Monsoon Dance Company Presents Finding my 'Dha' at ODC Theater

By Veronica Silk

The first time I took a choreography class with Karishma Sharma in 2023, I was utterly mesmerized by her movement choices. The way she transitioned so seamlessly from Kathak to contemporary dance was breathtaking, an interchanging flow that felt both grounded in tradition and full of innovation. Her essence was magnetic, and I couldn't take my eyes off her. Fast forward to June 2025, Finding My 'Dha' premiered at the LeFevre Theater at Saint Mary's College of California as Karishma's culminating MFA thesis performance. You can imagine it was nothing short of extraordinary. 

Now, we are blessed with the chance to experience this brilliant work again as it returns to the stage at ODC Theater, September 19-21, 2025, enriched with new layers, perspectives, and additions.

When I first saw Finding My 'Dha' premiere, it was a 25-minute work composed of 11 short yet intricately connected sections. Each section flowed seamlessly into the next, interlaced with questions of foreignness, belonging, resistance, and evolution. Karishma explored the integration of diverse dance languages deeply woven into her body while embodying profound storytelling. The result was magical and whimsical, yet raw, grounded, and deeply human. This work is thoughtfully curated as it unpacks the tension between her American and Indian identities, as well as the layered realities of both. 

The performance opened with Searching for My Dha, a mesmerizing solo performed in a stunning red dress. The lighting cascading down on her set the atmosphere perfectly, and the captivating rhythms of her bare feet striking the stage, fused with the music, created an unforgettable moment. Her musicality was unmatched, and those sounds added a depth I didn’t even know I was craving. Throughout the piece, Karishma challenged cultural monoliths and assumptions. In the sections NRI Talk, One Box, and US and India Voices, she explored this inquiry even further. One particularly striking moment unfolded in US and India Voices, when she stepped back from dancing altogether, allowing the choreography of the lights to carry the movement. The effect was remarkable, and it took my breath away. 

While much of Finding My 'Dha' centered Karishma as a solo performer, the work also welcomed other dancers into her world. In this upcoming rendition, she will be joined by Poonam Singh, Ruchi Gupta, and Maxine Flasher-Duzgunes, dancers in her dance company, Monsoon Dance Company. There’s even a heartwarming cameo from her daughters, Ayesha Mehta and Zara Mehta, offering the perfect touch of comic relief within this layered work.

But rather than give too much away, I’ll stop here, because this is a performance you truly must experience for yourself. With the addition of four new sections, choreographed in close collaboration with her dancers, music composers, costume and lighting designers, the work has grown in depth and brilliance. Combined with the expanded casting and Karishma’s ever-evolving artistry, this next staging of Finding My 'Dha' promises to be nothing short of breathtaking. Trust me, you do not want to miss it.

Monsoon Dance Company presents
Finding My 'Dha'
September 19–21, 2025
Friday & Saturday at 8:00pm; Sunday at 4:00pm
ODC Theater | 3153 17th St, San Francisco, CA 94110

Click here for more info and tickets

Concept & Choreography: Karishma Sharma in collaboration with dance artists
Performers: Karishma Sharma, Poonam Singh, Ruchi Gupta, Maxine Flasher-Duzgunes, Ayesha Mehta, Zara Mehta

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Veronica Silk (she/her) is an Atlanta-based dance artist, educator, and choreographer whose work centers on empowerment, expression, and social justice. She holds an MFA in Creative Practice in Dance from Saint Mary’s College of California, as well as a BFA in Dance from New World School of the Arts, graduating summa cum laude. Veronica has performed and created work internationally in Brazil, Puerto Rico, and the Czech Republic, and has collaborated with notable organizations such as the Atlanta Dance Collective, the Aurora Theatre, and the Atlanta Opera, among others. As a dedicated arts educator, she has directed dance programs, chaired the Dance Department of Georgia’s Governor’s Honors Program, and served on the board of the Dance Education Society of Georgia. Her work is infused with the pride of her identity as a Black woman, utilizing movement to amplify her voice and envision liberated futures. (Ig:veronica_silk, www.veronicasilkdance.com)