UNC Bhangra Elite @ BIB 5

[metalgearpaneer]

There are two main factors to any routine - cleanliness and creativity.


You guys are extremely clean and the routine was beautifully executed. To the latter, I give you almost full marks. (Mistakes were still made) You guys are creative and definitely one of the more creative collegiate teams. But compared against what we've seen from independent teams in the past 2 months (Idols, Burgh..etc), you fall short in regards to pushing the envelope. Your creativity is subtle and still refreshing and you are definitely the hottest collegiate team out there now, but this was not "next level" nor did I think it was "hands-down first". Those who thought so should re-evaluate what that really means before jumping that bandwagon. I'm not saying this didn't deserve first because I wasn't at Burgh and I don't know the technicalities of what went down, but I'm failing to see the hype everyone on BTF seems to be pumping into this performance. A lot of your x-factors were variations and recycle of ideas already executed by other teams. I'm not looking down on them, but I'm saying it's nothing new or out-of-the-box.


To re-iterate, extremely clean, one of the best collegiate team performances in recent months, but creativity still falls short when compared to the independent teams.

Definitely appreciate the feedback, we will be adding it to our list of things to work on for the spring time, thank you

 

[J Wong]

There are two main factors to any routine - cleanliness and creativity.


You guys are extremely clean and the routine was beautifully executed. To the latter, I give you almost full marks. (Mistakes were still made) You guys are creative and definitely one of the more creative collegiate teams. But compared against what we've seen from independent teams in the past 2 months (Idols, Burgh..etc), you fall short in regards to pushing the envelope. Your creativity is subtle and still refreshing and you are definitely the hottest collegiate team out there now, but this was not "next level" nor did I think it was "hands-down first". Those who thought so should re-evaluate what that really means before jumping that bandwagon. I'm not saying this didn't deserve first because I wasn't at Burgh and I don't know the technicalities of what went down, but I'm failing to see the hype everyone on BTF seems to be pumping into this performance. A lot of your x-factors were variations and recycle of ideas already executed by other teams. I'm not looking down on them, but I'm saying it's nothing new or out-of-the-box.


To re-iterate, extremely clean, one of the best collegiate team performances in recent months, but creativity still falls short when compared to the independent teams.

This is what I like about Kinnell, he says it how it is.

 

[anuRAGE]

This is such a beautiful performance, congrats and especially to all the newbies, I couldn't even tell who you were


what is the jhummar song at 3:32?

 

[campy614]

On a side note: at one point I was watching the non Indian and nonpakistAni dancers on your team who I assume have no prior experience of bhangra before college and even their form was on point....a true testament your guys' hardwork to make sure everyone is on the same page.

Ok, I didn't watch the video yet-because there's no volume on my work computer, and playing it under these conditions wouldn't do the performance any justice.

But I just wanted to comment on this. I don't know about Alan, Jordan (VCU/KGPD/various other teams), Scott and Joey (Rochester/AEG and TBT/HNG/AEG respectively), Danny (Northeastern/FAUJ), or many of the other amazing non desi dancers in the circuit-but being a white, beginning dancer never meant that I was any weaker than the other beginners who started with me. We all did the same amount of work, and put in the same amount of practice hours. We all started on the same page, learned together, and in our video (which even if I could find, it I wouldn't post it!) we all looked alike.

One of my teammates was Matt, who was also white. When it came to cultural background knowledge-compared to everyone else, we were lost (moreso me, because Matt was a genius). But that's a different subject completely. Also, it's not like we were given a pop quiz on stage about bhangra and Punjabi culture. We were dancing on stage... and that was really it. Oh yeah, and Matt was the top of a tower! The rest we learned on the way.

I think it's easier to spot us on stage, because no matter what color we're wearing-we stick out like sore thumbs. But truth of the matter is a great bhangra dancer is a great bhangra dancer-whether he/she is Punjabi, black, white, Chinese, or half filipino/half guatemalan.

 

[The_Kraken]

Congrats UNC! Very clean and very impressive. Excellent video angle as well

 

[pushpit]

Sick performance guys, keep it up!

 

[ajsahota12]

what a greatt intro video! congrats guys.. im sure u guys worked hard and it all paid offf! reallyyy clean videoo.. the asain guy wasss maddd iiiilll

 

[dii182]

Awesome performance guys!!

 

[J Wong]

On a side note: at one point I was watching the non Indian and nonpakistAni dancers on your team who I assume have no prior experience of bhangra before college and even their form was on point....a true testament your guys' hardwork to make sure everyone is on the same page.

Ok, I didn't watch the video yet-because there's no volume on my work computer, and playing it under these conditions wouldn't do the performance any justice.

But I just wanted to comment on this. I don't know about Alan, Jordan (VCU/KGPD/various other teams), Scott and Joey (Rochester/AEG and TBT/HNG/AEG respectively), Danny (Northeastern/FAUJ), or many of the other amazing non desi dancers in the circuit-but being a white, beginning dancer never meant that I was any weaker than the other beginners who started with me. We all did the same amount of work, and put in the same amount of practice hours. We all started on the same page, learned together, and in our video (which even if I could find, it I wouldn't post it!) we all looked alike.

One of my teammates was Matt, who was also white. When it came to cultural background knowledge-compared to everyone else, we were lost (moreso me, because Matt was a genius). But that's a different subject completely. Also, it's not like we were given a pop quiz on stage about bhangra and Punjabi culture. We were dancing on stage... and that was really it. Oh yeah, and Matt was the top of a tower! The rest we learned on the way.

I think it's easier to spot us on stage, because no matter what color we're wearing-we stick out like sore thumbs. But truth of the matter is a great bhangra dancer is a great bhangra dancer-whether he/she is Punjabi, black, white, Chinese, or half filipino/half guatemalan.

Speaking words of truth.

 

[imsunnysingh]

Overall very clean set, very impressed. Although i gotta say not likin the vardiyan, gray works w/the blue but peach n yellow not so much. Congrats on 1st!

 

[romes904]

There are two main factors to any routine - cleanliness and creativity.


You guys are extremely clean and the routine was beautifully executed. To the latter, I give you almost full marks. (Mistakes were still made) You guys are creative and definitely one of the more creative collegiate teams. But compared against what we've seen from independent teams in the past 2 months (Idols, Burgh..etc), you fall short in regards to pushing the envelope. Your creativity is subtle and still refreshing and you are definitely the hottest collegiate team out there now, but this was not "next level" nor did I think it was "hands-down first". Those who thought so should re-evaluate what that really means before jumping that bandwagon. I'm not saying this didn't deserve first because I wasn't at Burgh and I don't know the technicalities of what went down, but I'm failing to see the hype everyone on BTF seems to be pumping into this performance. A lot of your x-factors were variations and recycle of ideas already executed by other teams. I'm not looking down on them, but I'm saying it's nothing new or out-of-the-box.


To re-iterate, extremely clean, one of the best collegiate team performances in recent months, but creativity still falls short when compared to the independent teams.

there are certainly some valid points here. what i will briefly say is, based on personal experience, videos never have and probably never will do justice to b.e. you can't appreciate their technique and grace in a video and you certainly can when you see them live. a unc video to me always looks markedly different from their actual performance.

as others have said, great run and routine for so early in the year. there were certainly some mistakes but i chalk those up to one-offs and am confident they'll get cleaned up as the season goes on. really excited to see what unc brings to the circuit this year. in my opinion, definitely the best collegiate team out there and soon enough we're going to start seeing them give some of the elite independent teams a real run for their money. congrats raj, alan, ameer, akash, bianca, savan, and the rest of b.e. for rocking burgh and getting a well deserved and long overdue 1st place!

 

[voxanimus]

On a side note: at one point I was watching the non Indian and nonpakistAni dancers on your team who I assume have no prior experience of bhangra before college and even their form was on point....a true testament your guys' hardwork to make sure everyone is on the same page.

Ok, I didn't watch the video yet-because there's no volume on my work computer, and playing it under these conditions wouldn't do the performance any justice.

But I just wanted to comment on this. I don't know about Alan, Jordan (VCU/KGPD/various other teams), Scott and Joey (Rochester/AEG and TBT/HNG/AEG respectively), Danny (Northeastern/FAUJ), or many of the other amazing non desi dancers in the circuit-but being a white, beginning dancer never meant that I was any weaker than the other beginners who started with me. We all did the same amount of work, and put in the same amount of practice hours. We all started on the same page, learned together, and in our video (which even if I could find, it I wouldn't post it!) we all looked alike.

One of my teammates was Matt, who was also white. When it came to cultural background knowledge-compared to everyone else, we were lost (moreso me, because Matt was a genius). But that's a different subject completely. Also, it's not like we were given a pop quiz on stage about bhangra and Punjabi culture. We were dancing on stage... and that was really it. Oh yeah, and Matt was the top of a tower! The rest we learned on the way.

I think it's easier to spot us on stage, because no matter what color we're wearing-we stick out like sore thumbs. But truth of the matter is a great bhangra dancer is a great bhangra dancer-whether he/she is Punjabi, black, white, Chinese, or half filipino/half guatemalan.

i'd like to respectfully disagree. while it is true that a true beginner in bhangra is at the same level as any other true beginner, regardless of the racial status of either, it's very difficult, if not impossible, to find a non-Indian or non-Pakistani that's a true beginner to bhangra. all indian people, or at least an extremely overwhelming majority, are exposed to bhangra at some point in their life, and therefore have a leg up on others when attempting to learn it, as they're familiar with the rhythms and whatnot. even if they themselves have never danced bhangra, they have something of an idea as to what it should look like, and even this nebulous concept aids them in learning, when compared to someone that doesn't even have that. i've even found this disparity within the indian community--punjabi people are more likely to be naturally better/pick up bhangra faster than a south indian or gujarati. they've simply been exposed to it more throughout their life.


i do agree, though, that when a dancer is sufficiently experienced, it doesn't matter what race or ethnicity he or she belongs to--that person's just a legit dancer.

 

[jdeol]

Mix is dope

 

[Kush]

THIS IS WHAT COED BHANGRA SHOULD LOOK LIKE! that is all you guys murked it. congratulations, very much deserved. shout out to Bhangra in the Burgh for emphasizing that Bhangra Competitions should still put the most weight on.... thats right... good, clean, BHANGRA.

 

[priyab]

On a side note: at one point I was watching the non Indian and nonpakistAni dancers on your team who I assume have no prior experience of bhangra before college and even their form was on point....a true testament your guys' hardwork to make sure everyone is on the same page.

Ok, I didn't watch the video yet-because there's no volume on my work computer, and playing it under these conditions wouldn't do the performance any justice.

But I just wanted to comment on this. I don't know about Alan, Jordan (VCU/KGPD/various other teams), Scott and Joey (Rochester/AEG and TBT/HNG/AEG respectively), Danny (Northeastern/FAUJ), or many of the other amazing non desi dancers in the circuit-but being a white, beginning dancer never meant that I was any weaker than the other beginners who started with me. We all did the same amount of work, and put in the same amount of practice hours. We all started on the same page, learned together, and in our video (which even if I could find, it I wouldn't post it!) we all looked alike.

One of my teammates was Matt, who was also white. When it came to cultural background knowledge-compared to everyone else, we were lost (moreso me, because Matt was a genius). But that's a different subject completely. Also, it's not like we were given a pop quiz on stage about bhangra and Punjabi culture. We were dancing on stage... and that was really it. Oh yeah, and Matt was the top of a tower! The rest we learned on the way.

I think it's easier to spot us on stage, because no matter what color we're wearing-we stick out like sore thumbs. But truth of the matter is a great bhangra dancer is a great bhangra dancer-whether he/she is Punjabi, black, white, Chinese, or half filipino/half guatemalan.

i'd like to respectfully disagree. while it is true that a true beginner in bhangra is at the same level as any other true beginner, regardless of the racial status of either, it's very difficult, if not impossible, to find a non-Indian or non-Pakistani that's a true beginner to bhangra. all indian people, or at least an extremely overwhelming majority, are exposed to bhangra at some point in their life, and therefore have a leg up on others when attempting to learn it, as they're familiar with the rhythms and whatnot. even if they themselves have never danced bhangra, they have something of an idea as to what it should look like, and even this nebulous concept aids them in learning, when compared to someone that doesn't even have that. i've even found this disparity within the indian community--punjabi people are more likely to be naturally better/pick up bhangra faster than a south indian or gujarati. they've simply been exposed to it more throughout their life.


i do agree, though, that when a dancer is sufficiently experienced, it doesn't matter what race or ethnicity he or she belongs to--that person's just a legit dancer.

i think its rash to say that all indians or even a majority of them have been exposed to bhangra at some point in their lives. and it doesnt really make any sense to say that gives them a leg up if they've probably been exposed to it at varying degrees. what if they've only heard bhangra music? and i know they dont do legitimate bhangra in every music video...and i know plenty of people that listen to hip hop music and cant dance hip hop worth shit....

as for punjabis naturally being better than south indian/gujus, that doesnt make any sense either for the same point listed above. correlation does not equal causation. coincidentally being punjabi/listening to bhangra does not cause one to be better at bhangra. hard work, conscientiousness, and relentless effort to improve form, technique, grace, and stamina are what make a true bhangra dancer. champions are not a product of coincidence.

also, alan guan picked up bhangra faster than some punjabi people i know. lol.

 

[metalgearpaneer]

Wait what? Alan Guan isn't Punjabi??

 

[Nikhil]

Yeah I know, right?

 

[Psant]

Wait what? Alan Guan isn't Punjabi??

+1

 

[campy614]

Priya ftw! Anything that I would have said, she said for me (thank you for that).

 

[shahrj]

On a side note: at one point I was watching the non Indian and nonpakistAni dancers on your team who I assume have no prior experience of bhangra before college and even their form was on point....a true testament your guys' hardwork to make sure everyone is on the same page.

Ok, I didn't watch the video yet-because there's no volume on my work computer, and playing it under these conditions wouldn't do the performance any justice.

But I just wanted to comment on this. I don't know about Alan, Jordan (VCU/KGPD/various other teams), Scott and Joey (Rochester/AEG and TBT/HNG/AEG respectively), Danny (Northeastern/FAUJ), or many of the other amazing non desi dancers in the circuit-but being a white, beginning dancer never meant that I was any weaker than the other beginners who started with me. We all did the same amount of work, and put in the same amount of practice hours. We all started on the same page, learned together, and in our video (which even if I could find, it I wouldn't post it!) we all looked alike.

One of my teammates was Matt, who was also white. When it came to cultural background knowledge-compared to everyone else, we were lost (moreso me, because Matt was a genius). But that's a different subject completely. Also, it's not like we were given a pop quiz on stage about bhangra and Punjabi culture. We were dancing on stage... and that was really it. Oh yeah, and Matt was the top of a tower! The rest we learned on the way.

I think it's easier to spot us on stage, because no matter what color we're wearing-we stick out like sore thumbs. But truth of the matter is a great bhangra dancer is a great bhangra dancer-whether he/she is Punjabi, black, white, Chinese, or half filipino/half guatemalan.

i'd like to respectfully disagree. while it is true that a true beginner in bhangra is at the same level as any other true beginner, regardless of the racial status of either, it's very difficult, if not impossible, to find a non-Indian or non-Pakistani that's a true beginner to bhangra. all indian people, or at least an extremely overwhelming majority, are exposed to bhangra at some point in their life, and therefore have a leg up on others when attempting to learn it, as they're familiar with the rhythms and whatnot. even if they themselves have never danced bhangra, they have something of an idea as to what it should look like, and even this nebulous concept aids them in learning, when compared to someone that doesn't even have that. i've even found this disparity within the indian community--punjabi people are more likely to be naturally better/pick up bhangra faster than a south indian or gujarati. they've simply been exposed to it more throughout their life.


i do agree, though, that when a dancer is sufficiently experienced, it doesn't matter what race or ethnicity he or she belongs to--that person's just a legit dancer.

Not sure I agree with this --- if you think about it, how many indian people are exposed to REAL bhangra prior to college? From my experience it's somewhat of a disadvantage to be exposed to "bhangra" prior to learning what it actually is, because then you have to not only relearn things but erase what your conception of bhangra was previously. The longer you're exposed to the type of bhangra that is non-technical/non-traditional, the harder it becomes to change your style. I think anyone who has the ability to dance can come to college and pick up bhangra regardless of race/ethnicity, and there's plenty of people that serve as examples. The only way someone would have an actual advantage is if they danced for an independent team or academy before coming to college, and even then there are considerations to make. I also definitely don't agree with punjabi people being more likely to pick up bhangra than other types of indian people haha...ridiculous amounts of sick non-punjabi bhangra dancers that are all across the circuit.