Mandala Makers Festival 2025
Athenaeum Center for Thought & Culture
- 2936 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60657
- 9/5/2025 6:00 PM, 9/6/2025 4:00 PM, 9/7/2025 2:00 PM
Mandala Makers Festival is an annual platform that supports emerging South Asian performing artists. The festival holds space for artists to progress and challenge traditions of the South Asian diaspora. This year marks the seventh edition of MMF, bringing a new set of dance and music performances, including classical and folk traditions of South Asia, and for the first time, a South Asian-inspired EDM!
This festival is made possible with major support from The Richard Driehaus Foundation.
September 5
Contemporary and EDM: Friday
Join us Friday, September 5th, in Lakeview, Chicago, for Contemporary Day at the Mandala Makers Festival—a high-energy night spotlighting cutting-edge South Asian and Desi talent. Featuring Indian contemporary dance, experimental performances, and a late-night EDM party with live DJs, including Atish Mehta spinning beats with a South Asian twist. It’s a fresh take on bold, modern, and unforgettable Desi culture.
Free with RSVP before 8:30 PM | $40 after
Athenaeum Center for Thought & Culture, Lakeview, Chicago
6PM – 8PM: Contemporary Dance and Music Performances
6 – Open Mic
6:35 – Raji Venkat & Pavitra
7:10 – Talha Waqar
7:35 Mandala Ensemble
September 6
Folk and Bollywood: Saturday
Celebrate the heart and soul of Desi tradition on Folk & Bollywood Day — Saturday, September 6th, in Lakeview, Chicago. Enjoy a colorful mix of South Asian folk music, colorful dances, and high-energy Bollywood performances. From Punjabi dhol beats to dazzling group choreo, this day brings together local and national talent for an unforgettable cultural showcase.
Free daytime performances | Evening party tickets available
Athenaeum Center for Thought & Culture, Lakeview, Chicago
September 7
Classical Dance and Music: Sunday
Close out the weekend with grace and tradition at Classical Day — Sunday, September 7th, in Lakeview, Chicago. Featuring masterful performances in Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Carnatic, and Hindustani music, this day honors the depth and beauty of South Asian classical arts. From seasoned artists to rising stars, experience the timeless power of South Asian tradition in an intimate and inspiring setting.
Free daytime performances
Athenaeum Center for Thought & Culture, Lakeview, Chicago
2PM – 6PM: Classical Dance & Music Performances
2 – Chicago Jamrock Collective
2:30 – Anindita X Shreevidhya
2:55 – Praveen Pandikaran – Carnatic Guitar
3:30 – Mandala Ensemble
4 – Rini
5:50 Aikyam
6:15 – Navarasa
Artist Line Up 2025
Atish
Atish is a globally recognized deep house DJ, producer, and co-founder of the boundary-pushing label Manjumasi. Known for his emotive sets blending deep house, Romanian minimal, progressive house, and artful techno, Atish creates musical journeys that resonate deeply with diverse audiences. Over the past 15 years, he has performed at premier stages including Coachella, Robot Heart at Burning Man, Cityfox (NYC), Kater Blau (Berlin), and The Bow (Buenos Aires). His original productions appear on acclaimed labels such as Anjunadeep, Rebellion (Crosstown Rebels), Stil Vor Talent, Vivrant, and Satya. With a distinctive blend of musicality and emotional depth, Atish breaks the mold of the faceless DJ, connecting directly with crowds and curating immersive, human-centered experiences. He’s also the creator of Late Night Tonite, a hybrid event series merging artist interviews and live sets. Atish stands at the forefront of a new generation of South Asian electronic artists reshaping global dance culture.
Rini
Shifting South Asian classical elements toward pop and jazz sensibilities in a refreshing, organic way, New Jersey-based, Chennai-born singer, composer, and violinist Harini “Rini” Raghavan creates her own version of Indian Jazztronica. Harini draws from her formal training in Carnatic music and work at Berklee College of Music to bring together the sounds and music of her birthplace in India and her home in the US. She leads a group of acclaimed NYC-based musicians from different countries that add their unique musical influences to create ‘a powerful contemporary Carnatic/electronic fusion sound’ as described by Rolling Stone India. Rini received a 2023 Fellowship from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, is a part of the 2023 Grammy nominated record 'Shuruaat' by the Berklee Indian Ensemble, 2023 Global Music Awards Silver Medalist for her song 'Magizhini' and tours with Grammy nominated American Patchwork Quartet as a lead singer/violinist.
Jimmy Singh
DJ Jimmy Singh is a cornerstone of Chicago’s South Asian music scene, known for his electrifying DJ sets that blend Bollywood, Bhangra, and contemporary Desi beats. With over 18 years of experience, Jimmy is the founder of Bhangratheque—Chicago’s original and monthly South Asian dance party, which helped shape the city’s Desi nightlife in top venues. He’s performed at major events like the Chicago Summer Festival, WBEZ Chicago Live, and dozens of cultural celebrations across the Midwest. A true tastemaker, Jimmy has shared the stage with global artists including Panjabi MC, Delhi 2 Dublin, DJ Rekha, and Red Baraat, earning widespread respect as both a DJ and cultural connector. Whether headlining a packed club or igniting a community block party, DJ Jimmy Singh brings unmatched energy and musical range to every set, making him one of the most influential voices in North American Desi nightlife.
The Chicago Jamrock Collective
Randall Jamrok is an up-and-coming tabla player based in Chicago and student of Pandit Samir Chatterjee. He is collaborating with Siddhesh Kudale, a Hindustani vocalist, Sonny Patel, an up-and-coming bansuri (bamboo flute) player in the North Indian classical style, and Akash Joshi, on the harmonium, to create the classical group "The Chicago Jamrok Collective," which is based in tradition but expanding the boundaries of Raga and Tala.
Ochin Pakhi
Ochin Pakhi, “The Unknown Bird,” presents ecstatic songs of the Baul and Fakir––musical mystics from West Bengal, India, and Bangladesh. Soulful singers Subhajit Sengupta and Swarnali Banerjee are accompanied by irresistible grooves of tabla and other percussion beneath sweeping chords of accordion with cello and showered by earthy plucking of traditional instruments like dotara and khamok. Their arrangements are deeply rooted in Bengali folk tradition, yet have their own Chicago twist, bringing cultures together. The centuries-old lyrics cry out for an end to discrimination, for recognizing our common humanity, and for seeking truth and God within each of us.
Aikyam
Aikyam is Chicago’s first classical Indian dance collective specializing in Odissi, one of the oldest and most intricate forms of Indian classical dance. Rooted in the values of artistic unity, cultural preservation, and innovation, Aikyam brings together passionate dancers dedicated to performing, teaching, and evolving the Odissi tradition in the diaspora. Through live stage performances, community workshops, and collaborative choreographies, Aikyam builds a dynamic bridge between South Asian heritage and contemporary expression. The ensemble serves as a cultural anchor for Indian arts in Chicago, offering audiences an authentic yet forward-thinking experience of classical South Asian dance. Whether performing at prestigious festivals or leading educational outreach, Aikyam honors Odissi’s spiritual and narrative depth while inviting new generations to connect with their roots.
SAQIB
Saqib got his start in the electronic music industry when he moved to NYC in 2013 and became the first resident DJ for Members Only. He has an infectious energy that quickly catches those around him. With a unique musical background and eclectic style, DJ’s and dancers alike can easily pick out a Saqib set and production from the rest. Since his first EP in 2013 he has put out more than 30 releases hitting the Beatport charts in the genres of deep house, tech house, organic house, and minimal/ dub techno. In 2021, Saqib was listed in the Top 100 Producers of the Year by 1001 Tracklists, a list featuring artists leading the sound to new places. In 2022 he started his own record label, Beats On Time. In 2023, he released music with Adam Ten’s Maccabi House, Lump Records, Beats On Time, and an EP on Abracadabra.
Anindita Anaam x Shreevidya Vijayan
Grounded in a strong foundation in Bharatanatyam, Sreevidhya V has been recognized with numerous accolades, including the Natya Idol Champion title and the Guru Shri Adyar K. Lakshman Memorial Prize. Her notable performances include appearances at the Soorya Festival’s Rhythm chapter and a principal role in The Story of Ram at Chicago’s Harris Theater, where she brought classical storytelling to life with grace and precision. Anindita Anaam is a nationally and internationally acclaimed Kathak artist, celebrated for her rhythmic mastery, emotive storytelling, and commitment to preserving and evolving North Indian classical dance. She has performed at prestigious venues including the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Rubin Museum in New York, the Harris Theater and Navy Pier in Chicago, and Toronto’s Native Art Center, captivating audiences across continents with the depth and dynamism of Kathak tradition.
Mandala Ensemble
The Mandala Ensemble is made up of Keeley Morris, Greer Hutchinson, Ruby Levin, and Sandy Perez. This talented group combines different cultures and dance forms to create a powerful performance.
Deadstream
Deadstream is the electronic music alias of Svanik Tandon, a New York City–based producer and DJ crafting immersive sonic experiences at the intersection of ambient electronica, club-driven beats, and analog experimentation. Drawing from his background in science and engineering, Deadstream’s sound is defined by cosmic textures, intricate signal manipulation, and esoteric sound design that bridges meditative ambiance with maximalist, dance-floor-ready energy. His music explores the limitless parameter space of analog synthesis, combining introspective atmospheres with percussive grooves inspired by global electronic traditions. A rising figure in the experimental electronic music scene, Svanik has performed regularly across Atlanta and New York, both at live venues and independent radio shows. With each set, Deadstream invites listeners into a genre-blurring space where deep listening and physical movement coexist.
G-Tam
G-Tam, the stage name of Gautam Murali, is a dynamic Desi DJ and music producer originally from Zambia. Raised in a multicultural environment, he developed a rich musical palette early on, ranging from African folk and Bollywood hits to techno, kuthu, trance, and Western classical music. What began as a hobby in high school remixing tracks evolved into a professional career that now places him among the most recognized figures in the USA Desi-Dance Network (DDN). G-Tam co-founded DDN Sound, a hub for aspiring South Asian DJs, producers, and instrumentalists to gain hands-on training in live performance, music production, and percussion. His genre-bending sets fuse cultural influences with club energy, earning him a loyal following in the South Asian nightlife scene.
Nate Torrence-American Alghoza
Chicago-based musician Nate Torrence and Kolkata-born tabla artist Abhijit Kastha come together in a dynamic collaboration rooted in South Asian folk and classical traditions. Nate, originally trained in jazz, found new musical purpose through the Sindhi alghoza (double flute), becoming a student of Akbar Khamisu Khan and performing across the U.S., Pakistan, Canada, and the U.K. Abhijit, a graduate of Rabindra Bharati University, is a seasoned performer who has accompanied leading classical musicians at major venues like Mumbai’s National Centre for Performing Arts. Together, they blend Sindhi folk melodies and Indian classical rhythm to create immersive, cross-cultural soundscapes that celebrate tradition while inviting global dialogue.
RVD Academy
RVD Academy is the Midwest’s largest and most dynamic Bhangra academy, with classes across Michigan and Illinois. Dedicated to preserving and spreading the energy of Punjabi folk dance, RVD trains dancers of all ages and skill levels while building community through movement and music. Known for their electrifying performances, RVD has appeared on competitive Bhangra stages nationwide and recently brought down the house at the Diljit Dosanjh concert in 2023. With a mission to promote Bhangra culture worldwide, they deliver high-energy shows that celebrate Punjabi heritage and captivate diverse audiences across the U.S. Whether performing at large-scale events or teaching in local studios, RVD Academy brings unmatched passion, rhythm, and joy to every beat of the dhol.
DJ Nandu x DJ KOD
DJ Nandu is a self-taught Bollywood-fusion DJ. Blending together Indian and Western Music, performances by DJ Nandu are sure to get the crowd going. His passion for music stems from a very young age playing Piano, Guitar, and Drums. As time passed, his love for music was equally matched with his passion for dance. But couldn't vibe to his local DJ, and so DJ Nandu was born. Getting his start through the University of Wisconsin-Madison, he has grown to play all over the country. While Bollywood music is his forte, DJ Nandu loves to mix different genres of music together to appeal to all types of crowds. Recently he got accepted to be a DJ for the Milwaukee Bucks!
Do The Needful
more information coming soon!
