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I just saw this post where a member derides a certain, newer team, and says "teams should do better than [that team]".
How. Ridiculous.
First of all, as I've said time and time again, BTF is a place for constructive criticism and discussion. I see no need to throw UW Bhangra into the discussion on Chicago teams, and say "haha look how much they suck". No one is born doing bhangra, and we all work hard to improve our form, style, and overall skill. Some of us also balance this with responsibilities in school, work, or home. Who are you to look down on them and laugh? If anything, BTF and its members can be open as a resource to them for whatever they want to learn or discuss.
Second of all, let's see what teams say nowadays:
- call your team's style something new and amazing
- talk about how your team has this interesting piece of footwork that no other team does
- you do some amazing khunda swing/jump/skip/throw/hook/pairing that no other team does
Say what you want about music or live, folk or fast: the bhangra scene across North America is rather homogeneous and advancing together. While UW Bhangra has a different style, maybe that's what they want to do. Not everyone wants to have paired vardiyan, do your predictable
saap -> daang -> mixed props/kato -> bhangra -> jhummar -> sialkoti/phumanian/mirza -> fast bhangra -> gimmick -> fast ending
set that every team does (or slight variations thereof). Is their dance "folk"? Would it win a national competition based on existing rubrics? Probably not. But they're having fun, spreading culture on their campus, and doing what they love. I encourage them and every team. Also, please have some class.
How. Ridiculous.
First of all, as I've said time and time again, BTF is a place for constructive criticism and discussion. I see no need to throw UW Bhangra into the discussion on Chicago teams, and say "haha look how much they suck". No one is born doing bhangra, and we all work hard to improve our form, style, and overall skill. Some of us also balance this with responsibilities in school, work, or home. Who are you to look down on them and laugh? If anything, BTF and its members can be open as a resource to them for whatever they want to learn or discuss.
Second of all, let's see what teams say nowadays:
- call your team's style something new and amazing
- talk about how your team has this interesting piece of footwork that no other team does
- you do some amazing khunda swing/jump/skip/throw/hook/pairing that no other team does
Say what you want about music or live, folk or fast: the bhangra scene across North America is rather homogeneous and advancing together. While UW Bhangra has a different style, maybe that's what they want to do. Not everyone wants to have paired vardiyan, do your predictable
saap -> daang -> mixed props/kato -> bhangra -> jhummar -> sialkoti/phumanian/mirza -> fast bhangra -> gimmick -> fast ending
set that every team does (or slight variations thereof). Is their dance "folk"? Would it win a national competition based on existing rubrics? Probably not. But they're having fun, spreading culture on their campus, and doing what they love. I encourage them and every team. Also, please have some class.