Toronto Bhangra Federation

[JayKay]

I think the federation is also cutting points for the team dancing on English/hip hop song. Which I personally think is good..Because we are trying to Promote Punjabi culture and we should be proud of dancing on Punjabi songs instead of putting hip/hop or rap song to get the crowd hyped.

Well, define what you mean by that, because there's a difference between dancing specifically to English lyrics and using hiphop beats in the background, because every bhangra team that's not live does that.

I like the sounds of this...its about time there was some sort of regulation...bhangra is about promoting OUR culture...not changing it and bringing other cultures into it...with all this hiphop and new age moves this is a whole different dance!....If there is a "bhangra comp" then it shud be only bhangra...i understand that we live in a new age and stuff evolves and bhangra has evolved, but these evolutions will sooner or later make bhangra seem like any other dance out there (only we wear a turley vali pugh and chadra to do so)...we need something that will keep stuff in control and keep bhangra as to what it once was....hopfully this federation helps the bhangra scene, because ive been harsh turned off of it...it just isnt what it was a couple yrs back....it used to be fun, but all this fighting amongst teams and "rigged comps" and poor judging has turned many away from bhangra....i havent been to a recent comp where i have seen a full jam packed hall...it used to be that tickets were sold out a month in advance....now its hard to even sell tickets at half price....

Just like Kabbadi. Kabbadi is a punjabi sport, and was tainted with fighting, unfair judging, drugs, negative media and a whole lot of nonsense. A lot of people were turned off of the sport with all these steroid scandals and tournament riggings. Kabbadi is a cultural sport that we ruined, and was on the verge of having no credit in the sport world until it was regulated. There still is corruption in the sport, but due to people stepping up and creating committees to regulate, it is now again a great sport watched by many and has been recognized at a world level. Lets hope this federation brings back the juice to bhangra that there once was and I hope to see those empty seats in auditoriums full once again.

 

[yraparla]

FYI there is a movement for this in the US as well. Details will come out at various times in the fall. contact me if you think you could help with the organization, planning, etc

I don't know the Toronto plan, but the fact that two similar movements happened independently at the same time I think is indicative of the scene. I would just encourage people though to be open-minded. Things liek taking off points for using hip-hop would be great for some comps, but I think competitions that allow it are also an asset to the circuit. Variety is a good thing, and it allows different teams to find a niche and be spotlighted. would you really want to lose all the awesome mixes we get? not to mention what happens to punjabi songs with heavy influence like amplifier?

I don't know the Toronto plan, just commenting on what's being said in this thread.

 

[dholi sabz]

I think the federation is also cutting points for the team dancing on English/hip hop song. Which I personally think is good..Because we are trying to Promote Punjabi culture and we should be proud of dancing on Punjabi songs instead of putting hip/hop or rap song to get the crowd hyped.

+ ik

 

[faizan]

The competitive culture of Canada will make the federation 1. rigid, 2. politics ridden and 3. relevant only to Canada (hopefully). Sorry Canadian circuit, the Bhangra circuit has given you too many chances, and time and time again you have proven yourselves to lack sportsmanship. It is the very coaches and owners of the studios who set the shitty team culture, and it poisons the minds of the youth in those academies. I have seen and heard of COACHES being babies, yelling and overall throwing hissy fits. I doubt those who run the federation will be chosen from anywhere other than people with like-minded attitudes. There should be 1 federation, run by American AND Canadian teams and personel. More than one federation will make Bhangra very segmented. That being said, I hope everything I stated turns out to be wrong and presumptious, because I want this to work.

 

[HarmanSingh]

The competitive culture of Canada will make the federation 1. rigid, 2. politics ridden and 3. relevant only to Canada (hopefully). Sorry Canadian circuit, the Bhangra circuit has given you too many chances, and time and time again you have proven yourselves to lack sportsmanship. It is the very coaches and owners of the studios who set the shitty team culture, and it poisons the minds of the youth in those academies. I have seen and heard of COACHES being babies, yelling and overall throwing hissy fits. I doubt those who run the federation will be chosen from anywhere other than people with like-minded attitudes. There should be 1 federation, run by American AND Canadian teams and personel. More than one federation will make Bhangra very segmented. That being said, I hope everything I stated turns out to be wrong and presumptious, because I want this to work.

Word. Until Toronto teams work on their own individual sportsmanship and competition culture their legitimacy in running a fair and honest bhangra federation is in question. Why would I trust a federation where most of the people on the board are probably members of teams which openly fight, talk trash, intimidate and harass other teams at competitions? Ask any American team, we have all seen it.

 

[Pooja]

The competitive culture of Canada will make the federation 1. rigid, 2. politics ridden and 3. relevant only to Canada (hopefully). Sorry Canadian circuit, the Bhangra circuit has given you too many chances, and time and time again you have proven yourselves to lack sportsmanship. It is the very coaches and owners of the studios who set the shitty team culture, and it poisons the minds of the youth in those academies. I have seen and heard of COACHES being babies, yelling and overall throwing hissy fits. I doubt those who run the federation will be chosen from anywhere other than people with like-minded attitudes. There should be 1 federation, run by American AND Canadian teams and personel. More than one federation will make Bhangra very segmented. That being said, I hope everything I stated turns out to be wrong and presumptious, because I want this to work.

Word. Until Toronto teams work on their own individual sportsmanship and competition culture their legitimacy in running a fair and honest bhangra federation is in question. Why would I trust a federation where most of the people on the board are probably members of teams which openly fight, talk trash, intimidate and harass other teams at competitions? Ask any American team, we have all seen it.

+1 to both.

All I smell here is dirty politics.

 

[gursikhpreet1]

smells yummyy
ok sike

 

[Saab]

Pluses-

People wont cry as often
A lot more cooperation amongst canadian teams = less hate
Hopefully judges that know a shit ton of bhangra
More promotion of competitions by various teams(more people)
More competitive atmosphere
More competitions RUN WELL

Cons

A lot more stylistic collusion amongst teams(same product over and over)
still will be bitching, but federation approved bitching
what if a comp that is successful and feels it will be hurt goes outside the federation?
powerstruggle to head federation....
Inclusion of US teams in structure
Inherant Bias

I pray this works, but it wont be fun if new teams cant join.

 

[Sunny B]

I think the federation is also cutting points for the team dancing on English/hip hop song. Which I personally think is good..Because we are trying to Promote Punjabi culture and we should be proud of dancing on Punjabi songs instead of putting hip/hop or rap song to get the crowd hyped.

Well, define what you mean by that, because there's a difference between dancing specifically to English lyrics and using hiphop beats in the background, because every bhangra team that's not live does that.

I think they are just banning the hip hop or rap songs which are being used in the team mixes. I don't think they are banning the background beat which are used to mix with a Punjabi song. i guess the main target is English lyrics.

 

[[Sher] Imran]

We are grown ass men crying about rubrics, judging and crooked competitions. Any time I tell a non-bhangra person about bhangra drama, they look at me as if I just got off the 1st class seats on the Homo Express. We DANCE, its just freaking dance. DANCE. D-A-N-C-E. If winning means that much to you, I sincerely think you need to re-evaluate your life and get some other priorities going. Who gives a flying F if you get first or last, if your routine is sick, its sick. Would you rather win 1st place and be looked at as a wack team or would you rather not place and have the respect of the other teams for what you brought on stage? The fact that you guys need a "Federation" only tells me that something is seriously wrong over there. Plus, why would you have a Federation that is comprised of other dancers and coaches? That is just the blind leading the blind.

 

[AnkurK]

When you say "they" who are you referring to Sunny?

 

[HarmanSingh]

We are grown ass men crying about rubrics, judging and crooked competitions. Any time I tell a non-bhangra person about bhangra drama, they look at me as if I just got off the 1st class seats on the Homo Express. We DANCE, its just freaking dance. DANCE. D-A-N-C-E. If winning means that much to you, I sincerely think you need to re-evaluate your life and get some other priorities going. Who gives a flying F if you get first or last, if your routine is sick, its sick. Would you rather win 1st place and be looked at as a wack team or would you rather not place and have the respect of the other teams for what you brought on stage? The fact that you guys need a "Federation" only tells me that something is seriously wrong over there. Plus, why would you have a Federation that is comprised of other dancers and coaches? That is just the blind leading the blind.

PREACH

 

[mrchicity]

I think the federation is also cutting points for the team dancing on English/hip hop song. Which I personally think is good..Because we are trying to Promote Punjabi culture and we should be proud of dancing on Punjabi songs instead of putting hip/hop or rap song to get the crowd hyped.

Well, define what you mean by that, because there's a difference between dancing specifically to English lyrics and using hiphop beats in the background, because every bhangra team that's not live does that.

I think they are just banning the hip hop or rap songs which are being used in the team mixes. I don't think they are banning the background beat which are used to mix with a Punjabi song. i guess the main target is English lyrics.

I don't even get that, because lots of teams use certain english lyrics to further spice up their mixes. In SGPD's last routine, they had Eminem, Rihanna, and Jay-Z lyrics, albeit in small soundbites. I get that there's a difference between this and dancing completely to a rap or hiphop song without any dhol in the background, but the distinctions aren't quite so cut and dry. I hope that this guideline, and any other guideline that has similar gray areas, is properly distinguished and enacted, because otherwise, you'll be taking a lot away from the creativity of teams, Toronto-based or not.

 

[Bharathi]

Sounds like a great idea if it can get going with a lot of support. Also sounds like it's going to favour more traditional teams with more traditional sets. I hope I'm wrong!

 

[terabaap]

The thought of a group of individuals BANNING something(english) lyrics is inexcusable and indicative of the state of mind of these individuals. That is not "preserving" culture, but rather illustrative of the neurotic tendencies of misguided individuals. Don't try and micro-manage the scene, but let it develop.

 

[dheerja]

The competitive culture of Canada will make the federation 1. rigid, 2. politics ridden and 3. relevant only to Canada (hopefully). Sorry Canadian circuit, the Bhangra circuit has given you too many chances, and time and time again you have proven yourselves to lack sportsmanship. It is the very coaches and owners of the studios who set the shitty team culture, and it poisons the minds of the youth in those academies. I have seen and heard of COACHES being babies, yelling and overall throwing hissy fits. I doubt those who run the federation will be chosen from anywhere other than people with like-minded attitudes. There should be 1 federation, run by American AND Canadian teams and personel. More than one federation will make Bhangra very segmented. That being said, I hope everything I stated turns out to be wrong and presumptious, because I want this to work.

Word. Until Toronto teams work on their own individual sportsmanship and competition culture their legitimacy in running a fair and honest bhangra federation is in question. Why would I trust a federation where most of the people on the board are probably members of teams which openly fight, talk trash, intimidate and harass other teams at competitions? Ask any American team, we have all seen it.

Agreed. The very people who perpetuate the problems in the bhangra scene today are creating this federation? Sounds like a recipe for disaster.

 

[bhangramaster]

everyone needs to calmm downnn.we havent even had confirmation from anyone who has complete knowledge of what this federation is about. And secondly, it says TORONTO bhangra federation so i dont get why everyone else is so involvedd

 

[[Sher] Imran]

Because it was posted on a PUBLIC forum, maybe?

 

[Ak_Di_Nishani]

The competitive culture of Canada will make the federation 1. rigid, 2. politics ridden and 3. relevant only to Canada (hopefully). Sorry Canadian circuit, the Bhangra circuit has given you too many chances, and time and time again you have proven yourselves to lack sportsmanship. It is the very coaches and owners of the studios who set the shitty team culture, and it poisons the minds of the youth in those academies. I have seen and heard of COACHES being babies, yelling and overall throwing hissy fits. I doubt those who run the federation will be chosen from anywhere other than people with like-minded attitudes. There should be 1 federation, run by American AND Canadian teams and personel. More than one federation will make Bhangra very segmented. That being said, I hope everything I stated turns out to be wrong and presumptious, because I want this to work.

Word. Until Toronto teams work on their own individual sportsmanship and competition culture their legitimacy in running a fair and honest bhangra federation is in question. Why would I trust a federation where most of the people on the board are probably members of teams which openly fight, talk trash, intimidate and harass other teams at competitions? Ask any American team, we have all seen it.

Agreed. The very people who perpetuate the problems in the bhangra scene today are creating this federation? Sounds like a recipe for disaster.

I Disagree, the teams in toronto have expanding our culture and punjabi roots imensly. Growing up in brampton teams like NJ and SGPD along with RPD made me want to dance, to find out what bhangra was and how it related to where my parents came from. There may be bickering and argueing on this scene, but am i really to believe that we are the only ones that have it? Toronto has the second biggest punjabi population next to surrey bc, there is alot of people and egos to deal with which is more then most american teams have todeal with. I think its very unfair to say the people that "perpetuate the problems" are the ones making up this federation. The federation i believe is made up of representatives from each team working togather. By making a claim like that you are, questioning the validity and intergrity of those in the federation, you are in turn calling out every team that dances here. I hardly believe that is fair or respectful for the teams in this area that do there best to promote our lifestyle and culture where we live.

 

[yraparla]

The point is that the leaders of teams/academies are getting together to form a federation and the assumption is that there will be punitive measures if unsportsmanlike conduct occurs (2 year ban from comps). But, these same leaders have proven incapable of controlling their members in the past, so it's tough to believe that things will change.

Furthermore, if the federation does prove successful (which I hope it does) it only goes to show that the teams have weak people who can't demonstrate restraint without the fear of their team getting banned. That is pathetic and a much larger issue. As Imran said, it's a dance...if it's really about culture then why retain a dancer who shows no respect or common sense?

The other argument of course is that groupies are often center of fights/instigation, so hopefully this gets things under control and forces them to calm down at comps and afterparties