RRC Polytech’s Exchange District Campus debuts Punjabi dance ‘Bhangra’ to students
By: Toni De Guzman
RRC Polytech’s first Bhangra dance class held in the dining hall of the Exchange District Campus showcases Punjabi culture and how it is more than a dance form for some students.
Bhangra is an energetic and traditional folk dance from the Punjabi region in India. Its dance moves include jumps, kicks, and spins.
“It’s just the same feeling as when I danced the first time in my life,” said Bhangra dance coach, Harjot Singh.
The morning of the event on Jan. 29, Singh called his mother because he was nervous people might not show up since not many students know what Bhangra is or have even heard of it.
Toe-tapping beats were coming from the speaker while the sunlight was seeping through the open space.
“It’s a form of lifestyle for me because I can’t live without it,” said Singh.
Since moving to Canada, Singh said he has missed when people would dance Bhangra at his school in India.
He wants to fulfill his mother’s wishes by opening a dance academy.
“I’d love to teach about the Punjabi culture and the energy that Bhangra fills in them,” the 24-year-old said. “They’ll love that, I know.”
Singh creates Bhangra dance videos on Instagram with his friends and has been dancing for about 10 years.
A couple of onlookers from the second-floor terrace watched the small class’s choreography, while others sat around the room to watch.
“I could see my worries fly away,” said Jasmeet (Jas) Singh, a second-year IT Operations student who gave Bhangra a try.
Singh performed at Folklorama three months ago and only started learning the dance seriously about a month ago.
“I love it. I want it in my body,” he said. “Our music is all about beats, so it’s all natural. So, if you can hear your heartbeat that means you can do Bhangra.”
Singh said events such as Bhangra classes help others understand many people come from different backgrounds they may not be familiar with.
Nearly 100,000 immigrants are in arts & culture occupations across the country, according to Statistics Canada 2021 Census.
For Simrandeep Kaur, 20, dancing Bhangra for the last 15 years has helped her feel “independent” and “liberated.”
“When I’m sad, I dance. When I’m happy, I dance. When I’m excited, I dance,” said Kaur. “I don’t care who’s watching.”
Kaur said she knows when people look at her, they think she doesn’t know what she’s doing, or they’ll call her a “nerd”, but that won’t stop her, as she plans to attend every Bhangra dance class she can.
“I want people to know that I’m an artist,” said Kaur. “I love that about myself.”
