Bhangra and College Students

Bhangra during the college years are really exciting because you get to do what you love and really make an effort to bring out the best of the dance. You get to meet new people, hear new songs and learn new moves, all while having a good time with fellow dancers. It sometimes easy to just get soaked up in the motions and get carried away by bhangra, but good management of that time is critical to the success of a dancer's academics and extracurricular lives.

Here are some of the opinions of fellow dancers, via Bhangra Team Forums, why they like bhangra:

Taisu Kumar (Cornell Bhangra) said: 

"One reason why I love Bhangra has to do with dancing in general. Doing Bhangra puts me in a unique state of happiness that cannot be achieved by any other means. I smile wider, let go of everything, and get a rush of euphoria. Its a feeling that can only be expressed as pure joy

There are special aspects of Bhangra that make this possible. First, Bhangra music is so happy and upbeat, and I love the beat of a great, solid dhol. Then aspects of the dance of Bhangra itself, such as its combination of grace and power and intricate formations, makes Bhangra beautiful to watch and be a part of.

But most importantly, sharing and creating this joy with my fellow dancers creates a bond of true friendship. That is what I love most about Bhangra."

Saab (First Class Bhangra) said:

"I have had the honor of dancing with some incredible teammates, and I think as I have gotten older I cherish the opportunities to practice and perform with them more and more.  Competitions bring my friends together, and as I see myself going forward (and growing older) it is one of the things I love most about bhangra today."  

Suna (Cornell Bhangra) said:

"My most cherished memories pretty much are all bhangra related, with some of the people I love most in the world. Doing and performing such a beautiful art form with such amazing and talented people can always always make any negative feelings I happen to have at the moment go away. Going to competitions and meeting people who I've never met before but have as strong a passion for bhangra as I have is also pretty damn awesome. There's always that instant connection, whether the person has the same feelings that you have about folk vs. modern sets or not. 

Having only experienced bhangra with a collegiate team, I've been spoiled in that I get to see every member of my team 2-3 times a week (usually more since they're pretty much my family when I'm at Cornell), and this will definitely be the thing I miss most when I graduate this spring. Every aspect of the dance is intoxicating (ie dance, music, performances, competitions, etc.) to the point where I hope I'm never at a point in my life where I'm not able to dance bhangra. I love bhangra and I love my team."

Singh89 (Warrior Bhangra) said:

"One reason I liked doing Bhangra was to learn the dance form properly and getting the chance to go too different competitions. Also, I have met some great people through Bhangra.  

Another reason I love Bhangra is because we have gotten the opportunities to host our own Bhangra competition. This process brings together so many people, everyone becomes a big family. It's a lot of work, but the whole process of hosting a Bhangra competition is amazing because people who have never been to a competition or been on a Bhangra team get the chance to be part of this amazing experience. I have been part of Warrior Bhangra Competition for the past two years, and currently still part of the competition for the upcoming year. It has been two amazing years, because both years we got the chance to meet new people through the competing teams, exhibition acts, audiences, and last but not least our own committee members. Some who never went to a single competition got the chance to be part of a event, and most of all new members loved being part of this competition. We look forward to another great year with new people. 

Overall, Bhangra has played a big role, meeting new friends and like some of the people said before me was building great memories."

You can find more responses to this question on Bhangra Team Forums.