Previously, I made mention to the complexities that create bhangra. Bhangra has become known as one, major popular dance form, but it stands for more than one dance. It is an amalgamation of numerous styles that each have their own story of development. Different regions of Punjab had their own unique interpretations of the songs and dances, and as a result, there were different styles and moves created in each region. After time, people began to get together and celebrate the bigger events and holidays. They shared their stories of bhangra, and they taught each other their own moves. There was a community being formed through the dance. Examples of the different styles that I will discuss include Sammi and Jhummar. There are many more styles involved, but the two I will mention today are among the popular styles that hold the greatest story in terms of its history.

Sammi is a traditional part of bhangra that is traditionally performed by women. It originated in West Punjab, and women would gather and perform Sammi at personal, joyous moments such as weddings and child births. The style was rumored to have vanished from bhangra due to historical tensions between India and Pakistan. However, in the 90s and early 2000s as the dance became more international, Sammi was brought back into the light. The original, folk manner of dancing consists of a girl singing in the middle of a circle as dancers around her sway along with the beat. The lyrics of the songs revolve around the theme of love and romance, and this is then translated into the dance as well with the swaying. However, swaying in this context does not mean a light side-to-side motion. The dancers would move their legs in a hopping manner, and at the same time their arms would wave around their body. The unique identity of this dance is the circular manner of movement, and it’s also iconic how the arms swing across the body in clapping manner. The key element and significance of this is the unity of the body movements with the melody of the music.

Jhummar is another very traditional move, but this is associated historically with masculinity. Men would perform this style as an expression of their happiness. The exact choreography is very similar to that of Sammi. There is swaying involved with this too, but it is not as energetic. There is not much hopping involved, and the arms don’t move across the body either. In this style, dancers form a circle around a drummer, and they move around in a circular motion. The actual choreography involves the legs moving forward and backward. One foot at a time, dancers extend their foot out diagonally and switch between the two. The arms would often remain above the head and the wrists would flick with the beat of the drum. Sometimes, only one arm would remain above the head, and the other would rest on the hip. Then, the dancers would switch arms after every beat or two. This is personally my favorite style because of the elegance it has in the moves, and when coordinated with all dancers, it can look very powerful!

Again, these are only two of many styles that make the whole dance of bhangra. They are elegantly choreographed moves, and they hold great significance to the dance as well. Another significant point of bhangra is the clothing worn by the dancers. From the pictures I post, you may have noticed the colorful elements as well as the accessories on the clothes. Next week, I will discuss in further detail what each of the elements are and a little on their history too.

Are you guys excited to get up on your feet and dance? Ready to feel high-intensive energy in your body and dance it out? Then, welcome back to my blog about the Punjabi dance form, bhangra.

Today, we are going to start with a little bit of history, how did bhangra originate? As I have said, bhangra grew in the area of Punjab in India and Pakistan. It is a folk-dance that was very traditional and rooted in several beliefs and ideals. While it is seen as a traditional dance form, it has changed and incorporated several new techniques, celebrations, and has become a very inclusive and diverse dance form. In much of the India and Pakistan region, there is a festival that celebrates the harvest in spring. This festival is called Vaisakhi, and it commemorates many events such as the Punjabi New Year, the founding of Sikhism, and the start of the harvest. As a result of the focus on the harvest and Punjab being a hugely agricultural area, the spread through the villages since the beginning. It was a very popular dance among Punjabi farmers, and it spread across the fields of Punjab. Years ago, around the 1800s, many families and townsfolk would gather together in the fields and perform bhangra. Some got into big groups and choreographed it while others would just freestyle to the beat of the drums, called the dhol. The traditional and more popular manner was to meet in groups and dance in a circular formation.

Transitioning into the early 1900s, it became more popular for groups and teams to form. They would be asked to perform at special occasions, where festivals and events were held. At first, male teams would popularly form and be asked by kings, politicians, and other famous people to dance at their receptions. Soon, females would join together and create their own official teams as well. They grew in popularity too, and they brought a different style of bhangra to the stage, giddha. Giddha had already existed but was often practiced in local settings. The style was performed by ladies only. It presented the same high level of energy as bhangra, but it also incorporated elements of elegance and flexibility.

The dance would continue to develop and expand across the country and the world. Increased acclaim and fame introduced competitions to India and Pakistan. In 1950, colleges would create dance teams, and they would compete with one another seeing who could execute the coordination, elegance, and intensity the best on the stage. Teams would bring their creativity to the stage whether with props or choreography. They increased the scope of bhangra, but it didn’t take away from the traditions and originality that defined it in the first place.

Regardless of when people danced or how they danced, everyone enjoyed it! As they continued their work in the fields, they would dance along the way, making their job much more enjoyable. As they met at social gatherings, they would dance the night away. Hopefully, now you have a strong urge to get up and dance! Tune-in next time to hear about the styles of dance that make up bhangra now.

It’s time to say goodbye to the lovely sitcom TV shows that bring smiles to so many faces. I know it’s sad to see them go, but I hope to keep you entertained with my next topic! I have decided to transition to a different passion to talk about. It’s a passion that I have been involved with since I was about five years old. I have grown up with it, and it has become a fun, enjoyable part of my life.

In my first semester, I joined Penn State’s Sher Bhangra team. I was very excited to be surrounded by people who enjoyed dancing this style of dance called Bhangra. As I mentioned before, I was always involved with it in some manner, but coming to a college environment and still being able to do it made it a little more special. Maybe it was because of the diversity I felt it exhibited, or maybe it was the fact that I could do it in my own way, without any parents watching. It just felt different and unique! Not only did I feel a different experience joining it, but I also started to have a greater appreciation for the dance. I started to understand the greater complexities and meanings held within the moves, the history, and the elements of bhangra.

This is what I want to share with you in my blogs coming up throughout the semester. I want to share with you what I have discovered and learned about the dance, beyond just the moves.

To start, let’s get into what the dance is. Bhangra is a traditional, folk dance based from the Punjab region of India and Pakistan. The style originated from the 14th and 15th centuries and was becoming more known and popular in the early to mid 1800s based on historical records. It has continued to grow in popularity ever since. The traditional method consisted of live singers singing in Punjabi, the language of the region. Accompanied with the singers would be dancers that would “freestyle” to the beat of the drums. This beat is a unique one that isn’t heard in many other styles of music and it encourages energetic dancing in EVERYBODY. Whether at weddings or a local gathering, people will jump to their feet when they hear bhangra music. Of course, nowadays it has transitioned into a more modern style, but there is still an originality to the music and dance. Bhangra is not exclusive. In fact, it has developed as a result of multiple adaptations of moves and songs, and it is still growing today.

This is only a little on the amazing dance of bhangra that I have enjoyed so much in my life. I hope that you can learn the same as I share my knowledge and my story with you on this wonderful form of dance!