Bombay beats rock American shores

Christina Bame (extreme left front row), an undergraduate at the University of California, USA, is the only non-Indian in the bhangra team.

Indian beats and jhatkas are sweeping firangs off their feet. The invigorating rhythms, oozing vibrancy and the colourful stylish and sensual movements are pulling huge crowds.

The craze has been growing exponentially on the US campuses. Says Jessica Lewis, an environmentalist on a visit to Chandigarh: “I did my graduation from Washington State University. Bhangra was a huge hit there. There were at least a couple of Indian groups and their shows were always sold out.” On what made them tick with American audience, she says, “I guess none of the American dances has the vibrancy and energy of bhangra.”

Christina Bame, an undergraduate at University of California, Davis, and a pro at bhangra, agrees. “I was first exposed to bhangra during my Indian classical dance class in my first year. Initially, I found the classical dance too structured for me. Then I met an Indian friend, who knew some bhangra moves. I loved the style. It caught my fancy and I joined some Indian clubs to learn it. Gradually, I made my way into a bhangra team. It felt really good, as I was the only non-Indian in the squad.”

“Music is our core strength. Catchy songs, coupled with neat choreography make Bollywood dancing a hit. It creates euphoria and makes just everyone start dancing,” quips Nakul Dev Mahajan, owner of NDM Bollywood Dance Productions in Artesia, California. Nakul has trained more than 3,000 students. It is an excellent way of spreading Indian culture, he adds. “Multicultural shows on campuses help students understand different cultures and their traditions,” explains Nakul.   

“The Americans, and also Europeans, swear by their nightlife. They just love to dance and it is very difficult not to sway to Bollywood and Punjabi pop numbers,” says singer Shankar Sahney. Desi beats are fascinating youth even in countries with negligible Indian population. Says Agata Tangori, an AISEC intern from Poland: “Indian music and dances are getting popular in my country. We love watching Bollywood films.” — Mona