ItB次元官网网址檚 a busy Sunday at the Shan-E-Punjab dance studios in Quadra Village.
Students are trying on traditional ethnic dresses and doing final run-throughs of dance routines in advance of the May 5 performance at UVic celebrating Vaisakhi, the Indian celebration of Khalsa and the spring harvest.
B次元官网网址淵ou want to represent the culture in every which way possible, not just through the music, but through your presentation,B次元官网网址� says the schoolB次元官网网址檚 co-founder, Sonia Grewal. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 important to keep that heritage alive, thatB次元官网网址檚 what weB次元官网网址檙e trying to do.B次元官网网址�
When she stops to consider the stream of young people who have learned bhangra dance from herself and others over the past 25 years B次元官网网址� a rare pause, as Grewal doesnB次元官网网址檛 stop for long B次元官网网址� she puts things into perspective.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 not the kind of person to count numbers, itB次元官网网址檚 just in front of you,B次元官网网址� she says of the quarter century of promoting Punjabi culture. B次元官网网址淪tudents come to the school and they want to learn, and if that continues we continue; itB次元官网网址檚 a need and a want. WeB次元官网网址檝e just taken that initiative for many years to fulfill that culture.B次元官网网址�
Officially known as Shan-e-Punjab Dance, Performing Arts and Heritage School, the organization not only teaches traditional dance, it offers Punjabi language training as a way to further keep the culture alive.
The group began in 1994 with about 13 dancers and within a few years jumped to 65 or 70. As the variety of programs within the school has grown B次元官网网址� in response to studentsB次元官网网址� desire to learn new things B次元官网网址� so have its numbers, Grewal says.
This SaturdayB次元官网网址檚 show at the Farquhar Auditorium, B次元官网网址�25 Years and Vaisakhi,B次元官网网址� will involve nearly 200 dancers, including a relatively new bhangra group from Mount Douglas secondary.
Many dancers have gone on to become teachers here, a testament to the schoolB次元官网网址檚 family atmosphere and the fact Shan-E-Punjab has become part of the fabric of the Indo-Canadian community in Greater Victoria.
Priya Sandhu has danced here eight years and formerly taught young students. She remembers not liking dancing growing up, but as she kept at it, she says, B次元官网网址淚 started to really like the culture because I felt more involved when I went to weddings and receptions. Dancing is a really big part of our culture, and I get to learn it here in Victoria B次元官网网址� IB次元官网网址檓 glad I did stick [with] it.B次元官网网址�
Tejpreet Mand is in her second year dancing here but has already picked up the teaching torch, guiding three to five year olds in the Little Bhangra Stars program.
B次元官网网址淪han-E-PunjabB次元官网网址檚 amazing,B次元官网网址� she says. B次元官网网址淓veryone here is loving and so supportive of you, so even if itB次元官网网址檚 your first year and youB次元官网网址檙e nervous you donB次元官网网址檛 have to be because theyB次元官网网址檙e so encouraging.B次元官网网址�
Rena Bindra joined the recreational adult team this year, after watching her young daughter and son get involved last year. Having grown up in Abbotsford, a larger Indian community with numerous cultural opportunities, she appreciates having this music and cultural outlet for her children.
While a higher number of the dancers involved with the school are girls, thereB次元官网网址檚 plenty of opportunity for boys to come and learn and enjoy the dance, says Harsh Sanghera, whoB次元官网网址檚 been dancing with the troupe for 10 years.
Having joined when he was just four, he now dances with two boys groups and the exciting co-ed youth team Vic City Bhangra. Over the years heB次元官网网址檚 learned a lot about keeping Punjabi culture alive among local youth.
B次元官网网址淚n order to do this dance you should know a little bit about your culture, you canB次元官网网址檛 just join and not know anything,B次元官网网址� he says. He enjoys being able to take a more active role at cultural events such as weddings. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 really fun, you can showcase what youB次元官网网址檝e done B次元官网网址� and itB次元官网网址檚 a great way to show it off.B次元官网网址�
Fellow boys group members Hirsh Bhatti, a seven-year dancer with the school, and Manav Sherjill, who joined last year, say dancing together is a great way to build lasting friendships and work together toward a common goal.
Bhangra dance is a huge part of Indian culture, not only for the celebratory and entertainment purposes, but for exercise and social reasons, says Bob Parihar, whose daughter has danced at the school the past two years.
B次元官网网址淚f you donB次元官网网址檛 say anything to kids, they just want to watch their cellphone or laptop or a computer, they want to spends hours and hours and they have no time to do other activities,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淪o I think just to get out of the house and do some activities, why not dance? At the same time we promote the culture, as well as itB次元官网网址檚 good to get together and know the community.B次元官网网址�
SaturdayB次元官网网址檚 performance starts at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $13 for adults, $10 for seniors and $8 for students, available online at .
