Bhangra

By: Simmi, Hussien, Kris, and

Shilo
Bhangra origins
Bhangra literally translates too intoxicated with joy. Bhangra is a tradition form of dance and
music that originates from the Punjab region of India and Pakistan. It was initially used a
celebratory folk dance of farmer which indicated the coming of spring, and harvest.
Who can dance the bhangra?
Anyone can dance the bhangra. The dance has a variety of dancers, you can find
men, women, and children dancing the bhangra.
The Bhangra Dance
The Bhangra is all about symmetry, speed, balance, grace, and fun. It is a lively form of folk dance as well as a form of
celebration. There are many variation to the bhangra dance, some are especially for men or women. Bhangra is often
danced in circles, and uses a lot of arm and shoulder movement.

Bhangra differs from region to region and still retains its own unique identity. The Bhangra incorporates a whole host of
dances these dances include,

Jhumar: a slower and more rhythmic form Julli: Typically a single person dance

Ludd: also a dance of slower movement Daankara: a dance performed with sticks

Giddha: a popular folk dance of women, shows Dhamal: Circle dance

elegance, grace, and flexibility
Saami: a womens dance
Gatka: A dance performed with swords, daggers, and
sticks Kikli: group of women dance, danced in a interlocking circle
Bhangra movement
The Bhangra dance is very lively. The dance expresses the use of the entire body mainly arm and
shoulder movement with a lot of bounces
Meaning of Bhangra movements and values
There is no correlation between the movements and the message that is trying to
be portrayed by the dancers. This dance is mostly performed during happy
occasions, ex: weddings, birthdays, and other grand celebrations.

In Bhangra, the values and norms expressed in this dance form are:

Dance movements are masculine, men are more often seen performing it
No physical contact between sexes
Displaying modesty through attire worn by the dancers
Description of Bhangra
Bhangra movements are very freestyle with a variety of styles and movements.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFBOfGbHDPU 3:30
Space
Location: varies on the space provided at certain occasion like wedding
halls, peoples houses, restaurants, or concerts halls.
This dance requires an open floor since many of the movement require full
extension of the limbs.
During competitive performances, the choreography utilizes the majority of
the stage through various formations.
Attire and Props
Men: Props:
Pag: The turban which is stylized in a particular way to Sapp
made out of robust wood and double washers, they
be named the pag.
are very sturdy and almost unbreakable. These are
Turla/Torla: An adornment on the turban that looks like a grasped by the handles and open and close to create
fan a loud clapping noise. Used to create a secondary
Kaintha: A necklace beat.
Kurta: A type of long shirt Khunda
Lungi/Chadar/Tehmat: A decorated cloth that is tied 5-foot long stick that is hooked at the top and is used
around the waist to add some excitement to Bhangra occasions.
Performers can sway side to side while holding the
Jugi: A waistcoat that has no buttons
khunda out with their hand, or place the khunda over
Women: or against their shoulders while performing bhangra
moves.
Dupatta: A scarf
Kameez: A type of shirt
Salwaar: Loose-fitting pants
Tikka: Jewelry that is worn on the forehead
Jhumka: Long earrings that dangle
Paranda: Tassels worn in the braid
Haar-Hamela: A gold necklace that is studded with gems
Baazu-Band: a cloth worn around the upper arm
Jhanjar: Anklets
Attire and Props Cont.
Musical Composition of Bhangra
Music:
Performances were normally choreographed to the rhythm of a song but as of now it's come to encompass a wide
variety of music, for example rap, pop, hip hop, folk, and classical elements are incorporated into creating a music
piece.
Certain occasions require specific music types. Thus, the only significance that the music has is due to the audience
of the piece.

Traditional Instruments:
Chimta
Dhol
Tabla
Harmonium
Evolution of Cultural Expression
Discrimination against women dancing:

Young Age: In India, parents do not allow young girls to take part in bhangra
due to social norms.
Westernization: from watching other cultural dances, girls think they should
be allowed to partake in Bhangra.

Acculturation:

Clothing choices have changed in the culture, for example: men performing in
suits, zumba classes (fitness clothes), and etc. Overall, it has become an
informal and open dance form.
Indian Oppression nothing new.
Prejudices against Indian Americans Not new in the United States

Indians began arriving in the early 19th century.

Many came to escape caste system imposed upon them in India.
Vaishno Das Bagai arrived in 1915
He wanted to be free of slavery.
Ran a general store.
Naturalized in 1920
(Basu, 2017)
Vaishno Das Bagai 1915 with his wife and three sons.
How his life Changed

In 1923 Supreme Court ruled Indians were not white.

They were not eligible for Citizenship.
Bagai had left India because he was a second class citizen (british).
He had renounced his british citizenship. He could not go back.
He was a man without a country, subjected to alien laws.
He lost his property, his business and his home.
He could not visit India because he had no passport.
He killed himself in at 37 in hotel room in San Jose

(Basu, 2017)
Oppression Then and Now
Immigration Act 1946:

Harry Truman--allowed Indians to be citizens, own property and vote.

Only 100 allowed per year

Immigration Act 1965

Removed country-specific criteria

All prospective newcomers on equal footing for access to the U.S.A.

Proposed Immigration Acts--Donald Trump

No lottery visa, disband the Dreamers Act, etc.

Indians under attack--Told to go home.
Kansas Bar shooting February 2017

Shooter approached Srinivas Kuchibhotla, said Get out of my country!

then gunned him down. (Basu, 2017)

Kent, Washington shooting few days later

Deep Rai shot outside home. Shooter Yelled Go back to your country.

Both investigated by FBI as hate crimes. (Basu, 2017)

Contributions
The bhangra has evolved from its humble beginnings, and now is recognized
and enjoyed all over the world. The influence of the Bhangra can be seen in the
world of Bollywood with Bhangra artists being used to supply the soundtrack to
some of the biggest movies in the industry. Some universities have even started
to hold Bhangra dance competitions .
 Changes

In the 1990s Bhanga became more westernized, creating a new kind of Bhangra called Folkhop. Instead
of using drums for music lyrics were recorded over beats created by DJs.
This new type of Bhangra is not authentic and arguments have been made that bhangra has lost its
identity and has become a hybrid of westernized R&B and is not at all the same as the Bhangra created
in the 60s-80s
Acculturation
Bhangra dance and music traveled to the West in the suitcases of South Asian
immigrants in the 1970s and 1990s. When it first reached American shores, it
wasnt the same bhangra that it is today instead, it gained popularity through
something called Bhangra Remix. Young second-generation South Asians living
in the U.S. mixed Punjabi riffs into their music and danced a type of bhangra in
club basements.

VS
Original Bhangra Remix Bhangra

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGZR7BeOMBE 1:30-2:30
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