance with passion, intensity, and expertise. We will be performing various styles of dance including Classical, Hip-Hop, South Indian, Bollywood Filmy, Lyrical, and Bhangra. We hope you enjoy the show we have worked so hard for, remember to cheer loudly!

Acknowledgements A special thanks to everyone who made this show possible. Lighting: Devi Bass Photographer: Sukhmani Kaur Videographer: Raùl RGBTV Sound Technicians Projector Technicians Video Technicians Ticketers Ushers SAC, PAC, and DAC IGT Staff Masti Alum Sound Technicians SoundPro

Meet our board President Divya Ramamurthy Vice President Athul Nair Show Chairs Anisha Bhatia, Ria Sharma, Aman Solanki Competition Chairs Neepa Gupta and Ronil Synghal Finance Chair Vibha Makam Social Chair Ronny Bhatia Marketing Chair Maya Rajan

The Myth of Masti Penn Masti was founded in 2003, fusing South Asian and Western dance forms to create an exciting new outlet for students to express themselves through dance. Today, Masti is a renowned on-campus dance troupe, a contender in the nationally competitive South Asian fusion dance circuit, and most importantly, one of the most fun-loving families around. This evening’s production is the culmination of several months of dedicated practice and we are excited to share it with you. We thank our incredible families and alumni for their constant love and support. We thank our dancers for bringing their passion, energy, and skills to every practice. And finally, we thank all of you for coming out to support and share this moment with us! We hope you enjoy our 14th annual production: Masti Goes Greek! Masti Love, Divya Ramamurthy and Athul Nair President and Vice President

From Our Show Chairs Dear Friends and Family, Welcome to Penn Masti's 14th annual production, Penn Masti Presents: Masti Goes Greek. We have been working hard to make this a spectacular show, and we are so grateful to have the chance to share it with you. Hopefully, you enjoy the show as much as we have enjoyed creating it! Our theme for this show, Masti Goes Greek, revitalizes the playfulness and beauty of classic Greek mythology. The team chose to capture and adapt the stories of three favorites: Percy Jackson, Icarus, and Hercules. Although we know Percy Jackson is not a classic Greek hero, we thought the charisma of the character truly embodies the nature of the team. Through the battles between good and evil, and the strong bonds forged by love, we hope to bring the vitality, spirit, entertainment, and joy of Greece from 2000 B.C. to the present. Of course, we would not be here today without the people who have helped make this show possible. First of all, we want to thank our families for supporting us even before our time at Penn. Without your unwavering love and support we would never be able to continue doing what we love - dance. We also want to thank all of our friends for dealing with our practice schedule, cheering us on, and always helping us in any way you can. Next, we want to thank our supportive alum. Without your guidance and encouragement, we would not be performing here today. And last, but certainly not least, we want to thank our amazing seniors, the backbone of our team who have truly made it all happen. You are incredibly talented, but more importantly, your dedication to this team has made us all better dancers. Your presence will be sorely missed, but what you've given to the team will never be forgotten. So please sit back and enjoy a trip down memory lane as we celebrate our I4th annual show, Penn Masti Presents: Masti Goes Greek. Masti Love, Ria, Aman, and Anisha

The Gods and Goddesses

The Seniors Carol John Looking for the goddess of hip hop? Carol John is right here! She can slide and sway with more swagger than anyone else— makes sense, considering how she swerves the swooning boys of USci. Her curly hair is the envy of all, and she wins everyone over with her chill vibe and killer smile. Beware of her wrath if you dare interrupt this goddess of her sleep. Carol is a woman of many interests—she loves drugs! (Not those kind!) She’s a hardworking pre-pharmacy queen. Catch this iconic senior at her last time gracing the Iron Gate stage, and don’t be surprised if you end up hypnotized by her dancing—she has that effect on mortals. Divya Ramamurthy Everyone FREEZE, her majesty has arrived. Making her entrance from the lone star state, this southern goddess is nothing short of extraordinary. Though she may not shower and frequently relies on her hefty stash of dry shampoo, this dirty dancer’s versatility and power is sure to make Mount Olympus itself quake with astonishment. In her free time, you can catch this superstar working hard on her rigorous academic coursework, patching herself up with countless knee braces, or daydreaming about Texas Talaash. Get ready to see Divya bring the house down one last time, you won’t want to miss it. J’aun johnson Introducing J’Aun, our incredibly talented Herculean hailing straight from Mount Olympus (aka Maryland). This young demigod has an infectious personality, the body of a Greek god, and dancing skills that outshine Terpsichore the muse herself. When he’s not frolicking under the sun in Spain or putting together fire fits for the gram, our premed king can be found hard at work. He also has a way with words, if you ever need help with your romantic pursuits, he’s fluent in two romance languages and he can surely dance his way into any lover’s heart. Put your hands together for our multi-talented senior star who is sure to steal the show tonight. Karthik macherla Introducing our resident break-dancer Karthik Macherla! Hailing from the faraway realm of Florida, this Greek god can often be spotted at Don Memo’s or Ronil’s, sorry, his own house. Oh my, will he catch your eye. Always dressed to the nines, this Greek god is forever prepared with a gold chain around his neck and Sperry’s on his feet. A true innovator, Karthik’s favorite activity at practice is coming up with new moves like throwing our saaps in the air or dice-rolling on kickbacks. Get ready to be stunned by his swag and jumps as he springs into the air over everyone else. Outside of dance, Karthik is a master of delivering funny one-liners. Join us in cheering for this amazing god Karthik!

The Seniors Mahak Sethi Hailing from the host city of Taaza, and a proud member of the anti-comp comp club, this Pittsburgh native is a certified show- stopper. You might think Mahak was a freshman judging by her many trips to Hill dining hall or her sense of humor, but don’t get it twisted. This sensational senior does it all, from commanding the IAA to capturing every moment at the function on her Huji Cam. Mahak is the embodiment of “work hard, play hard,” and has earned an A+ in mastering the happy hour. Her filmy makes audiences swoon and her out-of-pocket jokes bring us endless laughter. Apollo’s glow is no match for this shining superstar. Watch Mahak light up the Iron Gate stage one last time! Introducing the one and only Asclepius a.k.a. our premed god Maya Rajan Maya! Hailing from the Wolverine State, she is sure to make the crowd go WILD when they catch a glimpse of her moves on stage. This chai-loving marketing queen is the definition of versatile; she’s in a business frat while being a premed girl who DOES. IT. ALL. She’s the sweetest and most supportive person you’ll meet; rumor has it she learned an entire piece the night before a competition to help out the team. She’s the stalkerish mom of her house and dresses for practice like she’s about to run a half-marathon. Keep an eye out for our show-stopping Greek goddess Maya Rajan tonight! Neepa Gupta Introducing (N)eepa, Masti’s very own Teado ambassador! A bioengineer by day and a dancing queen by night, Neepa takes the streets of Philly with a killer attitude. She might be one of the shortest on the team, but don’t be mistaken: she is by FAR the most intimidating. If yo toes ain’t pointed during lyrical, Neepa gonna burst into a fiery rage you don’t want to witness. One look and you’re “stone cold like you’re lookin’ at Medusa.” Rocking silly socks and her trusty water (or should I say Coke) bottle, Neepa’s legacy will forever be cemented on Masti’s Mt. Olympus. Catch her one last time on stage before she’s off to med school! Renee Barbosa Everyone bow down to the most beautiful goddess, Renee. Hailing from New Jersey, Renee makes the Garden State seem like a slice of heaven. When she’s not busy running across campus, hugging her many worshippers, or destroying the curve in her chemistry classes, she can be found setting Annenberg on fire with her hot hip hop choreo - or planning her wedding with Chris Evans. If you visit her altar, be sure to leave a few plain tortillas as an offering - those are her favorite ;) Get ready to watch Renee rule the stage with her beauty and power!

The Seniors Ronil synghal BE PRESENT… we can all guess who's been saying this since our first comp. Always wearing his iconic LOB hat and registration gear, this detective has been causing mischief every practice. I would like to introduce the one and only, Ronil Synghal aka SYNR! Ronil has been teaching us to keep our arms straight and knees high through every bhangra piece. This dude keeps it real 24/7, unlike his teeth in the front. He hates being last in anything he does, so he chooses to go first, especially at Taaza. If DDN doesn’t hire you, Masti will always welcome you with open arms. Make sure you catch this LEGEND front and center; I guarantee you will like what you see. She has traveled the world but lives right in the Temple of Samidha sane Pittsburgh: Meet Samidha - the International Goddess! Don’t be fooled. She may seem sweet, but she is a true queen of chaos and aloofness. You may find her choreoing filmy dances with her iron fist, where she is prone to repeating lyrics an outrageous number of times. She loves to fool her enemies by spontaneously speaking French and asking quite empty-headed questions. But every queen has her getaway! On her off nights, Samidha vacations on the island of Sansom, where she feasts on her plate of spicy mangoes (her favorite island snack). Watch out! This Goddess will dazzle you with her laugh and steal your heart all at once! Sravya alla Older than Zeus himself, this tall queen never hesitates to show off her dance. She left us all one summer on a quest to the kingdom of Microsoft - just to spend more time on their bhangra team than doing actual computer science. But make no mistake; she’ll conquer your heart just as she conquered the hearts of all kingdoms she’s stepped into. No wonder the citizens of Olympus admire her bubbly nature and gracious steps. To cap it all off, watch out for her luscious, curly hair that other goddesses strive to have, and try to keep your jaws off the ground once she hits that stage. Shaina parambil INTRODUCING MASTI’s USCI GODDESS SHAINA! This queen can do it all, but her one Achilles heel is forgetting her book. No matter where you go with Shaina, you can guarantee she has her nose buried in a book and will never fail to fill you in on the adventures she’s reading about. When she’s not reading, she creates magical DIY projects, and if we are lucky - a cooked meal or two that may or may not be a little burnt. Despite her very few shortcomings, you know that this Greek goddess embodies everything a god should! Her kind and comforting nature is something that puts the other goddesses to shame!

The Juniors Aman Solanki Next up we have Aman! This Greek God hails from Northern Virginia, and he will not let you forget it. This multi-talented King was a lead for our comp set and carried this team to Legends. When he’s not dancing around in his bedazzled suspenders, he can be spotted fixing his hair and looking at himself in the mirror during practice. Some might consider this a distraction, but we all know those luscious locks must come first. Aman’s superpowers include speaking Spanish, learning other teams’ comp sets, and not getting Covid at all costs. But his most amazing superpower of them all is his ability to capture the hearts of everyone in the audience with his swagger and cool moves. Give it up for Aman! Anisha Bhatia Meet Anisha - the Greek Goddess more obsessed with show than anyone on the team. When she isn’t busy sorting through her hundreds of job offers or planning events, she can be found befriending every God and Goddess on Mount Olympus with her bright and vibrant personality. Despite always having so much to do, Anisha, or rather her debilitating FOMO, would rather do anything than miss a social event. Come watch this filmy goddess show off on stage with a smile that would put even Aphrodite to shame. Athul Nair If you aren’t familiar with Athul, you’ve been missing out on the leader who outdoes Zeus himself. Athul powers the stage with crazy tolly expressions and bhangra moves like no other– no trident needed. His outstanding perseverance to please the audience does not stop for anyone, not even his own backstage nausea recovery. Amongst Greek gods and goddesses, he doubles as a king who makes sacrifices on the daily, with a show-stopping smile while doing it. Oh, and let’s not forget, even his alter-ego, DJ AIR, is unforgettable. Now presenting, the mythical, the multitalented, Athul! Hailing from San Jose California, introducing the incomparable, Mahima Sangli spectacular, and divine goddess that is Mahima Sangli. Whenever Mahima takes the stage, she owns it. You can see this lyrical and contemporary genius waltzing between Penn Masti and Penn Hype where she is nothing short of captivating at every turn, roll, leap, and literally everything else. Oh and her genius doesn’t stop there as Mahima is a scholar in the Huntsman Program in International Studies and Business. The muse of muses, the light emitted by this absolute s t a r is as equally blinding as it is mesmerizing. So be careful Icarus because attaining her level of beauty and brilliance would be nothing but a fool’s dream.

The Juniors Neha Krishnaswamy God of fire, god of thunder, and the great gods of sky have nothing against this goddess of power. Neha’s presence in a bhangra piece commands more power than the kickbacks of a thousand gods, and her choreography style keeps your head spinning for days (count how many spins there are in our final bhangra piece). When she’s not saving our pieces, she’s saving lives; legend has it, she can pedal her MERT bike so fast that she flies into the night sky. When you see Neha tonight, don’t simply cheer. Show respect with a standing ovation. Nehaar Nimmagadda Masti’s Mt. Olympus would not be complete without Greek god Nehaar. When he is not hard at work studying for his MCAT, you can find this Bhangra extraordinaire at practice admiring himself in the mirror and fangirling over DDN mixes. Nehaar’s greatest superpower is consuming an unnatural amount of McDonalds, and while he carries himself as a stone-cold lone wolf, his heart belongs to one thing: debate. While he may never find true love, his love for dance and Masti is truly unmatched. When you are lucky enough to encounter the King of Bhangra, ask him to show you his favorite dance move - the body roll! Rakeem yakubu All Greek gods better watch out because Rakeem can do their job better than them. Being the model pre-dental student he is, he puts Coeus’s inquisitive mind to shame. From working tirelessly on every dance to being eager to master a new style, Terpsichore watches in awe of his amazing dancing abilities. Pheme watches in jealousy as Rakeem rises to fame by being one of the faces on UPenn’s Instagram page. Meanwhile Euphrosyne takes notes on how Rakeem spreads joy to everyone near him with his infectious laughter and exhilarating energy. Ronny bhatia Towering above everyone on the team, Ronny puts the mountain in Mount Olympus. When he’s not writing rhino poetry or filling his computer keys with greasy food, Ronny can be seen singing along to every Hindi song. Ever. But don’t let his innocent habits fool you: this NETS major on a pre-med track with interests in theoretical computer science is talented in a variety of ways. From his gravity-defying hops in Bhangra to his Shah Rukh Khan-like moves in filmy, Ronak Singh Bhatia will capture the stage tonight like no other. Blink - and you still won’t miss him!

The Sophomores Harish bayana Introducing…KING HARISH. Harish is the best person to talk to when you need someone to listen, the best person to joke with and one of the nicest people on the team. Off the dance floor, he’s been getting straight A’s this whole semester as a member of the MLS Vagelos program and to be honest I don’t know how he does it when we spent 40-hour weeks on our competition set. The thing that sets this king apart from the rest of Masti is how committed he is to everything he does. When everyone else was burnt out from dance, Harish was asking to be in more pieces with a smile on his face. We can all learn a thing or two from this king, so keep an eye out for Harish throughout the night. Job samuel This demigod hails from our beautiful city of brotherly love. Bow your heads for the man that gets the job done, Job Samuel! His fresh haircuts and swagger radiate holy energy that is unmatched, but his smile is the most contagious of all. Beware, speak ill of any Philly sports team or use “jawn” incorrectly, and the wrath of the chem lab king will be upon you. When he’s not finishing up lab reports and physics homework, he’s busy contemplating the future of the 76ers or when to get his next fresh cut. Make way for our sophomore king, the god among mere mortals, that JAWN Job Samuel :) Lasya mudigati Hailing from Olympus (otherwise known as Edison, New Jersey), this goddess is the loudest, funniest person on the team. Her magical powers include radiating an insane amount of energy in every piece she’s in and throwing ~tamashas~ at minor inconveniences. When she’s not killing it on the dance floor, you can find her practicing her “Bollywood Wives” auntie voice and entertaining us all with her Lasya lingo (a conglomeration of words and phrases that only she understands). With the dance talents of Terpsichore and the charm of Aphrodite, she’s sure to knock your toga off. It’ll be a lit crazy movie to say the least. Mahisha Tanna *Trumpet noises* Introducing Mahisha Tanna, the Greek goddess of being the most clueless person on the dance team but somehow also the smartest. She wreaks havoc on the team by asking to do an extra runthrough when it is already 3 AM on the last day of hell week. But she is also the most caring, selfless, and talented person we have met. She leaps and turns across the stage and wows every person that lays eyes on her after already doing four hours of Funk practice right before. It is almost like she turns them into stone because they are speechless by the end of her lyrical masterpiece. If you come across this beautiful Goddess, ask her to show you her knees.

The Sophomores Naveen farook Hailing from the beautiful state of Florida, Naveen really sets the bar high for swag and drippiness on our illustrious Bollywood team. She's preparing to take over and conquer the world as an International Relations major. You can catch her on the side prepping dances for weddings or hitting moves that would make Medusa freeze. SO be careful and keep an eye on Naveen, even though she’s small she can be very sneaky and hard hitting. Ria sharma Put your hands together for Ria Sharma, our M&T goddess and filmy extraordinaire! This multitasking megastar hails from New Jersey but can be found on campus in the hallowed halls of Rodin. Filled with energy and grace like no other, her dancing sure is no HACKjob. With the brains of Artemis and the charm and charisma of Aphrodite, no Greek god is a match for her. Keep an eye out for her effortless kathak steps and powerful patakas. She may not always shower after practice, but she is sure to always put a smile on your face! Sakshi Parikh Step aside, queen Sakshi has arrived. Far away from the world of Lauder, she will stomp her way to your heart tonight. She may seem small, but careful, this queen packs a punch! From her powerful hip hop moves to her flexible knees, her presence on Mt. Masti will surely be known. Not only is she on Masti, but you will find her on many other dance teams, some would say 4,037 of them! When she is not executing every step perfectly, she is executing many other things nothing short of perfection, from K-Pop obsessions to memorizations of orgo mechanisms. Sit back and relax as Sakshi and her isolations sweep you off your feet. Sona selvamani Despite their majesty, no Greek god is a match for the goddess that is Sona! She is beautiful inside and out and possesses an amazing grace and stunning talent that would make Aphrodite herself envious! But don’t be fooled, she is known to absolutely throw it down on the dance floor, and she is likewise a muse and master of every style imaginable. If that wasn’t enough, her swaggy hip hop choreo is simply God-tier! Despite her infinite power, she has an unbelievably kind heart and cares deeply for others, something the Greek gods need to learn a lesson or two about!

The Sophomores Vibha makam Vibha means shining and bright, and there is no better name to fit this glowing goddess. Hailing from Mount Michigan, she made her way to the Temple of Philadelphia with an excitement and determination like no other. When she’s not fighting and conquering her way through the monsters of CIS, she is dancing her heart away and living up to her title as queen of Bhangra. This Dravidian goddess aims to unite everyone and restore harmony in the world. Watch her radiant style on stage and be mesmerized by her power, grace, and patakas. The Freshmen Akash Jain Hailing all the way from Mount Olympus aka the exciting state of New Jersey, our very own Akash Jain is sure to knock your socks off with his incredible bhangra busts and lyrical prowess. A multitalented demigod and wannabe Guju, he’s known for conquering the mysterious land of CIS and body rolling his way out of any room. When he’s not overcoming his biggest struggle of being on time, Akash is always keeping everyone’s posture and fashion sense in check. Don’t attack him with a saap or he will seek his revenge. Now, give it up for Masti’s very own newbie, Akash Jain! Ankit poudel Introducing Ankit, our very own Hercules: the main character of this story. Bless my soul, this Greek god is always on a roll. Now don’t get me wrong, he takes a year to make a vlog, and when he comes to practice, he’s always a distraction. But his bhangra and bollywood could stop a show- with everything he does, oh my, he’s such a pro. When he gives a little smile, the girls go absolutely wild. He’s the best sport on the team and we love him way more than it may seem. Give a hearty welcome to the man of the show, our extraordinary Ankit, the sweetest newbie that you will ever know.

The freshmen Nick Yohn From a land far, far away (Germany) comes our Herculean, brave leader, Nicholas. As a member of a prominent Greek organization on campus, Nick studies in Wharton when he isn’t hanging out on Mount Olympus. If you’re ever thirsty, you can ask him to lend you his Wharton Leadership Ventures water bottle - all at the cost of him reminding you that’s all he does on campus. In addition to being pledge #1, Nick also loves visiting Hades and becoming a demon. Let’s see if he chooses evil or good in the show tonight! Make way for Ria! Not only can she dance like a Greek goddess, Ria ellendula but she can also capture your attention like a Siren with her beautiful voice. When she is not leading the Class of 2025 into battle through student government, you can find her fiending for sustenance at 2am, seeking advice from Aphrodite on how she’s smitten for the Michigan mitten, or making the exhausting journey back to Mount Hill. If Medusa’s eyes can turn you to stone, Ria’s radiant smile will melt you to the floor. As a scholar of law, Ria goes above and beyond to bring justice to the choreography and stories on stage. Make way for Ria as she commands the stage and captures your hearts! Samica goel If you haven’t met Samica in the center of the dance floor, you’ll find this Greek goddess hard at work, girlbossing this school. A fellow Wharton snake, Samica enjoys spending countless hours with her DSP brothers or fine tuning her hip hop prowess. Gracing us all the way from New Jersey (like half of our gods and goddesses today) and always dressed in oversized clothing, Goddess Samica owns the stage in every dance -- especially front and center in boy’s piece. Call her Hades when she kills her pieces, and don’t forget to watch out for the only Greek thing about her: her nose.

The Program NEWBIE SENIOR PIECE A Masti tradition where newbies and seniors each do a piece and then one together. Choreographers: Sophomores, Freshmen, Seniors, Freshmen & Seniors ACT I: PERCY JACKSON Learn how Medusa became the snake-headed villain and Percy Jackson’s journey to help Poseidon and Athena end her reign of terror. Choreographers: Mahak Sethi, Sravya Alla, Karthik Macherla & Carol John, Athul Nair ACT II: ICARUS Icarus and his craftsman father Daedalus must escape the Tower of Doom. Let’s hope Icarus’ curiosity doesn’t get him in trouble! Choreographers: Anisha Bhatia, Renee Barbosa, Samidha Sane, Mahima Sangli & Mahisha Tanna INTERMISSION [7PM only] Guest Acts: Dischord Acapella and Strictly Funk ACT III: HERCULES Zeus’ son Hercules was born with superhuman strength. Follow his journey as he battles Hades to save Olympus! Choreographers: Ronny Bhatia, Ria Sharma & Lasya Mudigati, Nehaar Nimmagadda, Sona Selvamani, Aman Solanki 2022 COMPETITION ROUTINE: MAFIA Follow our Mafia themed competition routine that qualified for the national competition: Legends 2022. Senior Slideshow FINALE Choreographers: Vibha Makam & Neha Krishnaswamy, Sakshi Parikh & Naveen Farook, Maya Rajan

Our supporters

Congrats to our Amazing dancer Mahak. Much Love from mom, dad and Amish





Shoutout: \"Congrats on an amazing year Masti! I'm so proud of you and all your hard work Athul! Excited for you to kill it at show! :) - Megha

Congratulations Maya on an amazing show!! We are so proud of you and the Masti team! Best of luck on all your future endeavors!! Love, Mom, Dad, Patti, Anjana & Vivek



Good Luck with your show!! We are super proud of you. Ria, we miss you sooooo much! We you!! - Mom, Dad, and Ritvik

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Congrats to new board! President Athul Nair Vice President Harish Bayana Show Chairs Ria Ellendula and Ankit Poudel Competition Chairs Aman Solanki and Samica Goel Finance Chair Nick Yohn Social Chair Anisha Bhatia Marketing Chair Mahisha Tanna