What is the fascination with bhangra culture these days? Is it the heavy beat-driven pulses? The bright and lively costumes or the elaborately choreographed dances? And how has this folk culture spread from pastures in the Punjab to the rest of the world, including BC and the Lower Mainland?
Bhangra is a vibrant form of dance and music that was founded sometime in the 1400s. Bhangra originated in the jungles of a region called Baluchistan (now a part of Pakistan), although it is believed to have roots in ancient cultures from more than a thousand years ago. It is now largely attributed to the Punjab regions of India and Pakistan. Traditionally performed in celebration of the harvest, bhangra performers sing Punjabi Boliyaan lyrics that are often accompanied by the dhol (a large drum). The movements in bhangra, and the types of rhythms generated by the dhol, are varied and expressive. Each move is used in the telling of a specific story, conveying emotion and, typically, has a meaning that is linked to an aspect of rural life.
Bhangra has evolved from a dance and music performed only in the Punjab region to a genre listened to and performed by people of non-Punjabi backgrounds worldwide, with people of all ethnicities dancing and singing on stage or watching in the audience. Bhangra's addictive rhythms can also be found in North American and British pop culture, as artists like Madonna and Britney Spears have incorporated its pulsating beat into their music.
The dance form of bhangra continues to evolve with new traditions emerging as others fade away. Local groups, such as Surrey India Arts Club and the Punjabi Arts Association of Richmond, have thrived for several decades teaching and promoting bhangra and the Punjabi arts. In the Lower Mainland alone there are over 50 bhangra dance teams, varying from school-aged children and collegiate-level dancers, to middle-aged dancers well into their fifties and sixties. Many local dance schools offer bhangra classes to multicultural performers looking to experience and learn more about this infectious dance. High-school students with no previous connection to bhangra are learning to appreciate the dance form, while the mainstream popularity of Punjabi MC's bhangra track, "Beware of the Boys," brought this music into the spotlight.
In January, the top international bhangra dance teams come to Vancouver to perform at the Vancouver International Bhangra Celebration (VIBC), an annual event that takes place in downtown Vancouver. Organized by the VIBC Society, a not-for-profit dedicated to promoting the Indian dance form of bhangra, the event has grown in just two years from a single competition to a much-anticipated community celebration with several events.
This year's celebration incorporated all aspects of bhangra in several events open to the general public. "We wanted to create original events that would appeal to everyone, from small children to seniors," event coordinator Joti Dhesi said. "Besides the bhangra competition,we also had an opening ceremony, a launch party by Beats without Borders, a photo art exhibit and two outdoor mainstage events. It was the first time Vancouver experienced bhangra like this."
Bhangra teams that perform in North America incorporate dance traditions varying from Indian giddha and bharatnatyam to hiphop and cheerleading stunts into their routines. Their dedication to the art form is hard to miss. For the VIBC Bhangra Competition, dance teams trained for months, spent days perfecting their routine, and critiqued and realigned dance formations the night before the event. "You can see the intensity in their eyes when they walk on stage," VIBC Publicist Sukhi Ghuman said. "Whether it's the dancers who performed at the outdoor mainstage events, or the teams at the competition, you can feel the passion they have for bhangra and how much they respect the dance form."
But bhangra is not just for performing on stage. It is the signature dance at Punjabi and many Indian weddings, and at events featuring bhangra music. The dance floor provides the perfect opportunity to try out new moves, or watch others and learn something new. "At the [VIBC] after-party, there were about 200 dancers from the competition on the dance floor pulling out every move they knew," Ghuman said. "It's amazing to watch. While everyone else at the party is trying to put two steps together, these performers are on the floor having dance-offs, dancing in perfect unison with the music, and dancing in a way that shows just how talented they are."
The VIBC Society aims to continue promoting bhangra to the mainstream, encouraging all people to enjoy and celebrate this wonderful dance and music form. This group will continue breaking boundaries within the art world with its unique presentation and support of bhangra and other Punjabi arts.
At this year's Vancouver Folk Music Festival, audience members can look forward to a sample of what the VIBC has to offer, as they watch, listen, participate, and experience bhangra in Vancouver.
(Article by Manjot Bains)
