Bhangra Empire will NOT be performing at Elite 8 2012

[Ajay.H]

Although certain parts of Empire's style does not showcase what some people think are key parts of "dancing ability" (like grace), the ability is definitely there as mentioned above this. They have their style, and I'd say their choreo has become a little more traditional over the past few years. Also, DC is hella far from the Bay Area so I don't blame anyone for not wanting to make that happen.

Elite 8's rubric, the judges, the teams selected, etc - all of that boils down to "What does elite mean to you?" Should the rubric of a competition that is supposed to determine the overall "best" team equally weigh modern and traditional elements?

 

[Kartik]

Empire's style is obviously different than the other teams competing at elite 8.
While they may be replaced by a team that is better suited for the comp, it's a loss for the audience and entertainment factor for elite 8; their modern sets are catered towards today's modern audiences and definitely presented a change of pace. Whether they place well or not, they are an asset for competitions attempting to entertain a majority of audience members who are not well-versed in appreciating more traditional Bhangra sets.

+1, this is a good point. Though many of us will agree that Empire shouldn't compete at Elite 8, they would definitely add some diversity to the lineup.

Eliminating Empire, many people's E8 lineup is reduced to 9 all guys teams:
Aeg + JJ/Fauj
SGPD + NJ
PCBCA/PANJ/S-e-P/BCC
APD + ABC
NYPD wildcard

For those of you who watched Idols, I know one big concern was that many teams blended together as all guys team after all guys team went up and tried to rip the stage with some combination of dancing and gimmicks. Though I personally have not been a fan of Empire's latest sets and agree that the choreography does not merit elite recognition, the similarity in lineup will be an issue. Barring UNC's selection to E8, APD is the only team that will have a completely different style, and even they will be another all-male team.

 

[KingGeorge]

Empire's style is obviously different than the other teams competing at elite 8.
While they may be replaced by a team that is better suited for the comp, it's a loss for the audience and entertainment factor for elite 8; their modern sets are catered towards today's modern audiences and definitely presented a change of pace. Whether they place well or not, they are an asset for competitions attempting to entertain a majority of audience members who are not well-versed in appreciating more traditional Bhangra sets.

+1, this is a good point. Though many of us will agree that Empire shouldn't compete at Elite 8, they would definitely add some diversity to the lineup.

Eliminating Empire, many people's E8 lineup is reduced to 9 all guys teams:
Aeg + JJ/Fauj
SGPD + NJ
PCBCA/PANJ/S-e-P/BCC
APD + ABC
NYPD wildcard

For those of you who watched Idols, I know one big concern was that many teams blended together as all guys team after all guys team went up and tried to rip the stage with some combination of dancing and gimmicks. Though I personally have not been a fan of Empire's latest sets and agree that the choreography does not merit elite recognition, the similarity in lineup will be an issue. Barring UNC's selection to E8, APD is the only team that will have a completely different style, and even they will be another all-male team.

I don't see why people are automatically counting out VCU... 1st at Burgh IV, 1st at Bayside, 3rd at Blowout, Unofficial 2nd at E8 '11, and apparently they just won a fusion comp down south recently? Hmmmm

 

[J Wong]

apparently they just won a fusion comp down south recently? Hmmmm
[/quote]

ATL Tamasha

 

[Basim]

I actually agree with Omer's assesment that having a local team & diversity at Elite 8 is crucial for the competition's success.

Here is what he said in the blog:
"First and foremost, I would make sure there is a local team at the competition. For the last 2 years, VCU has fulfilled that quota. A local team is extremely important because they sell tickets. Regardless of how good a team is, a local team always brings a huge crowd of family and friends to watch the show and nobody wants to perform in front of a half empty auditorium. Secondly, I would want to have variety. Unlike most bhangra fanatics, I think the worst thing any competition could do is fill their lineups with all-guy teams with the same style (I’ve been seeing that way too much recently). I would want coed teams, all guy teams, and all girl teams. I would want different styles because it makes for a better show with less repetition. Not having variety will inevitably drive people away from the show, if not this year, then in the future."

So unless there is another team from or around the DC metro area that can help generate ticket sales, I wouldn't be surprised to see VCU in the lineup again this year. I do think VCU's team has passed their "prime" years, but I don't think other teams in the area can compete at that high of level regardless.

~ Basim

P.S. - No karma love for being a detective and the revealing info in this thread? Come on BTF! :-*

 

[faizan]

If you want to go local, and since elite 8 also needs a co-ed team: VCU would be a better pick than UNC...

 

[Anik915]

Makes sense for Empire not to go to Elite 8. They do not have the dancing ability to win or even come close to winning. Empire has not changed their routine much at all for 4+ years. You can almost always predict what their routine will look like. It isn't even that they have a style they are sticking to, they just re-arrange the same moves in their routine every year. Yes they are clean and energetic, but they have no grace or technical dancing ability. Also, I don't even see how they are that creative. What gimmick have they had that is so amazing creatively?

A good % of their guy dancer roster have danced for VDW and other live teams. You cannot deny their dancing ability and dancing versatility as individual dancers if they can do a solid folk live set one day and then go modern the next day. For that, I give them a lot of respect. Technical dancing also depends completely on the style.


--


At the end of the day, Elite 8 is a competition that caters to a specific style. If Empire doesn't want to compete, then they shouldn't be villianized for not wanting to. But for those saying that Empire wouldn't have gotten the bid anyways, I really don't think that's true. Both APD and Empire have been kinda MIA in the circuit in the last year. APD was NASTY at Elite 8, but Bruin was a bit disappointing. Empire may not have competed at Bruin, but they placed 2nd at BBC and APD was unfortunately very lackluster with redundant/repeated choreography and the same old stunts. I think Empire would have easily gotten the bid over APD and if they didn't, after BBC weekend, that would have been a travesty.

+1
I was not aware that some Empire guys danced for live teams. Definitely makes me appreciate their versatility as dancers.

 

[Gopi D]

Makes sense for Empire not to go to Elite 8. They do not have the dancing ability to win or even come close to winning. Empire has not changed their routine much at all for 4+ years. You can almost always predict what their routine will look like. It isn't even that they have a style they are sticking to, they just re-arrange the same moves in their routine every year. Yes they are clean and energetic, but they have no grace or technical dancing ability. Also, I don't even see how they are that creative. What gimmick have they had that is so amazing creatively?

A good % of their guy dancer roster have danced for VDW and other live teams. You cannot deny their dancing ability and dancing versatility as individual dancers if they can do a solid folk live set one day and then go modern the next day. For that, I give them a lot of respect. Technical dancing also depends completely on the style.


--


At the end of the day, Elite 8 is a competition that caters to a specific style. If Empire doesn't want to compete, then they shouldn't be villianized for not wanting to. But for those saying that Empire wouldn't have gotten the bid anyways, I really don't think that's true. Both APD and Empire have been kinda MIA in the circuit in the last year. APD was NASTY at Elite 8, but Bruin was a bit disappointing. Empire may not have competed at Bruin, but they placed 2nd at BBC and APD was unfortunately very lackluster with redundant/repeated choreography and the same old stunts. I think Empire would have easily gotten the bid over APD and if they didn't, after BBC weekend, that would have been a travesty.

+1
I was not aware that some Empire guys danced for live teams. Definitely makes me appreciate their versatility as dancers.

lol only one of them has danced with vdubb..

 

[Basim]

So unless there is another team from or around the DC metro area that can help generate ticket sales, I wouldn't be surprised to see VCU in the lineup again this year. I do think VCU's team has passed their "prime" years, but I don't think other teams in the area can compete at that high of level regardless.

~ Basim

EDIT: I forgot about Joshiley Jawan! They are all from the DC Metro/VA area and are comprised of experienced dancers from VCU, UVA, etc. So putting them in the lineup would definitely help defeat the "generating ticket sales" argument.

Unfortunately they don't compete as a team enough (understandable since they have their own teams), but they are definitely one strong team to look out for.

I believe their last performance as a team was VPD in February of this year, right? While they do have a great record of placing at competitions.. in my opinion, they also need to take on "bigger" competitions if they really want to get recognized more in the circuit.

Anyway, we'll see who the E8 committee selects soon enough!

~ Basim

 

[JToor]

I dont wanna hate on empire but personally i dont like the way they dance either. Yeah they have there own way of dancing and they should stick with it thats the only way they will stick out ... but over the years many teams have developed and have got better and have changed the way they dance .. its not that empire suck or dont know how to dance but its just that they havent developed and changed the way they dance in the past 4 years ... Bhangra Empire doesnt suck .. were just sick of there same routines and there ways of dancing because they dont change ..

and my views about them saying that they arnt going to come to elite because they never place or always come last... it seems so stupid ..
if my team came last or didnt place at a competition .. wed come harder next competition we wouldnt just give up .. empires statement makes them look like poor sports..

and i also think empire made that statement because they knew they werent going to be invited this year.

But good luck Empire tho .. i respect you guys to the fullest for making it to the white house

 

[metalgearpaneer]

Makes sense for Empire not to go to Elite 8. They do not have the dancing ability to win or even come close to winning. Empire has not changed their routine much at all for 4+ years. You can almost always predict what their routine will look like. It isn't even that they have a style they are sticking to, they just re-arrange the same moves in their routine every year. Yes they are clean and energetic, but they have no grace or technical dancing ability. Also, I don't even see how they are that creative. What gimmick have they had that is so amazing creatively?

A good % of their guy dancer roster have danced for VDW and other live teams. You cannot deny their dancing ability and dancing versatility as individual dancers if they can do a solid folk live set one day and then go modern the next day. For that, I give them a lot of respect. Technical dancing also depends completely on the style.


--


At the end of the day, Elite 8 is a competition that caters to a specific style. If Empire doesn't want to compete, then they shouldn't be villianized for not wanting to. But for those saying that Empire wouldn't have gotten the bid anyways, I really don't think that's true. Both APD and Empire have been kinda MIA in the circuit in the last year. APD was NASTY at Elite 8, but Bruin was a bit disappointing. Empire may not have competed at Bruin, but they placed 2nd at BBC and APD was unfortunately very lackluster with redundant/repeated choreography and the same old stunts. I think Empire would have easily gotten the bid over APD and if they didn't, after BBC weekend, that would have been a travesty.

+1
I was not aware that some Empire guys danced for live teams. Definitely makes me appreciate their versatility as dancers.

+1

You definitely cannot hate on Empire dancers' skill levels. Just because they do not follow a traditional route doesn't mean they have faulty dancers. I definitely know a few of them who dance on live teams and then they can switch to modern if they wanted to in an instant. Something many of us probably cannot do, I definitely cannot.

On a side note, Empire performed for the president of the United States haha something many of us will never get to do in our lives, point being: at the end of the day when it comes to entertaining a massive quantity of people, many of whom don't know the traditionalism behind bhangra (which are alot of people out there) Empire deserves respect.

 

[Anik915]

I dont wanna hate on empire but personally i dont like the way they dance either. Yeah they have there own way of dancing and they should stick with it thats the only way they will stick out ... but over the years many teams have developed and have got better and have changed the way they dance .. its not that empire suck or dont know how to dance but its just that they havent developed and changed the way they dance in the past 4 years ... Bhangra Empire doesnt suck .. were just sick of there same routines and there ways of dancing because they dont change ..

and my views about them saying that they arnt going to come to elite because they never place or always come last... it seems so stupid ..
if my team came last or didnt place at a competition .. wed come harder next competition we wouldnt just give up .. empires statement makes them look like poor sports..

and i also think empire made that statement because they knew they werent going to be invited this year.

But good luck Empire tho .. i respect you guys to the fullest for making it to the white house

Read the original post: "we were contacted by the committee a couple of months ago to discuss the possibility of returning to Elite 8 for a 3rd straight year."

I don't think they doubted their potential to get an invite, but instead their potential to place well at a competition not geared towards their style.

It's a calculative decision whether or not to go to a competition: Going to a competition costs time, money, and energy, especially for a team traveling across the country. To consistently not reap the benefits of this hard work definitely discourages a team from spending this energy, especially when they can perform and place successfully at other, more convenient competitions (i.e competitions on the west coast).


Just something to consider.

 

[JToor]

I dont wanna hate on empire but personally i dont like the way they dance either. Yeah they have there own way of dancing and they should stick with it thats the only way they will stick out ... but over the years many teams have developed and have got better and have changed the way they dance .. its not that empire suck or dont know how to dance but its just that they havent developed and changed the way they dance in the past 4 years ... Bhangra Empire doesnt suck .. were just sick of there same routines and there ways of dancing because they dont change ..

and my views about them saying that they arnt going to come to elite because they never place or always come last... it seems so stupid ..
if my team came last or didnt place at a competition .. wed come harder next competition we wouldnt just give up .. empires statement makes them look like poor sports..

and i also think empire made that statement because they knew they werent going to be invited this year.

But good luck Empire tho .. i respect you guys to the fullest for making it to the white house

Read the original post: "we were contacted by the committee a couple of months ago to discuss the possibility of returning to Elite 8 for a 3rd straight year."

I don't think they doubted their potential to get an invite, but instead their potential to place well at a competition not geared towards their style.

It's a calculative decision whether or not to go to a competition: Going to a competition costs time, money, and energy, especially for a team traveling across the country. To consistently not reap the benefits of this hard work definitely discourages a team from spending this energy, especially when they can perform and place successfully at other, more convenient competitions (i.e competitions on the west coast).


Just something to consider.

Yeah i read the originally post .. i said thats what "I THINK"

 

[Deepi253]

nishani bhangra elite 8 whats up?!

 

[Jabar Jung]

2011 virsa was horible

nishani bhangra elite 8 whats up?!

not gonna happen, but bring nishani (houston) to any other, Khulla sadda

And regarding Bhangra Empire, Yes their style is different, I used to dislike their style, but then if you forget everything and put yourself against what they have achieved and how far they have gone promoting Bhangra, yes different style, but still Bhangra, I am nothing compared to them. If I had done more than what they have done, then may be I have even spoken about how they "suck" or they don't do "Bhangra", but right now, I have nothing but respect for them. RESPECT! keep doing what you're doing and you should definitely come to elite, not because you don't win, but your fan base is huge everywhere, at the end of the day, audience is what makes you or breaks you. I'm pretty sure you could have changed your routine, brought out something new. What ever works for you I guess.

Wrote way too much, sorry ;D

 

[priyab]

Empire's style is obviously different than the other teams competing at elite 8.
While they may be replaced by a team that is better suited for the comp, it's a loss for the audience and entertainment factor for elite 8; their modern sets are catered towards today's modern audiences and definitely presented a change of pace. Whether they place well or not, they are an asset for competitions attempting to entertain a majority of audience members who are not well-versed in appreciating more traditional Bhangra sets.

i totally agree!

 

[achintchani]

very understandable as to why bhangra empire decided not to come to elite 8. Goodluck to the team and their upcoming local competitions andddd i think the clock sapps was a hot gimmick

 

[mss]

LOLL, these guyz wouldnt make it anyways!! They blow

 

[pavbhaji91]

Empire's style is obviously different than the other teams competing at elite 8.
While they may be replaced by a team that is better suited for the comp, it's a loss for the audience and entertainment factor for elite 8; their modern sets are catered towards today's modern audiences and definitely presented a change of pace. Whether they place well or not, they are an asset for competitions attempting to entertain a majority of audience members who are not well-versed in appreciating more traditional Bhangra sets.

+1, it's always nice trying to anticipate what empire is gonna do next, even if their style is completely different from other sets.

 

[Anik915]

Empire's style is obviously different than the other teams competing at elite 8.
While they may be replaced by a team that is better suited for the comp, it's a loss for the audience and entertainment factor for elite 8; their modern sets are catered towards today's modern audiences and definitely presented a change of pace. Whether they place well or not, they are an asset for competitions attempting to entertain a majority of audience members who are not well-versed in appreciating more traditional Bhangra sets.

+1, it's always nice trying to anticipate what empire is gonna do next, even if their style is completely different from other sets.

Agreed. More importantly: SICKKK NAME