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REVIEW / REPORTRiVAH Festival: A flow of Arts in Houston- Sangamithra NarasimhanPhotos: Golden Ray Photo and Video June 8, 2026 On Sunday, May 17, Houston's arts community gathered to celebrate RiVAH, VAH's (Virtual Arts for Humanity) fifth anniversary Festival of Arts. Founded during the pandemic by dancer and musician Varsha Vasu, VAH is a nonprofit dedicated to connecting performing arts with service and philanthropy. VAH has spent the last five years bringing together artists and creators through multidisciplinary performances rooted in a philanthropic mission. Through its efforts, VAH has also distributed nearly 150,000 meals to families in need via Feeding America, while platforming over 600 performing and visual artists through their merit-based, innovative curation approach. VAH's program was funded in part by the City of Houston: a testament to their work over the years. I had the unique opportunity to be part of RiVAH as a volunteer, gaining insight not only into the performances themselves, but also into the tremendous collaborative effort required to bring together such a large-scale arts celebration. Nearly 100 artists from across the United States and Canada came together to share their artistry and commemorate VAH's five-year milestone. This year's thematic focus centered on water and flow, hence the festival name 'RiVAH,' creating a cohesive artistic thread that flowed through the evening's diverse performances. RiVAH brought together artists across dance, music, and visual arts traditions, each presenting their own interpretation of this elemental theme. Beyond the stage, RiVAH embraced its community-centered spirit through family friendly activities including a DJ by Alek Caro, face painting by Saleha, a matcha popup by Bessie & The Beans, appetizers from LMIG, beautifully designed VAH T-shirts, a photo wall, and so much more. The event was beautifully captured in photo and video by GoldenRay. The show opened with Travis High School Varsity Orchestra, led by Sabrina Behrens. Their grand presentation of Three Sketches for Unblemished Earth, a work exploring different states of water: Calm, Unsettled, Uncertain, and Flowing, set a majestic tone for the festival. Next on to the stage came performers/directors Vidhya Madhubala Rajasekar and Vijaya Vasavi Sreenivasan with their students from the Nrithya Geetham School of Arts. Their Bharatanatyam performance was well-coordinated and featured tasteful props embodying the elemental theme. Houston artists Tarik Clark and Philip Zimmerle then blended jazz saxophone and guitar in a performance that included a rendition of the popular 1990s hit Waterfalls, offering a wonderful contemporary interpretation of the evening's theme. Rising Stars Academy of Dance and Performing Arts (RSA) directed by Denisea Woodard featured a graceful contemporary dance group, who represented the theme with grace through movement, props, and relevant song choices. Docapella, the Texas Medical Center's premier a cappella group, sang with heart, showcasing the wide possibilities of voice alone.  Arrthami Siva-Kuruvinth & Ragamalika Mohanraj Another memorable presentation was an Odissi and Bharatanatyam duet honoring India's sacred rivers, including Ganga, Yamuna, Kaveri, and Godavari, presented by dancers Ragamalika Mohanraj and Arrthami Siva-Kuruvinth. The piece was beautifully accompanied by a live orchestra featuring vocalists Sruthi Srivathson and Tejaswani Jaganathan, violin by Pranav Praveen, flute by Srikar Satish, and percussionists Naga Srinidhi Kuruvada and Prashant Kumar, which brought the rivers' movement and spirit to life. Akshitha Singathi's Kuchipudi performance featured a beautiful painting of Krishna to an original song, Krishna Nee Ada, composed in music by Varsha Vasu. The Carnatic live orchestra accompanied Akshitha, bringing out the emotional tones of Kapi Ragam with sensitivity.  Jugalbandhi RiVAH brought together more unique collaborations, such as a Jugalbandhi presentation bringing together North Indian and South Indian music and dance. The dance section ended with a vibrant Thillana/Tarana in Saranga ragam, featuring dancers/choreographers Akhila Rajesh presenting Bharatanatyam, Samanvitha Kasthuri presenting Kathak, and Sivani Kaza and Arohi Dandawate presenting Kuchipudi, and the live orchestra who performed the complex rhythmic patterns with ease. The music was composed by Varsha Vasu, with lyrics describing Buddha in the Pali language.  Hindustani orchestra  Carnatic orchestra Krishna Gana Sudha (KGS) Music Academy, featuring disciples of Rajarajeshwary Bhat, excelled with mellifluous vocals and live keyboard. The grand finale featured Pranavam Violin Academy, featuring disciples of Mahesh Iyer, performing Jamboopathe, a sublime composition aptly fit to the theme. In between performances, RiVAH also featured conversations with distinguished educators in the classical arts community, including Padmini Chari, Indrani Parthasarathi, Lavanya Rajagopalan, Supradipta Datta, Shiva Mathur, Uma Nagarsheth, and Venugopal Joysula, among other respected guests. These panel-style discussions explored both the rewards and challenges of sustaining an artistic life, from creative roadblocks and artistic collaboration to navigating the realities of being creators in today's world. VAH was also proud to honor several supporters throughout the program: Rajani Priya Ayilavarapu from U&I, curator Jay Stone, prior Chief of Staff in Houston Munira Banjee, and The Vasu Family. The VAH Team was also honored with certificates and proclamations from Houston officials. VAH not only provides opportunities for artists to showcase their talents, but also works toward addressing food insecurity through its partnership with Feeding America. Its commitment to both artistic excellence and service continue to define its mission. The event was supported by the efforts of the volunteer leaders on The VAH Team, many of whom flew in from across the country to run this festival. RiVAH was not only a celebration of artistic expression, but also a reminder of the ways in which art can bring communities together with purpose and intention. As Houston's respected teacher and arts leader Dr. Rathna Kumar noted, "VAH doesn't stick to run-of-the-mill programs. They have a broad vision, and what they are doing is truly, truly commendable." I could not agree more. RiVAH was a gift to Houston's arts community, and I look forward to seeing what lies ahead for VAH as it continues building bridges through art and philanthropy.  Sangamithra Narasimhan is a musician and Bharatanatyam dancer based in Houston, TX. |
