Re: Modern vs Traditional Bhangra Round # 547

[sulmoney]

I think Boston had wicked nice stunts and really combined traditional with modern. If this was a TRUE Bhangra comp, they would have and should have placed!

thank you for your input, user with email address removed[at]bu.edu, bu being boston university

 

[Dholaholic]

I think Boston had wicked nice stunts and really combined traditional with modern. If this was a TRUE Bhangra comp, they would have and should have placed!

thank you for your input, user with email address removed[at]bu.edu, bu being boston university

hahaahha omg owned!!

 

[m_gill88]

I think Boston had wicked nice stunts and really combined traditional with modern. If this was a TRUE Bhangra comp, they would have and should have placed!

thank you for your input, user with email address removed[at]bu.edu, bu being boston university

LOL ahhh the perks of being a mod hahaha

 

[yraparla]

was that post deleted? didn't see it

 

[Danny]

guys...........let it go....empire was probably sick, they found a winning formula and are applying it, no need to hate just cuz your team or other teams havent found it yet

at the end of the day, the random auntie/uncle (majority of the audience) paid $30 to get in to VIBC to be entertained.....im sure empire didnt disappoint

much props

 

[Ramani]

I think Boston had wicked nice stunts and really combined traditional with modern. If this was a TRUE Bhangra comp, they would have and should have placed!

thank you for your input, user with email address removed[at]bu.edu, bu being boston university

LOL WOW.

 

[Saleem]

I think Boston had wicked nice stunts and really combined traditional with modern. If this was a TRUE Bhangra comp, they would have and should have placed!

thank you for your input, user with email address removed[at]bu.edu, bu being boston university

LOL ahhh the perks of being a mod hahaha

BTW Mods cannot see your e-mail address if it's hidden (only I can ). This user just didn't hide their e-mail address.

 

[shareef85]

guys...........let it go....empire was probably sick, they found a winning formula and are applying it, no need to hate just cuz your team or other teams havent found it yet

at the end of the day, the random auntie/uncle (majority of the audience) paid $30 to get in to VIBC to be entertained.....im sure empire didnt disappoint

much props

agreed, regardless of anything empire always entertains me and I want to be entertained when i watch a competition

 

[Chidiya]

Do you guys think organizers should release thier Competition Judging Criteria to the public or no?

Na I dont think so because what if the teams that didn't win didn't feel comfortable letting it be public? And it should totally be up to the organizers, as long as the teams get to see them, that's all that matters.

Also, there is no point in arguing about who should have placed first considering the videos aren't even up yet and even then, it's bhangra guys..not the end of the world.

 

[kinnell]

I think we determined a while back that SELF-PUMP is lame. And anonymous SELF-PUMP is not only pathetic but hilarious as well.

Here's one factor that many people forget about when it comes to judging based off of points. I'm not saying that this had anything to do with the current placings, but it may or could have influenced any unusual placings at any competitions. When reading registration packets, you will notice that teams lose points for late intro videos, longer than 8 minute routines, using props that were not mentioned to the committee, drunk/reckless team member before competition..etc amongst other things. These things are never publicized to the audience and other teams and occasionally never found out. Even when one team should place over the other, the point penalties from certain infractions may prevent them from doing so and sometimes it may not be the judges fault at all. The team that wins has the be the best team by judging rubric AND by sportmanship/performance rules set forth by the competition.

From what I've read, Bhangra Empire had a great routine and I'm sure their placing was well deserved. I'm sure both teams (VCU & Empire) worked just as hard and it's sad to think that members of Bhangra Empire may avoid coming to these forums because of all the hate that they get. At Boston, I felt that VCU should have placed over Empire. But I haven't seen VIBC videos and will decide then.

 

[G and H Studios]

Wow...

Ok, so I wasn't there, so I didn't see this one. My brother is on Empire, but I've met several lovely teams while shooting photos at DDA this past event.

I'm not a great big fan non-traditional bhangra. It's just not what I prefer. I tend to dislike flashy dress, If I were a judge I wouldn't care SO much for what you call "Gimmicks"...

BUT, if you think that any of you do real, traditional bhangra, you are fooling yourselves. If you think that in this day, and age, that only traditional elements should apply, you are fooling yourselves. Bhangra in the west is what it is, and it's not going to stay this way either, it will evolve and change over time as it has in the past. Actually, I'm willing to bet that it will change in India as well in the next 10-15 years.

The fact is these competitions are only competitions to the teams really. To the audience, you are all entertainment. The more entertaining teams are, the better competitions sell, the more money organizers can charge. Who wouldn't want to have teams like Empire and others, who have more entertainment elements, in their shows? What organizer doesn't want the crowd to get excited, and have the audience feel they got their money's worth? At the end of the day as long as the audience is happy and satisfied, that's all that really matters. It's much much more a Show than a Competition.

VCU - I love them. I met some of them at DDA events, I think they are great folks. They are definitely more traditional, their choreo is great, a very good and solid team. However I know them beyond this, so i can't speak more about them.

Empire - I love them too, mostly because I get to see them all the time, I know them personally. I understand their style is not what I prefer really, but I would be lying through my teeth if I said I do not appreciate their style. I am amazed at their routines. These kids work HARD, VERY HARD. They change their routines for every show, never doing it exactly the same as before and they tend to keep only intro and outro (sp?) elements. This means constant practice, changes between shows. They customize their routines for the events they are going to. I talk them nearly every week, and they are extremely humbled by their success, and they do their best and hope they do well enough. It's really that simple. To dismiss them so easily is very, well, ignorant really.

But above all else, shows are shows. Judges are picked by organizers, judges... no matter that criteria, will be more subjective than objective. Empire's success will NOT last forever, their "reign" will not be eternal. Their style is their style, and regardless of what anyone feels, they must be doing something right to place so many times.

Gaganpreet Bains
G & H Studios

 

[jvirk]

Empire - I love them too, mostly because I get to see them all the time, I know them personally. I understand their style is not what I prefer really, but I would be lying through my teeth if I said I do not appreciate their style. I am amazed at their routines. These kids work HARD, VERY HARD. They change their routines for every show, never doing it exactly the same as before and they tend to keep only intro and outro (sp?) elements. This means constant practice, changes between shows. They customize their routines for the events they are going to. I talk them nearly every week, and they are extremely humbled by their success, and they do their best and hope they do well enough. It's really that simple. To dismiss them so easily is very, well, ignorant really.

But above all else, shows are shows. Judges are picked by organizers, judges... no matter that criteria, will be more subjective than objective. Empire's success will NOT last forever, their "reign" will not be eternal. Their style is their style, and regardless of what anyone feels, they must be doing something right to place so many times.

Gaganpreet Bains
G & H Studios

i agree, its their winning formula, why wud u change it?? i wish everyone cud stop bashing empire or giving opinions before vids even came up...ive never seen one team get bashed this much for winning 1st over and over again...those kids work their ass off i bet..and now all that hard work payed off and they won and they have to deal with multipleeeee people saying they didnt deserve first?? cmon ppl...and i tip my hat to them, they didnt just win 1st place once, they've won repeatedly and have placed at alot of other comps as well..damn u guys and girls have been piling in the moolah and the trophies lol..

congrats to all the teams

VIDS SOON PLEASEEEE

 

[Ranjit]

Can't people just accept results and not give their opinion about their stance about bhangra...

Isn't that the point of a discussion board? If you don't like peoples opinions don't read them.


Look, to all the people that say I or others are "hating" on Empire...Is it really hating on them to say VCU should have placed over them? It seems everyone, including myself, can agree that Empire is really good and you can't really be upset at them for winning, I guess this is more geared to modern competitions. They can keep the entire act the same and win first at bruin this year, which is probably going to happen. But the response on VCU's burgh performance thread speaks for itself and atleast they know there are others who see things beyond what "modern" judges see.

 

[Dhesi]

I agree with the posts telling everyone to relax. At the end of the day, it's a friendly competition for an art form. Some people do take this far to seriously and try and come on here and prove everything they know. This thread was supposed to be a discussion about the results, not solely on whether Empire does bhangra. Ppl keep talking about traditional this traditional that, but you need to relax yoself and think. If every team performed 100% pure traditional bhangra, we would all be exactly the same. Same bolis, same moves, perhaps just in a different order.

Meistro: you posted about how girls do proper girl bhangra. But taking 100% pure traditionality into mind, I thought girls don't do bhangra?
I love VCU and think they did awesome but every team uses non-bhangra elements, like when VCU does the lean onto one leg and do a circle (like their logo). I think it looks so sick, but taking 100% pure traditionality into mind, that shouldn't happen.
Also, bhangra was not traditionally competitive, so any team that comes to a competition is already out right there.
People need to realize, as someone said, that if we were all traditional, bhangra would probably not be in NA today.

I agree however that Empire should incorporate more 'bhangra' into their routine, but that doesn't mean they have to lose the gimmicks. Nothing in this world stays the same. The modernity (word?) and freshness to bhangra is not a negative, they are positive advances and betterments (word?) to the art form. It is an art form that is forever evolving. Haven't y'all read the book Outsiders, when Ponyboy talks about "Nothing golden can last" or some shit like that lol.

Yes, this is a BHANGRA competition, but you are also PERFORMING and ENTERTAINING.

Also, to all the 100% purely traditional folks out there (or those that think they are), what exactly do you use as a source when you preach? Is it not all word of mouth that an elder person told you; who's to say they know exactly what they are talking about. Traditionality is not a concrete concept so stop freaking out.

Congratulations to all the teams that placed, can this thread get back on track to talking about team/show review.

PS. for those of you who weren't even there, how can you post at all? How do you know that although VCU may have been more traditional, 6 of their dancers didn't forget the routine? You are just posting based on the fact that you know VCU dances more 'traditional' that Empire, without actually seeing the performances. (PPS. I think VCU was awesome, and has a cool logo lol)

 

[HermanJ.]

VIBC is a competition that promotes entertainment. Empire knew that, and they brought it. They were clean, and brought a lot of ENTERTAINMENT with their bomb formations, and gimmicks. We all know VIBC is fudu status when it comes to Traditional Bhangra, and we've known that from day one. The judges that were announced seemed like they weren't traditional bhangra buffs, and probably focused on what they knew, and that was 'modern' bhangra. Empire over VCU in a competition that isn't traditional, I guess it'll keep happening. Bring Empire to a competition that promotes Traditional bhangra, and it's a whole different story. Empire knows what comps will benefit them, and their style and they take advantage. It is what it is.

VCU at VIBC .. they rocked it. When joker came out during Benny's sher, that was sweet! They executed their routine flawlessly. I was really hoping they would have came first. I love VCU. They are the BEST CO-ED BHANGRA TEAM EVER!

 

[faizan]

Herman from PCAC= a genius.

 

[H.S.]

How is it Empire's fault that VCU doesn't pick competitions that are suited for their style?

 

[faizan]

Also, to all the 100% purely traditional folks out there (or those that think they are), what exactly do you use as a source when you preach? Is it not all word of mouth that an elder person told you; who's to say they know exactly what they are talking about. Traditionality is not a concrete concept so stop freaking out.

A-FUCKING-MEN.

 

[DJ DHoLa]

Big ups to all the teams that placed....honestly i think there never will be anybody who is happy with the results so bickering about it and putting another team down isnt actually right either...i think props should be given when due....honestly im usually the same person who is never happy with the results but at the same time ive never put down a team cuz of it....i think we should def steer away from this turning into POL where its all hate and no congrats to teams that place obviously a discussion is a discussion but it can only go so far...BRUUUAHHH TO EMPIRE, VCU, UNITED!!

P.S. I'm hellla tired of everybody thinkin cuz Nachdi and VCU compete they should always place!!

 

[G. Sidhu]

I agree with the posts telling everyone to relax. At the end of the day, it's a friendly competition for an art form. Some people do take this far to seriously and try and come on here and prove everything they know. This thread was supposed to be a discussion about the results, not solely on whether Empire does bhangra. Ppl keep talking about traditional this traditional that, but you need to relax yoself and think. If every team performed 100% pure traditional bhangra, we would all be exactly the same. Same bolis, same moves, perhaps just in a different order.

Meistro: you posted about how girls do proper girl bhangra. But taking 100% pure traditionality into mind, I thought girls don't do bhangra?
I love VCU and think they did awesome but every team uses non-bhangra elements, like when VCU does the lean onto one leg and do a circle (like their logo). I think it looks so sick, but taking 100% pure traditionality into mind, that shouldn't happen.
Also, bhangra was not traditionally competitive, so any team that comes to a competition is already out right there.
People need to realize, as someone said, that if we were all traditional, bhangra would probably not be in NA today.

I agree however that Empire should incorporate more 'bhangra' into their routine, but that doesn't mean they have to lose the gimmicks. Nothing in this world stays the same. The modernity (word?) and freshness to bhangra is not a negative, they are positive advances and betterments (word?) to the art form. It is an art form that is forever evolving. Haven't y'all read the book Outsiders, when Ponyboy talks about "Nothing golden can last" or some shit like that lol.

Yes, this is a BHANGRA competition, but you are also PERFORMING and ENTERTAINING.

Also, to all the 100% purely traditional folks out there (or those that think they are), what exactly do you use as a source when you preach? Is it not all word of mouth that an elder person told you; who's to say they know exactly what they are talking about. Traditionality is not a concrete concept so stop freaking out.

Congratulations to all the teams that placed, can this thread get back on track to talking about team/show review.

PS. for those of you who weren't even there, how can you post at all? How do you know that although VCU may have been more traditional, 6 of their dancers didn't forget the routine? You are just posting based on the fact that you know VCU dances more 'traditional' that Empire, without actually seeing the performances. (PPS. I think VCU was awesome, and has a cool logo lol)

I am not here to bash any team... but i disagree w/ some of your points...
Traditionality may not be a concrete concept, but it is defiintely a concept in some form... which contains folk dance segments such as Phumnia, Jugni, Mirza, Sialkoti, Dhamaal, etc...
I have barely seen proper segments executed by Empire... it's a different story they mix everything up.. but im talkin about proper segments... whereas in VCU routines you can see these traditional segments very clearly.

Modernity & freshness is definitely not negative.. hence why VCU gets so much credit, because they bring them both... but @ the end of the day UR FINAL PRODUCT STILL SHOULD BE BHANGRA !

and yes every team does uses non bhangra segments, but it should not outnumber your bhangra segments... plus the step from VCU you are referring to non bhangra .. if your saying the step they do @ Gaddi Morhke song... then that is a bhangra segment ... its Lehria (while some ppl hv different name for it) ... Gabroo shokeen (did it DDA), teams in india do it left & right.. some do it while sitting down and some do it while standing.