For any generation regardless of culture, there are societal bonds that link otherwise disconnected individuals. From wars and tragedy to entertainment and politics, members of the same generation are tied together with the thread of a shared perspective on the experiences that define them.

But in the years that separate mother from daughter, a space where handed-down traditions are abandoned and tales from elders forgotten, there exists chasms of misunderstanding.

In this case, the gap between the generations is half a world wide.

Vineeta Parupudi and Nikhila Sridhar, ages 14 and 15 and students at Kirkland’s International Community School, know their own upbringing on the Eastside can never offer a complete picture of the Indian heritage their parents know.

Instead they settle for snippets of a world they have never known; evenings spent inside Veda Temple in Redmond, where the strip mall exterior does nothing to alter the reverence and cultural richness within.

Along with around a dozen others, the two are there as part of Nrityalaya Dance school, practicing for an upcoming performance in Kirkland that will showcase hours of work and more importantly, the cultural connection they so desperately crave.

“My mom was a dancer in India,” Parupudi said. “Dancing makes me feel like I’m connecting to India and the culture.” While their 21st Century Western childhoods can approximate the experiences of past generations to only a degree, Nrityalaya and the chance to connect with the Indian community at-large certainly helps.

“I love the cultural immersion,” said Sahana Cidambi, also a 15-year-old and a student at Redmond High School. “I really value and take pride in the culture and the chance to be part of it.”

The performance is the culmination of months of rehearsal and another step in the process of becoming a guru of the discipline, should they choose such a path. While using dance to bridge the generational and cultural gaps for local Indian women is the principle focus, work ethic and collective consciousness also take center stage and connect the focal points of the school with common American ideals.

“It’s just a different experience,” Sridhar said. “Dancing makes the connection more real for us. It’s more than just the stories.”