Bending her arms and knees, senior and MV Bhangra captain Kavyamridula Venkatesan stretches with determination, preparing herself for the physically demanding movements that will soon follow. Every Friday after school, students line up in the dance room to dance to high-energy, fast-paced Punjabi music.
Venkatesan says that her love for Bhangra originated 11 years ago, when she first started participating in Indian classical dances. She adds that while she appreciates dancing in general, the inclusivity and cultural connection within the Bhangra community especially made the sport stand out.
“It’s something that my mom and my grandparents have done, so it is really close to me,” Venkatesan said. “Including more people — not just those of Indian ethnicity — is also something we’re working on.”
Originating from the Punjab region of India and Pakistan, the folk dance often employs energetic kicks and bends paired with lively music to create an animated performance. Senior Anya Deshpande, a new member of the MVHS Bhangra club, says that what initially drew her to the dance was its high-energy style, combined with the symmetry needed across the dancers in order to have a seamless show. She adds that a hallmark of the dance genre is its physical intensity, which distinguishes it from other forms of dance.
“I really like how energetic it is, and also how when you’re in sync with other people, there’s an aspect of unity to it, because doing Bhangra alone is different from doing it with other people,” Deshpande said. “Bhangra is more of a community sport because it’s so synchronized, and we’re really energetic with the dance. I think that the community supporting each other and doing the dance is really strong.”
MVHS Bhangra Club’s adviser Pete Pelkey agrees with Deshpande, adding that dance’s community involvement is significant, as the performances are usually done by multiple students concurrently dancing. Pelkey notes that the MVHS Bhangra community became very close through the shared training and performances.
“The kids who dance together become a very tight unit,” Pelkey said. “And because they’re very serious about it, most of them are good friends, which is always fun to watch. And these kids are really exceptional, especially when they’re performing.”
Venkatesan notes that throughout the years, Bhangra has evolved within the MVHS community, where dancers often add their own moves and interpretations to the overall performance. She says that the unique blend of American and traditionally Indian cultures lends itself to a distinctly modern yet culturally rooted interpretation of Bhangra.
“We look at the vibe we’re going for and sometimes even bring American songs that kind of match it,” Venkatesan said. “So we might start with a really fun intro, like a rap intro, then go into a really upbeat kind of song, and it might mix between English and Punjabi songs. Even though it takes a little bit away from the authenticity, I feel like it’s also putting our own spin on it. So we’re not losing anything — we’re adding on to what we already have.”
Both Deshpande and Pelkey agree with Venkatesan. Pelkey adds that, as an adviser for four years, he has seen how new renditions of the dance are often received with popular support.
“Sometimes, in a routine, they’ll have a hip hop beat, and they’ll change what they’re doing for a second, and then they’ll go back to more traditional Bhangra music at the same time,” Pelkey said. “But those routines had some hip hop influences — it was the best fusion of both worlds I’ve seen.”
Pelkey believes that Bhangra embodies a piece of cultural spirit within all communities, noting that the dance is appreciated by all.
“I think it’s a matter of pride within at least some portions of our Indian community,” Pelkey said. “I’ve seen kids just go crazy over this stuff, and I know they’ve never seen it before. It opens up to non-Indians the Indian community, and shows how amazing the Indian community is.”
