Neha Skandan ’21 has spent the last decade learning about Indian cultural dance, culminating in a four-hour solo performance this July at Lehigh University’s Zoellner Arts Center.

Called an Arangetram, Neha’s debut on stage in front of 350 friends and family not only marked a milestone in her dance career - but a way to give back. “Ever since I started dancing at four years old, I fell in love with the art of Indian classical dance,” said Neha. “It’s fascinating because it encompasses so many different styles - slow dances, fast dances, dances that tell a story - that it has the ability to appeal to a wide variety of people.”

An Arangetram, which translates literally to ‘climbing the stage,’ is a cultural tradition that marks the pathway for a dancer to then perform alone or be able to give training to other dancers. Preparing for her recital took two years of intense practice, including daily rehearsals of intricate routines.

Customarily, guests who attend arangetrams bring gifts as part of the celebration to present to the celebrated dancer. But Neha opted to have the gifts go towards a greater cause. In the months leading up to the recital, Neha visited the headquarters of Meals on Wheels of Greater Lehigh Valley, an organization she learned about through her parents several years ago, and made the decision to donate all the proceeds from her event to the organization.

“The organization has come up with such a creative, organized, and effective solution to deliver meals to those unable to leave their homes, make their own meals, or go to the grocery store,” shared Neha. “I wanted to make a positive impact and thought my dance recital would be a perfect way to spread awareness and fundraise on the non-profit’s behalf.”

In total, Neha raised close to $1,000 for Meals on Wheels thanks to the generosity of the guests who attended her recital, including many Moravian Academy faculty members. Neha plans to continue to support the organization and encourages anyone interested to learn more about the community organization by visiting their website at https://mowglv.org/.

This article originally appeared in the 2019 Moravian Academy Fall Journal.