About
Nearly 35 years ago, Bhavna Joshipura and Heena Desai had a vision to keep our Gujarati culture alive through teaching garba, raas and Gujarati folk dances to the next generations in the Bay Area. Sangeet by Bhavna Joshipura and Sahiyar by Heena Desai were born. Children as young as 4 years old all the way through to passionate adults longing to stay connected to the culture, joined the troupes, and learned under Sangeet and Sahiyar. Along the way, as young teens, we joined our moms in teaching and continuing the traditions.
Both Sangeet and Sahiyar uniquely run in a completely non-profit manner, where we volunteer our time purely for the love of garba and folk and are driven by passion towards a mission of upholding our culture and spreading this to as many as we can reach. The true profit of these groups lies in the strong bonds and sisterhoods created over the last three decades. Dancers in each group grow to be each other’s family and, in many cases, even closer. We have watched dancers grow up together spending weekends in practices, head off into new phases of life while still keeping up with these life-long friendships. Sangeet and Sahiyar have proved to be a constant through various phases of life, shaping and grounding dancers.
For years, we would share in a longing for a proper platform to showcase our Gujarati arts. The perfect venue for our dances just didn’t exist. Thus, taking a leap of faith, we created a show of our own, Sakhi Sangam. Sakhi meaning friendship and Sangam meaning a gathering through music and dance made its debut five years ago.
Today, as we celebrate the 5th year of Sakhi Sangam, we reflect on a journey that has grown beyond a single performance; into a cherished tradition that continues to bring generations together through music, dance, and friendship.
Our show represents the generational friendship, passion, and the truly vibrant Gujarati culture that our mothers worked so hard to instill in us. We are grateful for your support in our endeavor, and we hope you walk away from this show sharing in our passion.
- Heeral Kota & Reena Shah
Heena Desai began teaching Gujarati Garba, Raas and Folk dances with a vision to spread Gujarat's vibrant culture to the next generations through dance in the US in the 1980's. Her daughter, Reena Desai Shah, began learning from her at a young age, and joined her in teaching in the late 1990's. Since then, Heena and Reena have worked 100% non-profit and 100% for-passion to continue teaching traditional Gujarati garba/folk dances through their troupe, Sahiyar (since 1994). Sahiyar has been blessed with platforms to showcase their art such as the SF Ethnic Dance Festival, Oakland Museum of California, Garba 360 at the Yerba Buena Gardens, FOGANA, Circle of Energy Garba Festival of Baroda and various community festivals. Most recently, Sahiyar performed with Anvaya on their Indowarehouse Coachella Tour, fusing garba with techno and house music. Sahiyar represents the strong sisterhood working toward one goal to bring about awareness of the Gujarati culture through performing arts.
Special thank yous to Shrina Shah and Veerali Juthani for creating magic both in the studio and on stage with our youngest performers. Thank you to our Alumni team of dancers for assisting with anything and everything, and prioritizing Sahiyar always.
We are grateful for our Sahiyar family. Every dancer and every dancer’s family is an integral part of our Sahiyar family. Choosing to spend weekends in the studio together, our bond continues to strengthen and our true assets are this unwavering support system.
Sangeet Dance Group is dedicated to preserving and sharing Gujarati and Indian culture through the art of dance. Since its inception, Sangeet has specialized in Raas, Garba, Folk, and Bollywood styles, earning a reputation for excellence, creativity, and originality.
Founded by Bhavna Joshipura, Sangeet was built on the belief that dance is for everyone. The group has proudly provided performance opportunities for dancers ranging from as young as 2 years old to 50+, fostering inclusivity across generations. Over the years, Sangeet has grown into more than just a dance group—it is a family, bringing together dancers from multiple generations who share a deep love for culture and community.
From its founding to the present day, Sangeet has been recognized annually at various competitions and charitable events, including premier platforms such as FOGANA and the Charitable Care Foundation (CCF).
Today, Sangeet is led by Bhavna and her daughter, Heeral Kota, who continue to carry forward its legacy with passion and dedication. Through their commitment and volunteer efforts, they strive to keep Gujarati and Indian cultural traditions alive. Now, nearly 35 years strong, Sangeet continues to thrive—driven by the enduring passion and love of Bhavna, Heeral, and the entire Sangeet family.
A heartfelt thank you to Anjali Kothari, Shruti Desai, and Nirati Gautam for the incredible time, energy, and dedication you pour into running Sangeet. Your passion and commitment truly make a difference and create such a meaningful space for everyone involved. We are so grateful for all that you do behind the scenes and on the front lines to keep this community thriving. Thank you for inspiring, leading, and giving so much of yourselves.
A very special shoutout to Sangeet’s Legacy Group — a beautiful coming together of dancers from across generations, all sharing the same stage, the same passion, and the same love for dance. This group is a celebration of years of memories, friendships, and the enduring spirit of Sangeet.
Watching so many eras unite in one moment is incredibly powerful, and it speaks to the heart of what this community truly represents. Each of you carries a piece of Sangeet’s journey, and together, you bring its story to life in the most meaningful way.
This group holds a very special place in my heart. Thank you for embodying the legacy, the connection, and the joy that makes Sangeet so extraordinary.
