Ohio, USA: The grand opening of ‘Dance with Rupesh–Global Dance Studio’ was held on Sunday, September 20, in Fairfield, Ohio, amid a special ceremony attended by distinguished personalities from various fields.
The studio has been established with the objective of preserving and promoting Nepali art, culture and dance while passing these traditions on to the younger generation.
Ribbon-Cutting and Lamp-Lighting Ceremony
The official inauguration began with a ribbon-cutting ceremony jointly performed by Fairfield City Vice Mayor Debbie Pennington, special guest DLana Davenport, and Pushpa Luitel, President of the Bhutanese Community of Cincinnati (BCC).
Following the ribbon-cutting ceremony, studio founder, senior dance director and artist Rupesh Upreti formally inaugurated the studio by lighting the traditional ceremonial lamp.
Appreciation for Nepali Art and Community Initiatives
Speaking at the event, Chief Guest and Fairfield Vice Mayor Debbie Pennington praised the Nepali community’s initiative to promote art and culture alongside entrepreneurship at the local level.
She congratulated the studio on its establishment and wished it success in the days ahead. She also expressed her commitment to continued support from the city for creative and community-oriented initiatives by the Nepali community.
Similarly, special guest Dr. Virginia Scott, founder of LungVive Nonprofit and Associate Vice President at CareSource, praised the outstanding dance performances by the studio’s students, particularly their energy, talent and discipline.
She also expressed her intention to invite dancers from the studio to participate in various major events to be organized in the future.
Artists and Community Leaders Gather from Across the United States
The grand opening brought together artists, social workers and community leaders from different states across the United States.
Among those attending were the INAS Regional Coordinator from Maryland, Rahul KC of INAS North America, senior film director Gopal Chandra Lamichhane, and Suman Dahal, Vice President of INAS America and a film director based in Kentucky.
More than 30 distinguished guests were also present, including community leaders and intellectuals Tikaram Subedi, Rajan Chauhan, Dr. Bhola Shiwakoti, Suraj Gurung, Hari Subedi, Sita Regmi, Anita Shrestha, Bishnu Sapkota, Bishnu Kharel, and Prakash Mishra, among others.
Student Performances and Premiere of ‘Baba Chora’
One of the major highlights of the event was a series of vibrant cultural and dance performances by students of the studio. Their energetic performances added excitement and color to the ceremony.
The event also featured the official release and special screening of the much-anticipated music video ‘Baba Chora’, starring and directed by Rupesh Upreti and Aarav Upreti.
The video’s presentation, choreography and production received enthusiastic attention from the audience and guests.
New INAS Ohio Executive Committee Formed
On the same occasion, a new executive committee of the International Nepali Artists Society (INAS), Ohio Chapter, was unanimously formed through the special initiative of Raju KC and Rahul KC.
The new executive committee, chaired by senior dance director and artist Rupesh Upreti, is as follows:
President: Rupesh Upreti
Vice President: Keshav Paudel
General Secretary: Tularam Adhikari
Treasurer: Hem Phuyal
Executive Members:
David Dhakal
Prakash Ghimire
Sharda Dhital
Durga Bantawa Rai
Dilli Chamlagain
Advisor: Pushpa Luitel
The program was chaired by Rupesh Upreti, while newly appointed General Secretary Tularam Adhikari served as the master of ceremonies.
Cultural Performances and Musical Presentation
Towards the end of the program, a special Teej dance performance was presented. Artists, guests and parents joined in the celebration and danced to traditional Teej songs.
Adding further excitement to the evening, ‘Garjan’, a young band from Cincinnati, delivered a lively musical performance that energized the atmosphere.
Concluding the event, Chairperson Rupesh Upreti expressed his gratitude to all the guests, parents, media representatives and supporters who attended the ceremony.
He reaffirmed his commitment to keeping Nepali identity, art and culture alive in Ohio through the continued activities of Dance with Rupesh–Global Dance Studio.
