VCU Bhangra @ Bhangra Blowout 21 (GTVHD)

[Gabroo Tv]

This is VCU Bhangra, representing Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond Virginia USA, performing at Bhangra Blowout 21.

VCU Bhangra @ Bhangra Blowout 2014


A mistake was made on stage, a pagh was removed. Later, the pagh was kicked off stage. Please provide constructive feedback for this mistake in a positive manner, opposed to being negative and counterproductive. The dancer in question has realized her mistake, and has apologized for her mistake. Responding in a derogatory manner will only push her away from Bhangra. Say anything you have to say with love and respect, please.




Dancers:
Red: Simran Sodhi and Megha Bagai, Ravi Marwaha and Nistha Acharya
Green: Vikrant Sharma and Maryum Ijaz, Harika Chadive and Shruthi Muralidharan
Blue: Samarth Gola and Unjlee Patel, Meera Arora and Namratha Arabandi


Songs:
Akh Shikari
Punjabian Da Dhol
Marji
Nach Le
Guroor
Naal Nachona
Challa Pakiyan
Dhol Jageero Da
Sheran Varge

 

[siddyp]

Wow. From the choreographical standpoint: my favorite co-ed routine in a long long time. And perhaps my favorite routine of the season.

There were very few parts that left me wanting more. Shout out to Samarth on the giddha!

Awesome job and to the bhangra minds that put this together: this was awesome.

 

[nmistry2]

I really liked the ending it was sick so much bounce and energy, I am trying to work my way up to that. But it was fun competing with you guys. Great set guys

 

[Fahaddd]

Jhummer was so much sex

 

[yraparla]

Good job guys!

Watching live the main thing I noticed was that dancers don't always finish steps. It wasn't any particular step, but every dancer at some point is almost rushing through choreo to get to the cool parts. It had a huge impact on overall feel and energy cause it didn't seem like dancers were enjoying the moment? Really hard to describe but even my mom was commenting that the dancers sometimes looked disengaged with what they were doing, like they were focusing on the next step instead of the current one.


That's why jhummar worked so well I think. There was clearly an emphasis on hitting the choreo. Everyone does so well overall, the choreo was put together nicely, but I think that one thing might have hurt execution.


Besides that, we were cheering hard for ya'll! Ravi, Simran, Meera, Harika, so good to see you guys again!

 

[faysal]

Unfortunate situation with the pagh but I think any dancer can understand the panic moment she went through, maybe tying her hair up like a gutti would've been smarter? I dunno. As always with VCU, I enjoyed the set a lot but I think I preferred the burgh routine just a little more in terms of quality execution. This time around there seemed to be less control when performing moves and some parts look rushed. The segment from 5.54-6.45 (jodiyan phumniyan etc) in particular stood out, especially since people didn't seem to have enough time/energy to pick their feet up or kick back high for most moves during that time. This group you have right now are definitely improving comp to comp, good luck for next year guys.

 

[The Honest Truth]

Keep your head up sweetheart, this kinda stuff happens. Paggs get loose, chadars get loose, phumans get tied up, it happens. You just cant predict it. Not your fault in ANY way! You don't owe anyone an apology. You acted in the moment, its okay. I loved the rest of the performance regardless. Intro was sick and i loved the mix (song selection deserves a +1), VCU's mixes tend to be straight fire. Jhummar was hot, and form was excellent during it (high arms, no elbows bent, straight posture, etc). Dhol jageero da: SICK. SICK.SICK. LOVED IT. Excellent choreography to match to with song. My only critique would be that it would've been great if you guys sped up the song following jhummar just a little bit more. its hot when you go from a nice, slow jhummar to hard hitting, fast paced kinda song to change the pace of the overall set. Other then that, very, very enjoyable performance overall! The other performances had to be really good for this not to place because looking at this, I'd definitely place this.

 

[gursh313]

I had wrote this when Mr. Hundal had shared this video on facebook, but I felt the need to do it here as well.


I'm glad GTV gave them the opportunity to present their side of the story. Often times people start commenting malicious things at a moments notice when they see stuff like this happening. To the girl who accidentally kicked the pagg, I can see that you were truly sorry about what happened, just keep your head up because you already accepted what happened which takes alot of courage, it wasn't your fault.


Now regarding the set, i loved the song selection but the fast pace of the performance didn't allow for some members to complete moves which kind of hurt your performance as a whole. Like the other commenters, I believed some segments were rushed. Jhummar was great but overall I preferred your Burgh 2013 performance. However this was still an enjoyable performance.

 

[DamanSingh]

Props for the apology at the start of the video, obviously what happened was unfortunate but we've all had those panicked moments before. Harjot Hundal, it's really great how you allowed her to tell her side of the story, as well as covering it up on the video so that people don't focus solely on that isolated incident and take away from what was a very good set.

+1
--

Simran, you killed it brotha! Congrats to you and VCU Bhangra for a great performance and great season.

 

[AmanKansal]

Great set, great mix. I think I also preferred the Burgh set a bit more, but honestly it's comparing great and greater. Simran, the jhummar was absolutely gorgeous...so much fun watching you! Great job y'all!

 

[aneeshsahni]

Simran, I think if you have two girls who need to be dressed up as guys, it'd be worth considering just having them wear a fourth color and dress up as girls instead. Even before the pagh came off, it was pretty clear that there were two girls on stage and it was pretty distracting for me.

 

[Armaan Kapoor]

To Aneesh's point, IMO I think it's completely fine to have a girl dancing as a guy - personally, it didn't distract me (and it hasn't in prior sets I've seen girls dancing as guys) and I think Meera did a great job dancing as a guy.



To Meera, from personal experience, I know how stressful it was (and must still be) to have a pagh fall off. Don't let it hold you back or weigh you down! It happens, and it wasn't your fault - it took me a long time to realize that; don't beat yourself up.


As far as the rest of the set, I loved the progression from Burgh to this set - it definitely had a different feel which I enjoyed. Jhummar was fire, and I loved the jugni concept at 7:45 and that whole sequence had some really nice flow! Simran, as always, you held it down bro.


My only suggestion for this set (and this applies mostly to the girls) is to make sure you're having appropriate energy when you're front and center! I definitely saw a few instances of girls not picking up their legs or having low energy when they were in the front. Just something to keep in mind going forward. Other than, great job guys!

 

[mafzal]

Sickkk set!! I loved it!!! nice job

 

[ban3rg]

This video confirms all suspicions: Simran sexiness level has reached 9,000

 

[mrchicity]

This video confirms all suspicions: Simran sexiness level has reached 9,000

As Sim's former jodi, I can confirm that it is in fact over 9000

 

[nathan.e]

I usually don't write comments/reviews, but I had a lot to say about this performance so I thought I'd write it down and share.


Overall:
I thought this was a great set. I really liked the style that you guys are striving towards and I felt a lot of the choreo flowed exceptionally well, which is something that's really hard to achieve. My main concern is that some of the dancers' energy wasn't consistent and started to drop off and that people couldn't always keep up with pace of the choreo (function of people's energy and of the choreo itself). The skill/levels of dancers varied some and it showed, but it's quite understable with a collegiate team. Turnover of dancers is so fast and you're often faced with training new dancers all the time to keep the team growing. That being said, Simran is easily one of my favorite dancers in the collegiate circuit and in the circuit in general, and it's really a pleasure watching him rip it up for the entire set. Lot of solid performances in this video.


Some specific comments:
I loved the initial buildup and drop in khunde. This segment is also one of the one of few incorporations of dubstep that I've really liked in a mix. The pagh mishap is unfortunate but we've all been part of vardi malfunctions and anything can happen during the stress/adrenaline of a performance. I think I would've liked this segment to be a big longer, though. It started with a nice buildup/drop, but it felt like it went almost right into another buildup/drop and then was just about over.


Jhummar was great. I loved the choreo and especially how well everything flowed from move to move (4:10/11, 4:49/50). I really like the style (personal preference) and how you guys hit certain moves (particularly 4:20-5min).


Following jhummar with another slow segment was an interesting choice, it kind of made it feel like the slower pace went on for a really long time. Not necessarily a negative, and there was some change of pace in between, but just something I felt worth mentioning. I liked the grace and ease of this segment though.


Good change of pace at 5:55 and I liked everything up until the sped up phumaniyah (agree with Swi on the rushed feeling of this in particular) and the beginning of dhamaal (looked like people got a little lazy with their legs).


Jugni was sick, I really liked the buildup but it wasn't over the top at all. I've seen plenty of both understated (really quiet and folk) and overdone (massive bass drops/fashing lights/dubsetp) jugni segments, and I think you ended up with a really nice balance.


The ending was sick, I liked the mix and the energy. I'm a fan of the extra-hype bounciness and lifting (noticed it a lot in your burgh set), but I think it would come across way better if everyone was hitting it at similar levels. My only complaint with your ending is that I don't really like the hopping jumps where you don't bend your knees (again, personal preference). Just doesn't have the energy/excitement of regular jumps and ended up being a little messy to boot. I like how you guys started and ended the set all up front in a line together, it gave it a nice feeling of unity.


I appreciate that you guys had the guts to come out with two girls dressed as guys. Great mix, great set, really good job overall. Pleasure to watch!

 

[KushK]

Oh My Simran

 

[Psant]

Ravi + Simran + Megha KILLIN' it at the end. That bounce on your sways at the end is so on point.

 

[sartajjudge]

Yea I'm surprised there's not enough guys at VCU to dance.