Bhangra

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-london-54662889

 

Brothers Vikram and Mrinal Seth have been dancing every day during lockdown and now have their own Bhangra classes online called the Bounce Bhangra Brothers. In the link above there is a great video of the brothers talking about their dancing.

Bhangra is a traditional folk dance from Northern India which today is merged with garage, hip hop and R&B.

When lockdown started, they did a livestream and during the stream Vikram announced, “We’re going to do this every day until the end of lockdown,” which was a surprise to his brother at the time!

Now they have people from all over the world joining in the dancing every day. 

Vikram says, “Bhangra really means empowerment, upliftment, energy. It’s all about being with other people and celebrating together, having that sense of community. Because we’re all being isolated from each other this is exactly the time that people need that sense of community.”

The brothers have recently received an “unsung heroes” award for their work.

-        What is Bhangra? Does anyone here know Bhangra dancing or music?

-        Why do you think the brothers chose to do a Bhangra livestream?

-        What do you think made Vikram suddenly announce in the middle of dance live stream, that they would do a dance every day till lockdown ended?

-        How do you think Mrinal felt when Vikram said that without asking him first?

-        Why do you think their classes have become so popular?

-        How/ why can people from different countries who speak different languages all join in?

-        empowerment, upliftment – what do these words mean?

-        How do you think the classes are bringing people together?

-        “This is exactly the time that people need that sense of community,” - why?

-        Why is this story about no outsiders?