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End of Season review: 2011-12

jfried

Member
Messages
502
Okay you guys, since the major competition season is winding down (no disrespect to the summer comps, or VIBC), I think it's time for some end of season awards/hat tips/etc. Let's discuss the highs and lows of this year's bhangra circuit. There may be some overlap between these categories

Best Coed Team
Best All Guys Team
Best All Girls Team
Best US Team
Best Canadian Team
Most Improved
Best Competition to perform in
Best Competition to watch
Best Set
Best Gimmick
MVD (Most Valuable Dancer)
Best Team

Weirdest Gimmick
Lowlight of the year

Craziest Story

I'll kick it off.

Best Coed Team: This is a tough one. A lot of the coed collegiate teams really stepped their games up this year, with teams like Cal and UNC joining the more established group of elite collegiate teams (VCU, DRP, Cornell and the rest). Based purely on results, though, it's a close fight between Cal and UNC, with the surprise inclusion of Bhangra Empire (a 1st at Bruin, a 2nd at Boston and strong showings worldwide are nothing to scoff at). In the end, I have to give the nod to Cal, because of their meteoric rise, even though parts of their set stayed relatively constant all year.
Best All Guys Team: This is a close one too. The canadian teams all stepped up this year, and NYPD came to elite and put on an extremely entertaining set. Out west, BK had a big year in the spotlight, and was very unlucky not to win or place at Bruin, while ABC also came up big this year. And back east, the guys on JJ and AEG both had great years and showed that they deserved to be at elite. However, for the consistency of their results, I'd give this one to AEG. 1st at Boston, a 2nd at Bruin and a strong showing at Elite means that they end the year as the all-guys team to beat.
Best All Girls Team: There was a good amount of competition here between SMD, TAG and the dark horse teams of MSU and BAR-B. I have to give the nod to SMD, though. Great dancers, very clean and a lot of fun to watch. But BAR-B's coming up quickly, so watch out.
Best US Team: The three teams above have competed against each other once. AEG was the winner that time, tying for second at Bruin. They also scored a bit higher than SMD at Elite. The fact that there were so many teams, even aside from these three, that could be considered speaks strongly to the strength of the US bhangra scene.
Best Canadian Team: The T-Dot scene has always produced strong teams, and this year was no exception. NYPD almost won Elite, NJ won Jashan fairly convincingly and SGPD was SGPD. Out west, BCC and PCBCA both had strong years, too. In the end, though, it's subjective and I really liked NJ's Jashan set so I'll go with them.
Most Improved: This is a toss-up between a few teams. Cal came almost out of nowhere and won almost everything they could get their hands on this year, including snagging a surprise win at Blowout. UNC also rose from relative obscurity and snagged VPD and Elite in a two week span. And then there's FAUJ, who've also shown up in a big way in the last year. Once again, though, it's gotta be Cal. Literally out of nowhere. I can't wait to see what you guys do.
Best Competition to watch: Elite was fun but add some Cali sun, bottomless mimosas, a sweet hotel and an even stronger lineup and Bruin has to take the cake.
Best Set: Really hard to nail down. Either AEG at Boston or BK at Bruin. As much as I liked watching the Elite sets, some of them fall a bit flat in retrospect.
Best Gimmick: Navi Sandhu. The Boston gimmick was un-freaking-believable, and it was such a shock that people who weren't on BTF were still bugging out about it at Elite. I mean, hell, I was still bugging out about it at Elite.
Best Team: This is tough, but it's AEG for me.

Weirdest Gimmick: probably the Avengers bit at Bruin by TAG/SGPD. It just didn't really fit with the routine. I wasn't huge on the NYPD 300 thing, but it stuck throughout the routine.
Lowlight of the year: The nonsense that happened in Seattle. That ended up screwing BAR-B over hard

Your turn.
 

voxanimus

<('.'<) (>'.')>
Messages
1,685
I agree with the majority of your sentiments, but I'd say the best all-guy team of the year should go to BCC. or they should have been considered in your analysis. staggering number of placings. perhaps it was hard to keep track of them because they went through a bit of a nomenclature crisis, but by my reckoning, they got


1st RVPD
1st Idols West 2012 (as vancity)
2nd Nachda
2nd Idols Best of the Best
3rd Jashan (as PANJ Boys)


they only really came down to the states for Nachda, but that doesn't really discount their winnings.


on a side note, JJ should perform more. i still am in love with their Elite set.
 

jfried

Member
Messages
502
Good point, vox. I discounted some of their placings because I didn't realize it was all the same team. My bad.
 
Messages
137
add best mix into that too. for me, that jj mix is still fire. for the gimmick, apd's proposal was DOPE. dude had a lot of courage for doing it infront of everyone at elite
 

Jatt08

New Member
Messages
310
Best Coed Team - Cal & UNC
Best All Guys Team - ABC & BCC
Best All Girls Team - SMD
Best US Team - ABC & BK
Best Canadian Team - BCC & NJ
Most Improved - Cal & UNC
Best Competition to perform in - Jashan
Best Competition to watch - Elite 8 & Bruin
Best Set - BK & ABC at Bruin
Best Gimmick - BK at Bruin, the gimmick was on point and on topic
Best Team - BCC
Weirdest Gimmick - Empire @ Bruin

Overall, great year and lots of new dancers and teams on the circuit, with great positive energy.
 

sgrewal30

Member
Messages
609
Best Coed Team - Davis Di Dynasty, Cal
Best All Guys Team - JJ @ E8 /NYPD
Best All Girls Team - AMPD/SMD
Best US Team - ABC/AEG
Best Canadian Team - BCC/ Shan-E west
Most Improved - BAR-B, Cal, Guardians
Best Competition to perform in - can't say
Best Competition to watch - Elite 8 & Bruin
Best Set - ABC, FCB@bruin
Best Gimmick - FAUJ @ bayside, UNC @ E8
Best Team - Davis Di Dynasty
Weirdest Gimmick - DRP's in general
 

faizan

Just shut up and dance
Messages
1,736
Best Coed Team - UNC
Best All Guys Team - SGPD
Best All Girls Team - SMD
Best US Team - AEG
Best Canadian Team - SGPD
Most Improved - CAL
Best Competition to perform in - Elite 8
Best Competition to watch - Elite 8
Best Set - JJ and NYPD at Elite 8
Best Gimmick - Empire magic trick/navi at boston
Best Team - SGPD
Weirdest Gimmick - TAG-Avengers
 

Reeeeda

Member
Messages
71
Best Coed Team - Cal
Best All Guys Team - SGPD or BK
Best US Team - BK
Best Canadian Team - SGPD
Most Improved - Cal
Best Competition to perform in - Elite or Bruin
Best Competition to watch - Elite
Best Set - JJ at Elite or NYPD at Elite.. can't pick
Best Gimmick - AEG w/ Navi at BBC
Best Team - BK or SGPD.. again, cant choose
Weirdest Gimmick - Tag Avengers gimmick
 

jfried

Member
Messages
502
Let's also add a mix category

Best Mix: Either JJ at Elite Eight, Harman's NYPD TDot vs Elite mix or the SMD elite mix. Honorable mention to TAG's Bulldog mix, AEG's Boston/Burgh mix, GSingh's Cal Sin City/Blowout mix and the NYU Blowout mix.
 

Hoya Singh

Member
Messages
126
Best Coed Team - UNC but a very close second to CAL
Best All Guys Team - BCC/VanCity
Best US Team - AEG
Best Canadian Team - BCC/VanCity
Most Improved - CAL
Best Competition to watch - Elite 8 or Bruin
Best Set - JJ @ Elite or AEG @ BBC
Best Gimmick - BK @ Bruin
MVD - NJ Twins
Best Team - BCC/VanCity
Weirdest Gimmick - TAG Avengers @ Bruin
Best Mix - JJ @ Elite 8
 

amancheema

Active Member
Messages
240
Not counting my teams...

Best Coed Team - Cal

Best All Guys Team - VDW

Best All Girls Team- AVA

Best US Team - VDW

Best Canadian Team - PCBCA (idols was sick... wish you competed more) & BCC/VanCity

Most Improved - Virsa Folkstars (garden state)

Best Competition to perform in - Blowout (overall comp experience = awesome as usual)

Best Competition to watch - Idols

Best Set - Gabroo Punjabis @ Nachda Punjab

Best Gimmick - Empire @ Bruin

Best Team - VDW or Cal

Weirdest Gimmick - UNC Drumline

Best Mix - SGPD Idols

Best Vardiyaan - ABC
 

Jacquizz Rogers

New Member
Messages
73
Best Coed Team - UNC
Best All Guys Team - JJ/NYPD/AEG
Best US Team - JJ/AEG
Best Canadian Team - NYPD
Most Improved - Fourteelay Shokeen
Best Competition to watch - E8/Bruin
Best Set - JJ @ Elite or NYPD @ Elite
Best Gimmick - AEG @ BBC
Weirdest Gimmick - Fourteelay Shokeen @ BAB (Gatorade)
Best Mix - Fourteelay Shokeen @ MLIB
 

vstyle692

Member
Messages
65
Best Coed Team - Cal Bhangra
Best All Guys Team - NYPD, PCBCA
Best All Girls Team - SMD
Best US Team - ABC/AEG
Best Canadian Team - NYPD
Most Improved - FAUJ, UNC, Virginia Tech (MLIB, Blowout)
Best Competition to watch - Elite 8, Bruin Bhangra
Best Set - NYPD - Elite 8 2012
Best Gimmick - AEG - Boston Bhangra 2011, Bhangra Knightz - Bruin Bhangra 2012
Best Mix - JJ - Elite 8 2012, hands down
 

achintchani

New Member
Messages
41
Best Coed Team - CAL
Best All Guys Team - too many: SGPD/BK/NYPD
Best US Team - AEG/BK
Best Canadian Team - SGPD/NYPD
Most Improved - CAL/UNC
Best Competition to perform in - Elite 8
Best Competition to watch - Elite 8/Bruin
Best Set - NYPD at Elite 8
Best Gimmick - Navi Gimmick - Boston 2011/ BK-Bruin 2012
Best Team - SGPD
 

abhij95

Active Member
Messages
396
Best Coed Team - Cal/UNC
Best All Guys Team - AEG/NYPD/ABC
Best All Girls Team- TAG/AVA(cant stop watching AVA at Idols)
Best US Team - AEG
Best Canadian Team - BCC/VanCity

Best Junior Team- Nachde Shokeen
Best Live Team- VDW
Most Improved - Guardians, Furteelay Shokeen
Best Competition to watch - Idols
Best Set - NYPD Elite, Vancity Idols
Best Gimmick - Empire @ Bruin
Best Team - BCC/Vancity Bhangra
Weirdest Gimmick - Avengers Tag coed
Best Mix - NYPD Elite, JJ
Best Vardiyaan - ABC
 

TX180

Member
Messages
210
Best Coed Team Cal Bhangra
Best All Guys Team ABC/Nachdi/SGPD
Best All Girls Team SMD
Best US Team ABC
Best Canadian Team SGPD
Most Improved BK
Best Competition to perform in Elite 8
Best Competition to watch Elite 8
Best Set Nachdi Jawani Bhangra Idols 2011
Best Gimmick Undecided
Best Team SGPD
Weirdest Gimmick NYPD Elite 8 They had a few weird ones.
 

smish18

New Member
Messages
40
Best Coed Team: Cal Best All Guys Team: AEG and JJBest All Girls Team: SMDBest US Team: AEGBest Canadian Team: BCCMost Improved: CalBest Competition to perform in: Not from experience, but from discussion sounded like JashanBest Competition to watch: BruinBest Gimmick: Navi Sandhu @ Bruin
Worst Gimmick: Tie between NJ's 300 and TAG's Avengers. Just too random imo
Best Mix: JJ @ Elite and Cal @ Blowout
 
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