Movement of desis
Desi (pronounced: “they see”) generally describes the people and cultures of the South Asian subcontinent and diaspora. “Desi” is derived from the Sanskrit word meaning “land” or “country”. Today, it proudly represents an identity that transcends borders.
Movement of Desis |MOD| is a Chicago-based dance collective that fuses authentic Desi dance styles such as Dappankuthu, Bhangra, Bollywood, and semi-classical with global street styles such as Hip Hop, Chicago Footwork, House, and Afro. Our mission is to promote a movement of pride in one’s culture while pushing the boundaries of creativity through performance and art!
WORLD OF DANCE FINALS 2024
URBANITE 2024
WORLD OF DANCE CHICAGO 2023
PRELUDE MIDWEST 2022
MOD, previously known as The MOD Project, began in 2014, when a group of friends came together to perform at the University of Illinois at Chicago’s India Night. Since then, we’ve evolved into a force of movement and community—a collective rooted in celebration, storytelling, and the Desi experience.
Today, we’re more than a dance team. We are a growing movement, organizing community workshops, cultural showcases, fundraisers, and events that bring together dance, music, fashion, and visual art.
Over the past decade, our team has performed at over 25 competitions and won numerous awards for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd placings, Best Costume, Best Mix, and Crowd Favorite. We have placed 2nd at both of the biggest Desi Fusion national competitions: Bollywood America 2016 and 2017, and Legends Dance Championship 2017. More recently, we have become one of the only Desi Fusion dance teams to have placed at renowned hip hop competitions like World of Dance Finals 2024 and Prelude Midwest 2022 and 2024.
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