Diwali Dance Fest lights up Disney World Florida

Over 400 young dancers from all over the United States gathered at Disney Springs® and Disney's Animal Kingdom® Theme Park in October for the first-ever Youth Celebration of Diwali, presented by Jashn Productions. The three-day dance festival was directed by Jashn Productions' Jeanie Beri and was a visual and auditory feast.

"Bringing Diwali to Walt Disney World® Resort for the first time ever was so exhilarating," said Beri. "We created history by sharing the joy and excitement of this important festival with the South Asian dance community. Celebrating the magic of Diwali in The Most Magical Place on Earth was truly a dream come true. Jashn Productions is looking forward to bringing people together to celebrate the rich cultural heritage of South Asia with future events like the Diwali Dance Fest”

Jashn Productions director Jeanie Beri with DDF team / Image - Geo Media Co.

The festival kicked off with an official parade at Disney Springs®, where dancers performed a 20-minute choreographed piece. The Dance Fest Showcase, held at Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park included 17 dance schools and performances from various states of India including Gujarat, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh weaving elements of pop and hip-hop. The evening was hosted by Television personality Nisha Mathur and actress Sway Bhatia.

A first-of-its-kind celebration, the Diwali Dance Fest gave children the opportunity to showcase their talent on a world-renowned platform. According to a release, over 1,000 guests experienced the sights and sounds of Diwali in the resort's Theater in the Wild as it echoed with the sounds of Indian music, and thunderous applause and cheers.

Diwali Dance Fest team /

“We extend our heartfelt appreciation and kudos to the entire DDF team for orchestrating the spectacular first-ever Diwali Dance Fest Showcase and Parade at Walt Disney World. It was an extraordinary event, leaving us all with cherished memories and hearts brimming with joy! All the performances were beautiful, and it was evident that they poured their heart and soul into every dance, every step, and every expression. The Showcase was not just a celebration of a cultural tradition but a representation of unity and the power of art to bridge gaps and bring people together” said California-based ICC Bollywood directors, Amit and Hiren.

“The punctuality, coordination and professionalism by the Jashn Productions team were remarkable. You have set the bar very high. Thank you so much for including us and we appreciate the amount of thought, love, and effort that went into this” said DanceFlix Academy a dance school based in Georgia.

On the occasion, Jashn Productions donated US$10,000 to the N-Lorem Foundation, which works to discover, develop, and provide personalized experimental ASO medicines for free to patients with nano-rare conditions.