Bhangra – Dance of the Punjab
Bhangra is the folk-dance of the Punjab. Before Britishers made India their colony, Punjab was an independent Sikh country with its capital in Lahore under the king Majaraja Ranjit Singh. In 1849, Punjab became a part of India and it was the last territory to fall under the British rule. The dance is pure reflection of Sikh and Punjabi culture and traditions for centuries. Due to this culture’s strong connections with agriculture life, so this dance has roots in farms, crops, and villages. After harvesting their crops, after all their hard work, after they were done with everything, people in Punjab used to dance this (to show) a sense of accomplishment and happiness. So, for hundreds of years, due to hard-working farming life of that time, this dance had been developed as a hard-core tough dance to showcase strength and immense joy. Due to this element, nowadays a lot of people dance bhangra for high-energy workouts and rigorous physical exercises. Originally it was a purely men’s dance, however with the time women also started embracing it and nowadays men and women both dance it. It is heavily present in the Sikh and Punjabi culture, weddings, parties, and all kinds of celebrations. With the age, bhangra has evolved from farming life and villages and reached everywhere to big cities and modern metro life. Nowadays, bhangra music and dance is also seen predominantly in bollywood movies and other kinds of big musical fusions. Many people go to bhangra sessions just to stay healthy, fit and as the best alternative to gym. Despite the evolution with time, bhangra succeeded maintaining the core elements of the dance of joy, the dance of happiness, dance of good health, and the dance of productivity.
6:30 PM – 7:00: Before Concert Bhangra Music by DJ
7:00 PM – Show Starts with Inauguration by MC Grant Simpson
Thanks to sponsors and volunteers- North of Ordinary Media, Matt Jacques Photography, Yukon Transportation Museum, Leaping Feats, and Realtor Marj Eschak
(The opening song is based on a branch of bhangra, which is known as Jhoomar (Informally known as slow bhangra). Bhangra dance from Punjab has many branches, which allow for the expression of every kind of feeling. So, Bhangra in the Jhoomar style is danced in order to express the intensity of emotions and often romantic feelings. In this song, there is a reunion of lovers which takes place in the beginning of the song. Later on, the dance evolves to reflect pure joy. Jhoomar, originally from Sandalbar, Punjab, comprises an important part of Punjab folk heritage. It is a graceful dance, based on a specific Jhoomar rhythm. Dancers circle around a drum player while singing a soft chorus. In this song, Gurdeep and students are going to dance jhoomar on a popular Punjabi song Vanjhali Vaja. This song was sung by famous Punjabi singer Amrinder Gill. Along with Gurdeep Pandher, students from his school of bhangra dance Shari Heal, Gabriella Peter, Christie Harper, Kristina Beckmann, Katie Thom, Rupi Aujla, Jana Brandt, Gurdeep Pandher will perform in the group dance.
7:03 PM – Group Bhangra Dance on song Vanjhali Vaja [Van-jh-lee Vaja] (Shari Heal, Gabriella Peter, Christie Harper, Kristina Beckmann, Katie Thom, Rupi Aujla, Jana Brandt, Gurdeep Pandher).
7:07 PM – MC Grant Simpson
The idea of creating fusion of Bhangra with Irish/Scottish music was born at a downtown Whitehorse kitchen. When some musicians were playing the Irish/Scottish music, Gurdeep spontaneously started dancing bhangra on those tunes. Some other friends joined him too. That whole setup/combination looked so great and well synchronized that all of them decided to carry that on. Now that newly born baby in that kitchen in the late fall of 2015 is one year old and has grown up as Scottish/Irish – Punjabi Bhangra fusion. They also thought that this cool blending of two sides of the world would also connect east and west together. The traditional Irish and Scottish set Music will be played by the band Crooked Folk with members with members Keitha Clark with fiddle, Jerome McIntyre with bodhran/cajon, Katie Avery with fiddle, Calla Paleczny with guitar/mandolin, Lee Covin with Irish whistles/small pipes and Bj MacLean with guitar. Gurdeep Pandher will do bhangra dance on the tunes.
7:09 PM – Bhangra on Irish/Scottish Music with band Crooked folk on song butterfly (traditional)
7:13 PM – MC Grant Simpson
Next performance is solo bhangra performance by Gurdeep. The name of the song is Kihnu Yaad Kar Kar Hasdi [Keehnoo Yaad Kar Kar Hasdee] which was sung by famous Punjabi singer Kamal Heer. The bhangra dance is part of his Sikh and Punjabi culture, and he was born into it, so on and off, Gurdeep has been dancing bhangra for his whole life.
Grant and Gurdeep will have some brief and funny discussion on stage.
7:15 PM – Solo Bhangra by Gurdeep Pandher on song Kihnu Yaad Kar Kar Hasdi [Keehnoo Yaad Kar Kar Hasdee]
7:19 PM – MC Grant Simpson
The next song Pagg Diyan Punia [pagg deeyan pooniya] is a cool conversation between two lovers, set in a traditional style. Exploring his dream-world, the boy tells his girl-friend that when they get married, she will help him preparing his turban. The song is cute, funny, and represents beautiful picture of Sikh-Punjabi culture.
7:21 PM – Partner Bhangra by Gurdeep Pandher/Kristina Beckmann on song Pagg Diyan Punia.
(First segment ends)
7:25 PM – MC Grant Simpson
Next song is golden song. Everyone loves the song due to its nice dancing uplifting beat. The dance of absolute joy and pure happiness. The name of the song is Pagg [Pag] which means ‘turban’ in English. Along with its beautiful beat, this song also offers a great message to men from Sikh and Punjabi culture by reminding them that the turban is their precious treasure and they should not forget wearing it. Also, the song explores other traditions of richness in Punjabi culture in a unique musical way. This song was made on two beautiful Punjabi musical instruments Sarangi and Dhol, which produce joyous beat, perfect for bhangra dancing. Famous Punjabi singer Ravinder Grewal sang this song.
7:27 PM – Group Bhangra Dance on song Pagg (Shari Heal, Gabriella Peter, Christie Harper, Kristina Beckmann, Katie Thom, Rupi Aujla, Jana Brandt, Gurdeep Pandher)
7:31 PM – MC Grant Simpson
Gurdeep Pandher with Bhangra dance and Crooked Folk musicians with the Traditional Irish and Scottish Set music will charm you again with their great blend on the song Morrison’s Jig/Kesh jig (traditional). Gurdeep Pandher will do bhangra dance on the tunes.
7:33 PM – Bhangra on Irish/Scottish Music with band Crooked folk on song Morrison’s Jig/Kesh jig (traditional)
7:37 PM – MC Grant Simpson
Next song called Naag [Naag] is a real beauty, romance and tradition woven into the song side by side. The the girl is acting as snake and boy is acting as snake-catcher. The boy is cutely saying to the girl that her hair so lovely that they move like snake.
7:39 PM – Solo Bhangra by Gurdeep Pandher on song Naag
7:43 PM – MC Grant Simpson
Virsa [Virsaa] means culture or tradition in Punjabi. As the name suggests, the song is entirely devoted to rich Sikh-Punjabi culture and traditions. The singer talks about how people used live in undivided Punjab before partition of 1947. Farming life was so beautiful. Men and women used to work hard. There is a touch of household chores and tough farming life. Also, village and farming life is an essence of Punjabi culture, so most of songs revolve around countryside life and agricultural symbols. Gurdeep Pandher and Christie Harper will perform this dance together.
7:45 PM – Partner Bhangra by Gurdeep Pandher/Christie Harper on song Virsa
(Second segment ends)
7:49 PM – MC Grant Simpson will announce intermission which will start at 7:50 PM
INTERMISSION for 20 minutes (from 7:50 PM to 8:10 PM). There will a cash-bar by Katherine McCallum / Larrikin Entertainment.
8:10 PM – MC Grant Simpson will come on the start invite everyone to rejoin.
Next song is a pure love song, set in traditional Punjabi folklore. A loving husband dreams about his beautiful wife and tells her when she would wear ankle jewelry, even when she would walk, it will look as she is dancing in the village. The name of the song is Maahi Mera, which means ‘my loving partner’. Gurdeep and students from his bhangra dance school Shari Heal, Gabriella Peter, Christie Harper, Kristina Beckmann, Katie Thom, Rupi Aujla, Jana Brandt, Gurdeep Pandher will do a group dance on this song.
8:12 PM – Group Bhangra Dance on song Maahi Mera [Maahi Mera] (Shari Heal, Gabriella Peter, Christie Harper, Kristina Beckmann, Katie Thom, Rupi Aujla, Jana Brandt, Gurdeep Pandher)
8:16 PM – MC Grant Simpson
The traditional Irish and Scottish set Music will be played by the band Crooked Folk with members with members Keitha Clark with fiddle, Jerome McIntyre with bodhran/cajon, Katie Avery with fiddle, Calla Paleczny with guitar/mandolin, Lee Covin with Irish whistles/small pipes and Bj MacLean with guitar. Gurdeep Pandher will do bhangra dance on the tunes.
8:18 PM – Bhangra on Irish/Scottish Music with band Crooked folk on song Tripping up the stairs/Caliope House/The Atholl Highlanders (trad.)
8:22 PM – MC Grant Simpson
The next song Dhol Wajada [Dol Wajda] is based on powerful dhol beat. Dhol is the main Punjabi drum which is the king of Punjabi musical instruments and soul of Bhangra. No bhangra song is complete without powerful dhol as the force. So, next song is Dhol Wajda [Dol Wajda] which means the dhol drum is roaring. Gurdeep dances bhangra on this powerful dhol beat songs to create powerful bhangra.
8:24 PM – Solo Bhangra by Gurdeep Pandher on song Dhol Wajda [Dol Wajda].
(Third segment ends)
8:28 PM – MC Grant Simpson
The traditional Irish and Scottish set Music will be played by the band Crooked Folk with members with members Keitha Clark with fiddle, Jerome McIntyre with bodhran/cajon, Katie Avery with fiddle, Calla Paleczny with guitar/mandolin, Lee Covin with Irish whistles/small pipes and Bj MacLean with guitar. Gurdeep Pandher will do bhangra dance on the tunes. Calla Paleczny will sing a traditional French song.
8:30 PM – Bhangra on Irish/Scottish Music with band Crooked folk on song French Song with vocals by Calla Paleczny (trad.)
8:34 PM – MC Grant Simpson
The item is what everyone is expecting, free-style big bhangra jam. Everyone is going to join. Gurdeep Pandher, All Students, All Musicians, MC on two non-stop songs Bhangra [Bangra] and Soorma [Soorma]. These both songs has powerful dhol beat, which will make everyone to dance. Both songs talk about wonderful Punjabi culture and traditions.
8:36 PM -Free style BIG GROUP Bhangra by Gurdeep Pandher, All Students, All Musicians, MC on two non-stop songs Bhangra and Soorma. This big-group dance will be below the stage close to the audience.
8:44 PM – MC Grant Simpson
Thanks to sponsors and volunteers– North of Ordinary Media, Matt Jacques Photography, Yukon Transportation Museum, Leaping Feats, and Realtor Marj Eschak
8:46 PM – The certificate of participation/appreciation awarding ceremony by Gurdeep Pandher/MP Larry Bagnell/Mayor Dan Curtis
8:50 PM – MC Grant Simpson will invite all the performers to the stage. Photographer Matt Jacques will take some group photos. Each performer will get half-minute to speak about the experience.
8:55 PM – Closing thanks by Gurdeep Pandher and the program will end.
