Competitions Counted On Our Lists :

ImageSeptember 23, 2017December 17, 2023graceandgrooves group by hetal joshi Leave a comment

The Competitions & Performances that we go have Judges with following qualifications with full transparency required for students to be eligible such as submitting videos, pictures, program specs, and all the other details :

Degrees in Performing Arts (Indian for Indian Dances),
Straight Background With Full Proof & Traceability,
Versatile Dancers In Their Genre – Non Stop Stage Dancers.
Full Hands-Onn w/Knowledge From Right Sources ( traceable background or universities-not the universities such as gandharv.)

Competitions We Do :

As such we have won several competitions but we have only accounted in our bags that we have done it independently ourselves and have judges who are qualified in field of Indian Performing Arts-who know what to look for in dance forms or styles, if mentioned likewise.

Non-Voting, Strict by Genre, Category, Dance Forms, Rules of Dance Form, Rubrics, Guidelines, Marks and Feedbacks by Judges with straight background, Local or International Depending on all of above.
Competitions in partnership with other dance schools/teachers are NOT INCLUDED in our list.
We do not sponsor the awards or competitions that we take part in. Please contact hetal at mail2hets@gmail.com for sponsorships.
We do not do reality competitions YET. These are not institutionalized or educational competitions.
Competitions where voting criteria is 10/100 or more at any levels are not included in our list. You are welcome to take freelance lessons from us to participate but we will not participate in voting. We will not take those on our list.
Judges who do not have any knowledge of dance or cannot outline the difference between simple things such as bollywood vs folk, fusion vs bollywood, and so on! If you do not know the rules of dance form then there is no point in judging. And so, we do not take part in those competitions.
Participant Awards are NOT listed or considered for us-obviously and that includes students who get participant awards during competitions just for participating and not winning competitions for any runner ups awards either. Culture awards are not competition awards 🙂
Wins at the Competitions that misrepresented categories/competitions/malrepresentation by the organizers are NOT listed.
- Eg-Represented as Indian FOLK Competition but it was actually a Bollywood Competition and so they are NOT LISTED HERE. We have won such competitions as well.
- Only legitimate competitions are listed.
- We DO NOT teach Tap/Jazz/Ballet. Students who took part in fusion dances that included tap/jazz or ballet were trained from Ballet Academy of Texas(Coppell) and Prestige Dance Company(Lewisville-former Coppell Dance Center)for 2months+ or were already avid trained dancers or good gymnasts.
  - We taught them only Indian Classical Dance(Bharatnatyam)or Indian Folk Dance and the Fusion work to go together based on what they knew.
- Some competitions are listed together as only 1 award was given for consecutive years win or in same year as prizes had material gifts/or gift cards for participants or same work received awards in 2 different places by different participants or same participants. There was only 1 ceremony for awards that happened.
- Competitions that are not worth our attention –>
  - Students are neglected, mis-treated, insulted by organizers are NOT worth of our time. We will pass their info-you are welcome to compete but keep us out of it.
  - Organizers are in favor of other dance schools and allowed several re-takes to them but not to us-for no good reason are NOT worth our time. We DO NOT want children to go through that traumatic experiences.
  - Students are questioned about their well-being priorities only because organizer couldn’t see the child winning in-spite of stopping the vote entries are NOT worth of your child’s time.
  - Organizers that offer inappropriate stage areas, dressing room areas or unsafe dance conditions are eliminated from our list for any future participations due to SAFETY GUIDELINES concerning child’s safety. We don’t come there to dance in 5-8 steps of stage area.
  - A stage or organizer who cannot respect a child’s presence while talking just about anything that they have in mind insulting kids and their parents whatsoever, esp. talking in extremely loud voice and misbehaving in front of children because you couldn’t handle pressures (while others were allowed to do same-all drama in front of child)-is not worth our attention.

Please learn your manners FIRST when you treat a child.

Stop treating them like trash — this tells us about your parenting! Not our parents’.

- - An organizer who is bias to us in all the privileges given to other participants will not need our attention at any given point of time. If you have made up your mind in not allowing us to avail the privileges then why should we make kids suffer through your misconduct and inappropriate behavior just for a trophy ?

Constructive feedbacks are very welcomed. We have come this far only because of constructive feedbacks. Please tell us your background before you judge!

All of above are NOT sarcastic humor incidents and are ruled out by experiences in recent competitions and we do not want any child to face such a traumatic experience just for a competition! Our kids/students are very precious to us.

Other Blog Posts where such a traumatic incident happened : Read Here.

Stop blaming parents and kids for your own issues. Open Stats @Cqunce Inc.

This post was updated in May 15, 2019 | May 22, 2021.

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Exclusive Copyrights by Reach Media for Hetal Joshi | Grace & Grooves | Grace Creations | Grace And Grooves 2012-2021. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

Early Training-Raised with Standards

ImageAugust 3, 2016November 16, 2017graceandgrooves group by hetal joshi Leave a comment

Cultural diversity becomes lifestyle when you are brought up in Gujarat where business, commerce, equal rights/safety to women, and acceptable knowledge of regional language attracted educated people from all walks of life, other states of India and across the borders too! It automatically becomes a blessing when you are born and raised in such environment and obviously, dance cannot be ignored for somebody who is a lifelong student of performing arts. With all this migration of quality people, t’was a norm to hear news of some cultural association (at times not even registered) celebrating their festival every month and dance being part of it. Gandhinagar(capital of Gujarat)is place where people migrated for government jobs (strictly via entrance exams or transfers) so obviously more than 90% of population is educated to some decent level of education or had thorough knowledge of performing arts as Govt. of Gujarat had opened its doors to several non-profit organizations and associations to promote art & culture of India along with just nurturing Gujarati culture. Some migrated to Ahmedabad (main business city) for business or professional careers (esp. educated women and young girls) due to equal opportunity and safe environment for working women/college girls.

Recent Release Picture/article (2015-2016) of Annual Show by St.Xaviers School, Gandhinagar. For over 40 years, school has been celebrating focusing to various themes. Trainings are provided by local dance teachers or professional instructors whose students study @ the school.

From small pocket size dance schools, passionate dancers w/dance academies (such as Darpana) to educational schools (such as St.Xaviers & Mt.Carmel Convent Schools), had their own events planned through out the school year such as annual day, sports day, teachers day, their inter-school competitions/Odyssey, Eid, Diwali, or Christmas. At least twice a year, schools supported major city events such as Independence Day, Republic Day or any other extraordinary events happening in city! Whole city along with renowned artists from performing arts and govt. delegates were invited so training had to be given to students. Events would either happen at city hall or helipad so the costume requirement, dance props usage was compulsory pertaining to dance. The entire show was about glimpse of India where in at least 5-8 minutes of stage time was exclusively given for each performance with a detailed description of state/region or culture (at-least one type of) identification and choreographer/trainers name if they permitted to be announced. Participation levels were close to 99% as they were absolute FUN! Schools encouraged students to participate by giving extra marks as in cultural activities. The instructors were invited to offer these classes most of times at very nominal price for schools or was free if your group/classroom chose to do it strictly under school name. The program would then end with some stunts by Indian Air-Force pilots, parades and salute to Indian heroes.

All of that doesn’t happen in day or just 10-12 classes! Folk Dances of India are not like Bollywood dances where you can have somebody dance on song and you got it! None of the techniques of Folk Dances of India has any basic movement that matches in anyway if you were to focus on learning folk dance, even it is for fun! It is not possible. As we(Ms. Joshi) remembers after-school practices 2-3 times a week for at-least an hour or two in corridors of school. That is 6-8 hours per week of commitment, at times non-stop through out the year. It wasn’t about perfection; it was about fundamentals because you were to show that in front of knowledgeable audiences and LIVE telecast by various TV channels. Those were our school years!

The dances during those times for these events were never Bollywood dances as Gujarat had a very well established line-up of events by various organizations/association and government departments that would conduct folk dance competitions and had attractive prizes as in cash prizes plus hotel discounts, household appliances and memberships to family clubs such as YMCA, Rajpath, and Rotary Clubs. We are talking of lakhs of INR rupees and not just a couple thousand rupees or a trophy with a picture! Judges were from various tourism departments to PHD holders or Masters degree holders in performing arts or were dance professors/teachers in college/universities. These events were frequently organized so any group that called for avid dancers was a grab & go opportunity for pretty much any student in college who loved to dance. At times, we planned our choreographies right after we got the win if it was 2^nd or 3^rd place to not miss on our bigger share of pocket money-as we called it! Creativity was an absolute requirement in choreography, techniques, and costumes along with other factors in such a tight competition without forsaking fundamental basics of dance form.

Obviously Bollywood did not stand a chance in this! Back then; Bollywood was referred as hindi movies with beautiful songs/lyrics and not really about dance due to dominance of above competitions in the field of performing arts. Nobody wanted their daughters to dance like Helen or Bobby as in Dimple Kapadia, or boys to dance like Mithun Chakravarti, Jitendra (no-way) but rather Hemamalini, Sridevi had set examples of Bollywood style of classical dances where Bharatnatyam had gained popularity and for budding artists, singing classes would go in full-thanks to our Kishor Da & Gulzar! Obviously, as we further embraced western cultures, Madhuri Dixit Nene, Sridevi, Meenakshi Sheshadri and such other dancers made their way to introducing modern dance moves successfully in-spite of being trained classical dancers and we can only imagine how much work they must have put in to achieve all of that in lime-light!

None from ALL of the above is a day of work or few classes’ work! It was more than that. You’ll know when you have gone through it just as we know it and so our students learn it, just as well. This is applicable to all recreational programs or private groups as well depending on program you join at Grace And Grooves.

While competition programs such as Grace And Grooves Elite Teams are for those who want to learn how to handle it with pressures and would like to make it as their way of life, like it is ours.

Our elite dancers are trained in least 2 dance forms (Not Bollywood) for at-least a year as a routine, or at professional & competitive level to bring them at our Elite level & ignite their creativity.

After all, dance is all about having fun and we like to keep it that way!

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Recital 2016 : Dance of Gods Ft. Adi-Shakti – Dance of Divine.

ImageJune 28, 2016August 3, 2026graceandgrooves group by hetal joshi 3 Comments

At Grace And Grooves, every class begins with a timeless tradition—offering salutations to our Guru (teachers) and seeking blessings from the Divine before learning begins. This philosophy reflects the values of humility, gratitude, discipline, and respect that have guided Indian performing arts for centuries.

It was only natural that our annual showcase would begin in the very same spirit.

Thus was born Adi-Shakti – Dance of the Divine, a production inspired by the universal creative energy that symbolizes strength, wisdom, compassion, and artistic excellence. Through dance, music, storytelling, and cultural expression, Adi-Shakti celebrated the sacred connection between the performing arts, mentorship, and community.

Adi Shakti (आदि शक्ति) literally means “Primordial Power”, “The Original Divine Energy,” or “The Supreme Creative Force.” In the context of Indian performing arts, Adi Shakti symbolizes

The spiritual foundation from which dance, music, and storytelling emerge.
The divine source of creativity and artistic expression.
The union of grace, strength, rhythm, and knowledge.
The reverence of the Guru–Shishya (teacher–student) tradition.

C.R.Y. America was also because Ms. Hetal’s one of the fundraiser during her college days (in India) was C.R.Y – India.

Building Partnerships Through Arts and Community

During the planning stages of our 2015 recital, Grace And Grooves had the opportunity to collaborate with WE DFW, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering women entrepreneurs and supporting women-owned businesses across the Dallas–Fort Worth region.

As part of a pre-established charitable commitment, the production also supported CRY America Inc., with fundraising goals established through a formal agreement. This initiative transformed the recital into more than a cultural performance—it became an opportunity for audiences, artists, and community members to contribute toward meaningful social impact through the performing arts.

Additional support from community partners, including Eknazar.com and Usha’s Unique Boutique, reflected the collaborative spirit of local businesses investing in arts, education, and cultural programming. Other Media Partners for year round activities for Child Rights and You under Hetal Joshi Nagaraj – Fun Asia.

Following the charitable commitment, remaining proceeds were directed toward initiatives supporting the continued growth of Grace And Grooves‘ educational programs, including talent development opportunities and community-focused creative initiatives that continue to benefit participating students.

A Celebration of Indian Performing Arts in Texas, USA.

Presented by Grace And Grooves, Adi-Shakti – Dance of the Divine was held at the Mustang Park Recreation Center in Irving, Texas, bringing together 40 dancers of Hetal Joshi Nagaraj of various levels under training and 35 adults in models segments.

The production featured:

Dance Students of Grace And Grooves, in various programs.
Professional Dance Students of Grace And Grooves
Program Dance Students of Grace And Grooves – by Auditions.
Fundraisers Seperate Dance Batch Student of Grace And Grooves
Guest performers – not of Grace and Grooves.
Professional model artists – freelancers.
Special appearance performers – not of Grace And Grooves.
Community collaborators – media partners, sponsors to name a few.

Together, they presented a vibrant celebration of India’s rich artistic heritage through a diverse repertoire that included

Bharatanatyam
Indian Folk Dances
Bollywood Dance
Fusion Performances
Contemporary cultural storytelling
Patriotic Performances
Spiritual Performances
Model Showcase
Dance Drama

The performance highlighted not only technical excellence as a curriculam performances by level but also the values of cultural preservation, artistic collaboration, intergenerational learning, and community participation.

Arts as a Vehicle for Education and Community Impact

Adi-Shakti represented more than a stage production—it demonstrated how the performing arts can serve as a platform for education, cultural preservation, nonprofit collaboration, youth leadership, entrepreneurship, and civic engagement.

By connecting artists, families, educators, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and volunteers, the production reinforced Grace And Grooves’ long-standing mission of using dance and performing arts as tools for lifelong learning, community building, and positive social impact.

Today, productions like Adi-Shakti remain an important part of Grace And Grooves’ commitment to advancing arts education, cultural heritage, creative youth development, community partnerships, and inclusive performing arts experiences throughout Texas and beyond.

The Dance of Gods (Adi-Shakti) was made possible by

Dancers and training students of Hetal Joshi Nagaraj, Exclusive to Grace And Grooves.
Professional Students of Hetal Joshi Nagaraj trained for Fashion Show.
Invited Artists for Performances as special guest of honor.
Grace Effects Teams of Hetal Joshi Nagaraj.
Service Providers of Hetal Joshi Nagaraj, The Grace Effects.
Fundraisers of Hetal Joshi Nagaraj.

Venue and Ticketting

Mustang Recreation Center, Irving, Texas, USA – Gymnasium
Audience – 400+ attendees.
Ticketting – http://www.graceandgrooves.com
Program Run Time 4 hours.

Media Partners

Exclusive Media Partner for Recital 2016 – Ek Nazar – http://www.eknazar.com.
Year Round Media Partner – FunAsia – walkathons, ad hoc programs.
Hetal Joshi Nagaraj adopts 1 charity for whole year. It could be temple, some organization or some foundation.
2015-2016 was Child Rights and You – C.R.Y – America. Thus, some media partners or some sponsorships could extend through the whole year.

Sponsorships

Exclusive Media Sponsor for Recital 2016 – Ek Nazar – http://www.eknazar.com.
Featured Sponsorships – Usha’s Unique Boutique, Lewisville, Texas, USA.
- With 35 models trained with full rehearsals under Hetal Joshi M in presence of Ms. Usha(Ms. Usha’s costumes and accessories) Texas All Star Program Launch!
Main Non.Profit Sponsor – WE DFW

Recital Sponsors – 250$ to 1000$.

Usha’s Unique Boutique, Lewisville, Texas, USA.
An ERP International LLC
Jewel Blooms
Sarva Information Systems, Irving, Texas, USA
Make Up By Sushmita
The Grace Effects
JazzIt Up Inc
Ritu’s Handmade Arts (Rituhandmadearts)
hetaln.com, Hetal Joshi Nagaraj (site was not made but was planned to)

Special Thanks – Event Professionals

Nagaraja Kunchum (The Grace Effects-Video, Event Setup)
Gopalaiah Setty (www.thesettys.com)
Phani Pydimarri (Photo Courtesy),
Megha Vyas (M.C.)
Hetal Joshi Nagaraj and her dancers, training students and crew.

Costumes and Jewelry

Adults Elite Team Jewelry by Hetal Joshi Nagaraj.
Adults-Folk Costumes Sponsored by Jazz-It Up Inc.
Kids Costumes – www.graceandgrooves.com – E Commerce Site – Best Sellers Costume.
Dancers Costumes – Designed by Hetal Joshi Nagaraj, manufactured in India and finished in USA-Dallas Texas, USA by Hetal Joshi Nagaraj.
Special Appearance Costumes Sponsored by Usha’s Unique Boutique
Logistics – www.thesettys.com

Guest Solo Artists

Megna Murali (Bharatnatyam Dancer – Tanjore),
Mala Pydimarri (Carnatic Singer)

Megna Murali & Mala Pydimari, Photo Courtesy : Phani Pydimarri , *Photo Edits for Blog : The Grace Effects*

Professional Artists & Special Appearances

Professionally Trained Students for Fashion Show Segment – Hetal Joshi Nagaraj.
Aruna Kavatur (Special Appearances – Goddess Parvati)
Abhishek Maharaja (Special Appearances – Model)
Rashmi Chetan (Professional Dancer-joined Grace And Grooves Adults Elite Team for Recital 2016-Adi.Shakti for the works of Hetal Joshi, Deepthi Chandrasekaran ONLY)
Choreography, logistics exclusive to Hetal Joshi Nagaraj.

Abhishek Maharaja(Ram Maharaja) & Aruna Kavatur, Photo Courtesy : Phani Pydimarri , *Photo Edits for Blog : The Grace Effects*

RashmiChetan — Rashmi Chetan, Photo Courtesy : Phani Pydimarri, *Photo Edits for Blog : The Grace Effects, Jewelry Sponsored by Jazz-It Up Inc.*

Thank you to all our students/parents and friends for being supportive during our very first event with last minute changes.

Special thanks to Parents – Nidhisha Varshney, Anju Mehta during the event to help with costume and makeup preps for Bharatnatyam & Bollywood Students.