Year: 2024-2025
DanceForce Member: Missy Pfohl Smith
Artist: Barkha Patel
Community Partner: Rochester Fringe Festival
Audience: 473
County: Monroe

University of Rochester Program of Dance and Movement and Director/DanceForce member Missy Pfohl Smith presented NYC-based Barkha Dance Company, led by kathak dancer, choreographer, educator, and Juried Bessie Award-winner (2023) Barkha Patel, in Rochester, NY for the first time in September 2024. Barkha Dance Company, including dancer/performer Barkha Patel and three company musicians (vocals, tabla, and sarangi) offered two performances for public audiences on the University of Rochester campus in Sloan Performing Arts Center as part of the city-wide Rochester Fringe Festival on Sept. 11 and 12, 2024. Both shows were followed by a Q & A with the artists. Patel also taught an open kathak dance workshop. The University of Rochester’s population of students of Indian descent, including two student dance groups, Bhangra and Raas, was thrilled to engage Barkha and her company. Barkha was wonderful with the students, remembering them from the workshop and pointing them out to the public audiences during the Q & A. They were also taking photos with Barkha after the show. The students were very grateful to have this opportunity and shared that it was the first time a kathak performance had taken place on campus. Additionally, as these performances were part of the internationally recognized Rochester Fringe Festival, the regional community was exposed to Barkha’s dynamic work. The Fringe has continually made use of publicity photos from this engagement, helping to bring ongoing visibility to Barkha Dance Company’s work. Overall, 473 people engaged with Barkha and her company during this Rochester residency.