Why do you do bhangra?

[raj42]

I enjoy studying and performing the art-form and it gives me an opportunity to showcase an aspect of my culture to others. Once people are interested in Bhangra, they tend to learn about Punjabi culture and Sikhism. So indirectly, Bhangra helps decrease ignorance of Sikhs and Punjabis in the West, especially in the U.S.

agreed

 

[Ashveer]

+1

I would submit that the change from folk to performance was completely untraditional, and only serves to promote more of an imagined version of Punjabi culture that erases and collapses a bunch of different narratives and histories. But why worry about that?

Werd, I can agree on that. This is why one of the reasons I find the modern/traditional debate so stupid.

If you take the argument to its limit...folk traditions are about the here and now, about expressing the self in an authentic way. So performing an imaginary that you never were a part of and carbon-copying an already diluted form of it is the least 'folk' thing one can do. Traditional, sure, but definitely not folk. Of course that tradition is 60 years old. So you take what you can get.
(i.e. Giddha in North America won't be 'folk' until girls start talking about birth control or how pissed they are at their uni exams)
Its also important to note that though something is imagined or diluted doesn't imply that its meaningless.

 

[Varun]

(i.e. Giddha in North America won't be 'folk' until girls start talking about birth control or how pissed they are at their uni exams)

lollllz/+1/eh folk ah/win/epic/any other sort of trendy internet appreciative slang im slacking behind on.

 

[MundeNyDe]

Because i feel like superman when people watch me dance and actually watch and enjoy it & because its fun its not like a dance more like a Hobby =]



Starbucks & Blunt pe ke nachi da

 

[mafzal]

So performing an imaginary that you never were a part of and carbon-copying an already diluted form of it is the least 'folk' thing one can do...(i.e. Giddha in North America won't be 'folk' until girls start talking about birth control or how pissed they are at their uni exams)

+1 !!

 

[COMTONDAJATT]

If you take the argument to its limit...folk traditions are about the here and now, about expressing the self in an authentic way. So performing an imaginary that you never were a part of and carbon-copying an already diluted form of it is the least 'folk' thing one can do. Traditional, sure, but definitely not folk. Of course that tradition is 60 years old. So you take what you can get.
(i.e. Giddha in North America won't be 'folk' until girls start talking about birth control or how pissed they are at their uni exams)
Its also important to note that though something is imagined or diluted doesn't imply that its meaningless.

I agree. Along the sort of same lines me and Varun were talking one day about how immigrants have a static view of their culture or a sort of snapshot they hold onto and when they go back to their home after a long time they are overwhelmed with how much things have changed. To the people who have been living within their culture the change is dynamic and they sometimes don't notice as much.

I can't wait till a Malwai giddha performance talks about cheating on physics tests or fassow'ing the Gujurati kuri in his dorm hall.

 

[Varun]

I can't wait till a Malwai giddha performance talks about cheating on physics tests or fassow'ing the Gujurati kuri in his dorm hall.

sounds ridiculously familiar *cough you and sukh cough*

 

[justAguy]

I am curious to know what about Punjabi culture you guys think Bhangra spreads or brings awareness to? It did not even technically exist 60 something years ago and the context of the dance/dances are taken away when they are done on stage and in competitions.

I can understand the rush of preforming, being able to meet new people and having a sense of identity, and wanting to hook up with punjabi kuriyan but whenever someone says the culture thing I automatically think BS because there are much better/genuine ways to experience and share Punjabi culture.

I would submit that the change from folk to performance was completely untraditional, and only serves to promote more of an imagined version of Punjabi culture that erases and collapses a bunch of different narratives and histories. But why worry about that?

By far, the BEST posts I've seen on this forum !!!

I do bhangra cuz I love my team, and the rush of putting on an aesthetic performance is fun
But culture come on pshhhhhhhh

 

[justAguy]

...and apparently I'm the only fat guy here...because one of the reasons I do bhangra is because it's a great aerobic workout.

I'm with you on that man !!! Fatties bringg ittt

 

[kinnell]

I don't. I do raas. Duh.

you can't even do that

Tenu patah ah! We are no longer friends.

 

[ajay]

i do or did always cuz i love it as form of dance. it has nothing to do with culture or traditions. if you saying it that you doing it for culture and traditions or whatever, then you just lying to yourself so you could feel better. i teach now n i always have my students talk to me in punjabi and talk properly, say ssa when we meet n i tell them why its important. thats a lil something im doing for punjabi culture but teaching bhangra itself is just teaching a form of dance for me. Its like saying i can do bhangra better than them so i am better punjabi than them. when you practice for bhangra and choreograph the whole thing, do you think that if its traditional or think if its good enough to win you a first place? sorry got carried away and Don't mean to defend anyone.
i do bhangra cuz i love it.

 

[Gabru13]

young teams with no ustad and having no basic info about bhangra are ruining bhangra and our culture

 

[Jabar Jung]

Because i don't do bhang

 

[KushK]

I do bhangra b/c

parents dont like it lol ;D

AFTERPARTIES ;D
HAVE FUN
and more fun.....

i like bhangra vardiyan also .... mad nice ;D

 

[Ashveer]

Every modern/traditional/folk debate should redirect to this thread

 

[PartyJatt]

Q: Why do you bhangra?
A: Sharab.

 

[[Sher] Imran]

young teams with no ustad and having no basic info about bhangra are ruining bhangra and our culture

Its the morons that fight and flex their sh!t at parties and comps that ruin it. Its the people that throw tantrums and fists when they dont place that ruin it. If anyone else here feels that a team without an ustad or without the proper teaching of bhangra is ruining our culture, i suggest you never pick up a basketball/football/soccer ball again, because without the proper education you're ruining the beautiful games that they are.

 

[J Hayer]

Every modern/traditional/folk debate should redirect to this thread

^ +1112112

"On with the dance! let joy be unconfined;
No sleep till morn, when Youth and Pleasure meet
To chase the glowing hours with flying feet." - George Gordon, Lord Byron

 

[Kaur]

What are hard question to answer. There is no actual reason why I do bhangra in fact eat breath and sleep it.

I do it cause I just do. Saying that im doing it for the youth, or to stay connected to my roots would be a load of crap. Bhangra is bhangra and I do it cause I want to its fun. Just like anyone on a soccer team or anything else, you do it casue u want to.

 

[Sharin]

If you take the argument to its limit...folk traditions are about the here and now, about expressing the self in an authentic way. So performing an imaginary that you never were a part of and carbon-copying an already diluted form of it is the least 'folk' thing one can do. Traditional, sure, but definitely not folk. Of course that tradition is 60 years old. So you take what you can get.
(i.e. Giddha in North America won't be 'folk' until girls start talking about birth control or how pissed they are at their uni exams)
Its also important to note that though something is imagined or diluted doesn't imply that its meaningless.

That is so true! Very nicely said, I'm impressed.

I don't know why I joined a bhangra team.. or I do but there are too many reasons (family history, love of dance, love of music, love of performing etc) but all I have to say is I'm SOOOOO GLAD I did. I've experienced so much through being on my team.. the good, the bad and the ugly but I wouldn't take away those memories or experiences for anything. Bhangra is just freaking amazing.. thinking about the world that opened up for me when I joined just gives me goosebumps. What would I be without this? Shivers.