OFFICIAL VIBC 2009 RESULTS DISCUSSION

[Ranjit]

VCU is traditional, sort of, so why is every saying oh Empire isn't traditional, they shouldn't place over VCU...if empire was placing over RPD it would be another story.  At the same time, if VCU was placing over RPD, it would be a slap in the face of bhangra.

The only reason Empire has not placed over Rooh is because they've never competed against eachother (and probably never will, thank god), at this rate I think it's safe to say Empire will beat Rooh as well as some of the best Indian teams as long as the competition is held in North America with our judging standards.

Why is everyone so shocked...it was an ultra modern competition...

I don't think anyone is too shocked, I think most people saw this coming.

Last, Empire is decent, I don't like their style personally, but they are entertaining, just like Sher is entertaining, and everyone has been on their nuts for years.  Don't now get all pissed because another team is entertaining, but call it "too modern".

You know what else is very entertaining, Cirque du Soleil (I recommend KA), doesn't mean it has any place at a bhangra competition. And Sher has just lately added in more stunts. There was a time where they won because of their dancing ability/choreo.


The problem is that Empire has beaten VCU consistently. Almost every time they've met Empire has come in first, I mean seriously... I'm not saying that Empire shouldn't place at all, they get the crowd going which should account for something. But judging strictly from wins they are the best coed teams probably ever and I don't think many people would agree with that. What their win streak is saying is that we (as a competition) don't care that much about choreography, style, grace, execution, energy etc., instead we will reward you based on what type of trick you can come up with to get a cheap response from the audience.

One of the ways I like to judge a routine is to imagine the team's strongest dancer performing it alone, I know that there are many acts in bhangra that are meant to be done has a group, but to me, this shows how good the choreography/style is. I guess this is why it's hard for me to imagine how Empire wins over and over.

Again, this is not a personal attack on Empire although I'm sure you can't even see the monitor over all those trophies. And at the end of the day we can sit here and talk about this as much as we want and it will change nothing.

 

[StillUndaDaInfluence]

Top Tier - VCU / Bhangra Empire
These two teams were head and shoulders above the rest, with nice dance sets that were very different from one another but a great way to end to the show. Both were very energetic, got the crowd behind them, and had nice little "gimmickery" like the Joker and "bring em out'" and using Rail Gaddi. Easily 1-2 of the night, where each goes is a debate that is hard to settle... but they both delivered as expected.

Second Tier - Da Real Punjabiz / United Bhangra
These two teams also were very different (DRP is similar to Empire with clean simple movements and nice formations), United was all live and more traditional, great singers, both know how to move well though. One of these two should have gotten 3rd, both had big setbacks (DRP stunt and United costume problem)

Bottom Tier - Cornell / Bruin / Michigan / Boston
These teams need some improvement. This competition was brought down because of these teams, when they have Canadian talent like Toronto Elite, SGPD, NJ, etc. I don't know why teams like Boston get to compete. This is the first time I have seen Bruin bhangra and they were underwhelming, they should watch top tier teams of the moment and how they dance to modern songs. Cornell has a lot of potential but needs to clean up and add some difficulty to their set. Michigan seems to be up and down over their last few competitions, girls lack power, guys lack grace. Boston needs to add a lot of grace as well to their dance, they are too stiff, trying to go with power but with no grace, great teams balance grace and power, even the girls, when they are compared to teams like VCU and true bhangra teams they are always outshined.

 

[faizan]

VCU was sick we all know that, but we have to go based on the competiiton , and what it looks for. Send empire to Toronto and vcu would beat them every single time, b/c Toronto is as tradiitonal as it gets. But at a comp like this its expected that entertainment will over rule ' bhangra'. Both teams were sickkk.

My point exactly...apply to a competition that caters to your style. Simple.

VCU couldn't beat Empire at any modern competitions, that's just how it is.

If you wan't to go to a REAL bhangra competition, apply to AVAP, toronto competitions, DDA, etc. This was mostly a Dance competition, as is Bruin, Boston, BOB, and a slew of other competitions.

 

[GavinJ.]

i was kind of bored at this competetion until the last three teams ...
in my mind i think VCU shouldve won just becasuee there bhangra was better
but as we all know thats not the only thing thats being looked at .
congrats to EMPIRE , VCU and UNITED ;D

 

[Vick]

VCU needs to change it's style if it wants to beat Empire in a non-traditional competition, otherwise they will NEVER beat Empire... It's that simple. These teams will meet again in non traditional settings this year, I'm pretty damn sure you're going to see a vastly different VCU team... If they don't change their ways, they will always be second to Empire... Or they should just not apply to competitions that dont favor their style...

 

[Ashqe]

Sooooooo besides all of this talk over who should've placed over who, I think it's time to post some videos. Cough them up people ;D