Bhangra Dance

In the Punjab, young men and women celebrated the April harvest by re-enacting the threshing, sifting and scything movements that typified their agricultural working day. Gradually these were incorporated into a dance form, and dance is fundamental to Bhangra. Wild, energetic masculine Bhangra moves were mirrored and counter pointed by young women in the Gidda dance. Gidda is identified by its unique clapping and intricate foot and hand movements which are similar to Southern Indian Kathak. Bhangra and Gidda developed simultaneously and moved beyond harvest celebrations to be practiced and performed at special occasions such as birthdays, weddings and festivals In fact, Bhangra draws on or has fused dance movements from across the Punjab. As well as Gidda, these include Jhumar, Luddi, Julli, Daankara, Dhamal, Saami, Kikli, and Gatka. In Jhumar, Dhamal and Luddi, dancers circle around the Dholi - drummer - while singing. Julli is a dance associated with Muslim Pirs. Daankara is typically performed at weddings; two men with staffs dance around each other while beating their sticks to the dhol. Saami is a women’s dance, and Kikli features paired female dancers who cross arms and hold hands. Gatka is a Sikh martial art often practiced with swords. Bhangra performances may showcase stunts such as the moor or peacock and two-person towers, pyramids, and various spinning displays are seen at celebrations and demonstrations. Contemporary Bhangra dancing ranges from the simple repetition of well known variations on the dancefloor to elaborate competitive performances by organised teams, often in full folk costume. Teams compete in Bhangra Tournaments for trophies or prize money. Previously a fixture in the Punjab, Bhangra dance competitions have spread very successfully to universities in North America and Canada, and now to community centres in the UK. Birmingham Bhangra Champion Boy Chana himself won a local dance competition held at The Powerhouse club in 1989. The UK has its own Bhangra dancing world champions; Gurcharan Mall’s Nachda Sansaar team twice returned from Chicago with the World Bhangra Dance trophy in 2003 and 2004. Punjabi expatriates in America have started to market Bhangra dance as a kind of keep fit dancerobics. Whatever it may become and wherever it is played and enjoyed, however, Bhangra will always remain powerful, popular dance music. Bhangra Costume Traditionally, male Bhangra dancers and players wear lunghas - a colourful piece of cloth - wrapped around the waist. Men also may wear a kurta, the long Punjabi-style shirt. Typically they may also wear the iconic Sikh turban. Women commonly wear the traditional Punjabi dress, shalwar kameez - a long colourful shirt and full, light trousers. Women may also wear duppattas, colorful pieces of cloth around the head.    However, from 1980's the costumes of heavyweight bands such as Heera, Alaap, Holle Holle, Premi, Kala Preet, Apna Sangeet and Golden Star were sequined glitter top tunics and tops. These were a mixture of the space-age clothes worn by heavy Funk bands like Galaxy and the Jackson 5 and the glitter of earlier UK Glam Rock bands such as The Sweet and Mud. Other bands such as DCS kept to a “smart casual” look throughout their career. In the early 1990’s Apache Indian, Johnny Zee and Bally Sagoo introduced more individualistic dress styles influenced by Reggae and Soul artistes like Bob Marley and Prince. The 90’s dress revolution was led by Achanak, Anamika and Anakhi; glitter tops and sequins were out and Hugo Boss and Versace were in, reflecting the public mood in the post Thatcher years. While The Sahotas threw away their silver for a rugged leather look, other stars including Malkit Singh and Balwinder Safri kept alive the traditional Kurtha Pajama style of Gurdas Mann, Surinder Shinda and Kuldeep Manak. On the dancefloor, styles reflected the mix and match approach adopted by the bands. Girls at Daytimers who should have been at school or college changed in the club toilets into costumes and hairstyles that were a mix of Bollywood Glam and the soul outfits of Disco Queens: Aretha Frankiln, Gloria Gaynor and Gloria Estefan. The standard was set by Kamaljit Neeru, Parmjit Pammi, Balvir Bobby and Sangeeta. Bhangra boys mixed and matched as well, sometimes adopting the super-starched black turbans worn by Vijay of Achanak and Surjit of Anakhi or the colourful ones of Malkit or Safri. Whatever the head gear or lack of it, smart suits and casuals typified the “Asian Latino” style. Comments (0) Write comment Name Comment Add Comment