Bhangra beats

The UB Bhangra Club treated the Student Union to a short but sweet performance as a part of International Education Week yesterday.

Bhangra, a traditional North Indian folk dance, was once performed to celebrate the harvest. It has evolved into a popular, modern Indian dance genre, and is especially popular in Punjab, India where it originated, as well as throughout North America and the United Kingdom. Bhangra is now commonly performed for competition and entertainment on a collegiate and professional level all over the world.

Though the crowd was small and the performance short, the dancers were enthusiastic about their presentation.

"I just like to dance. It doesn't matter how many people are watching," said Sukhi Chawla, Bhangra Club choreographer and sophomore pharmacy major.

Dressed in traditional Punjabi clothing, the dancers' bodies unfolded with the melodic beats of the dhol drum, the most common instrument used in Bhangra.

"I think the background music, the drums and the beats are the best part of Bhangra music," Chawla said. "It's always upbeat and energetic."

Those who really want to see what Bhangra is about will have to wait until February for the "Bhangra Blizzard," a national Bhangra competition that will be held at UB for its third consecutive year.

The Bhangra Club also performed at the African Student Association's Hair and Fashion Show this past Saturday, and will be performing at the Indian Student Association's Muqabla this coming Saturday.

Bhangra Club choreographer Vijay Agrawal, a sophomore biomedical science major, said that he sees performances, no matter how small, as an excellent opportunity to promote bigger events such as the "Bhangra Blizzard."

"We'd like to promote as much as we can, to attract people to come out to the show to watch the teams showcase their talent," Agrawal said of the upcoming event. "People really come from all over. There are teams from Canada, California, New Jersey, New York, Boston and many other places."

Agrawal has been dancing all his life, and says Bhangra has helped him keep in touch with Indian traditions.

"India has such a vast and diverse culture and Bhangra definitely helps me keep in touch with a part of it," Agrawal said. "A lot of people say the music sounds the same, but I can hear the difference."

Chawla said that she also dances to keep in touch with her heritage.

"(Bhangra) is a part of me, it's from where my parents are from," Chawla said. "I've always been fond of it. I learned it when I was young and always stuck with it."

The overall goal of the week is to educate UB on foreign cultures, and Chawla encourages everyone to learn more about Bhangra.

"It's easy to learn," Chawla said. "It's definitely the kind of dance that everyone could enjoy."