Bollywood Academies, Tamil Concerts, and South Asian Traditions Anchor OC Diaspora Life in Tustin
Orange County's South Asian diaspora is keeping its cultural identity alive through dance, music, and time-honored celebrations — with Tustin emerging as a meaningful hub for community expression across South Asian traditions.
🎬 Adaa Dance Academy Brings Bollywood to Tustin
Apra Bhandari, founder of Adaa Dance Academy in Tustin, is on a mission to show Orange County the magic of Bollywood. Born in India and raised in New York, Bhandari studied at Cornell University before returning to Mumbai for six years to pursue acting and film production — immersing herself in the heart of the Bollywood industry. After marrying and relocating to Orange County, she channeled her passion into teaching, starting with just two students in her own living room. Word spread quickly, and in January 2020 she opened a dedicated studio in Tustin with a grand opening that drew excited families from across the region. The academy's curriculum focuses on Bollywood-style dance, blending film choreography with classical Indian movement. When the COVID-19 pandemic forced the studio to close mid-March 2020, Bhandari pivoted to virtual classes, requiring double the energy to keep young dancers engaged through a screen. Her studio has become a cornerstone of South Asian cultural life in Orange County, offering families a space to celebrate Indian heritage while introducing Bollywood's joyful energy to the wider community. "I think everyone needs to try it once in their lifetime to really understand how magical it is," Bhandari told Orange Coast Magazine. [2]
🎉 Southern California Tamil Manram to Present Spoorthi Rao in Celluloid Candlelight Concert
The Southern California Tamil Manram is bringing a celebrated musical event to Orange County with its presentation of Spoorthi Rao in a Celluloid Candlelight Concert. The Tamil Manram is one of the region's active South Asian cultural organizations, regularly curating performances that connect the Tamil-speaking diaspora with music and arts from the Indian subcontinent. The Celluloid Candlelight Concert format blends film-based compositions with live performance in an intimate, atmospheric setting — offering audiences a chance to experience cinematic music in a uniquely personal way. Spoorthi Rao, the featured artist, is recognized within South Asian performance circles for bridging classical and popular Tamil film traditions. Events like this one are vital touchstones for the Tamil and broader South Asian community spread across Southern California, providing not only entertainment but a sense of cultural continuity and collective identity far from home. For the diaspora in Tustin and surrounding Orange County cities, the concert represents an opportunity to gather, share heritage, and introduce the next generation to the rich traditions of Tamil musical culture. Coverage through India Currents, a key media partner for South Asian cultural events across California, helps ensure the South Asian community stays informed about upcoming performances and gatherings. [1]
🪔 Pakistani Community in Tustin Honors Newlyweds with Tradition During Pandemic
When a Pakistani-American couple in Tustin got married during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, their families found creative ways to honor South Asian wedding traditions while adapting to public health restrictions. The resulting reception — described as traditional, yet not — became a thoughtful compromise that blended cherished cultural customs with the practical constraints of a world in lockdown. Pakistani weddings are known for multi-day celebrations, elaborate ceremonies, and large gatherings of extended family, making pandemic-era adjustments particularly challenging for diaspora families accustomed to these rich communal rituals. The Tustin event, covered by the Orange County Register, illustrated how South Asian communities navigated the tension between preserving cultural identity and protecting community health. Rather than forgoing tradition entirely, the families retained key ceremonial elements while scaling down attendance and reimagining the celebration in a more intimate format. The story resonated with South Asian families across Orange County who faced similar dilemmas during the pandemic, and served as a testament to the resilience of diaspora communities determined to honor life's milestones without abandoning the heritage that defines them. [3]
Sources: [2] Orange Coast Mag · [1] indiacurrents.com · [3] Orange County Register