"I’d never seen any Desi dance styles in a battle before"
The Red Bull Dance Your Style event in Las Vegas witnessed a unique moment as Bharatanatyam was performed by one of the competitors.
Choreographer Harini took the classical Indian dance and added a modern twist in the battle-style competition.
The event took place on March 21 at KAOS at the Palms. Sixteen dancers competed in 1-on-1 battles with no pre-planned music or choreography.
Each round relied on improvisation, with the crowd deciding the winner.
Red Bull Dance Your Style is an international mixed-style competition built on spontaneity. Dancers must adapt instantly to whatever track plays, drawing on different styles to win over the audience.
From the opening rounds, the focus was on connection rather than perfection. Hip-hop, house, and body-popping all featured, but versatility and crowd response proved decisive.
Harini’s performance stood out for introducing Bharatanatyam into a space where it is rarely seen. She adapted its expressive gestures and rhythmic precision to an unpredictable format.
On Instagram, Harini wrote: “Made top 4 this weekend at the Vegas Qualifiers.
“I’d never seen any Desi dance styles in a battle before, so I wanted to try.
“I’m learning so much by putting myself and my embodied practice to the test, and it’s a beautiful (and very frustrating) feeling.
“Grateful for the opportunity, thankful for my support system – especially my Gurus in all forms of dance.
“Thank you to everyone I exchanged with, you all were magic and I learned a lot from each moment – be it in a cypher or on that stage.”
On social media, fans were impressed by Harini’s energetic showcase.
One wrote: “I love the fact that I’m open to other people’s cultures so I’m familiar with the dance and the moves but to see them mix with house music, she ate this up.”
Another said: “I love the fusion. Super to see an intersection of classical Indian and Western-style dance.”
A third added: “Fusion at its best… I’ve been waiting for this performance for more than 20 years, thank you.”
@stanceelements Harini with the Bharatanatyam and house fusion to the Red Bull Dance Your Style stage! ???@Harini ? original sound – Stance
Harini continued her dance swagger in round two, much to the crowd’s delight.
Another post read:
“A little bit of waacking, a little vogue, a lot of Indian fusion, a lot of fun.”
“I just wanted to exchange. This day was such a whirlwind already and my body was slowly giving out (take care of yourselves, friends).
“But I was here to showcase, to dance – for my friends who couldn’t anymore, for the little ones who didn’t know we could do this, for my family who supported me through it all and still do.
“Eternally grateful for all the love, I’m here to dance.”
Harini’s performance marked a rare moment for a South Asian classical dance style in a global freestyle competition.
The format left little room for preparation. Dancers had to react in real time, making Harini’s adaptation of Bharatanatyam a clear departure from traditional performance settings.
Her run showed how classical forms can translate into freestyle spaces when reworked for immediacy and audience connection.
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