VANDERBILT BHANGRADORES
Vanderbilt University's Premier South Asian Dance Team
WHAT IS BHANGRA?
Founded in August 2011, the BhangraDores are Vanderbilt University's premier South Asian dance team. Our purpose is to promote cultural awareness and aesthetic appreciation of Bhangra, a Punjabi folk dance. The BhangraDores commit multiple hours to practices and meetings which culminate in contributions to on-campus events and performances in the broader Nashville community. Additionally, the BhangraDores are a competitive intercollegiate team that travels to national competitions and vies for regional titles along with many other major collegiate teams.
Bhangra is a form of Indian music and dance which originated in the state of Punjab. During the partition of India, many citizens in Northwest India and Pakistan were displaced from their homes and made to live in refuge camps. Through this intermingling of cultures, bhangra developed as a fusion of dance styles. It has also been said that bhangra was a dance style that originated as a dance to celebrate a successful harvest.
Bhangra gained popularity during the 20th century, especially among college students who blend Bhangra with pop and hip-hop music to express South Asian culture and identity in a very unique manner. A large competitive circuit exists in North America, Europe, and Australia, with both collegiate and independent teams competing for prizes and glory. Elements of bhangra can be seen in many musical genres and artists around the world. Bhangra is still changing but it's core remains tradition, culture, energy, and swag.
WHO WE ARE
