This was my first time attending Pao Bhangra, and I’m glad that I got to check it off of the list of must-do things at Cornell. I wanted to attend last year, but I was busy on the day of the performance. So, I was very excited when I saw the opportunity to go with Rose. I didn’t know anything about Pao Bhangra coming in, and I was completely surprised by this event. I wasn’t expecting the competition aspect of it, and I had no idea that groups from other schools would be there. I also wasn’t expecting to see the drums or the other Cornell groups. I was most impressed by the heart that went into the performances and the introduction videos. It was nice to be a part of such an exciting and beautiful event.

Wow, what a showcase. The Bhangra performances were very colorful and energetic. This was my first time at Pao Bhangra and it did not disappoint. All of the dances were amazing and very intricate. There was a lot of jumps and high steps and they had various props they used alongside their formations. There was a mix of English and Bollywood music. I also love that they had samosas and mango lassi at their intermission. I definitely will be going to the next one!

This was the second year that I attended the annual Bhangra showcase, and for the second year in a row, they did not disappoint with their colorful costumes, passionate dance moves, and cheerful energy. It was so fun to cheer and shout for my friends on stage, as well as watch teams from other schools and little kids perform their dance routines. The show was so exciting to watch, and it made me very nostalgic for my days as a dancer. I believe performing and making art is so rewarding to both the artist and the viewer, and I was so happy to be able to support my fellow peer artists. Hopefully in the near future, I’ll be able to pick up this hobby again, but in the mean time, I’ll definitely still be cheering in the audience!

Pao Bhangra is one of those events on Cornell campus that everyone hears about, one way or another. This week, I was able to check off another event off the famous list of 161 Things to do at Cornell by attending Pao Bhangra, this year in the theme of Olympics. The energy and mood of the event was amazing, and I loved that I could clearly see how Bhangra was more than just a dance, or a single performance; it was a celebration of culture uniting people of a singular background and sharing the joy and pride they felt in their tradition to the people watching. It was the first time I’ve ever seen a full Bhangra performance, but I definitely understood why it deserved a place on the famous list. The excitement was just so contagious and I felt myself cheering on for the teams and looking forward to the next performance coming on stage. I enjoyed the show a lot and would definitely recommend it to anyone who hasn’t seen Pao Bhangra yet.

For this week’s Rose Scholar event, I attended this year’s Pao Bhangra. This event put on by Cornell’s highly regarded Bhangra team presented Bhangra from many different teams — including a children’s team, teams from other universities, and teams of post-graduates. Despite the differing age groups, however, each performance was similarly full of infectious energy, vibrant colors, and genuine enjoyment. It was valuable to see this variety of performances and to also hear a brief background on Bhangra, its origins, and how it was a unique aspect in diffusion of groups from differing communities. In addition to the impressive stamina and coordination of the performers, I really enjoyed the mixes they used — main of the groups combined current popular songs in the U.S. with typical Bhangra mixes. I also think these mixes helped enliven an already infatuated crowd. The skill of commitment of the Cornell Bhangra team is high impressive and their ability to put on such an excellent event each year offers such much to the Cornell community.

I had never before heard of Bhangra when this event was open, but I knew it was on the list of 161 things that every Cornellian must do, and so I packed my bags, threw on my jacket and marched up to Barton Hall. It was AMAZING! All the dancers were so skilled, and the music was fantastic. I loved how they included everyone. The fans decided the winner and they had performances from kids and alumni. The senior goodbyes were heartbreaking and touching. I am proud that Bhangra is a part of our Cornell campus, and hope to attend next year as well.

This was my first time going and watching their dances and was something I had to do since I was a student in Cornell. I knew people from the team which made watching them dance all the more fun and enjoyable. The music and the style of dancing really brought back memories from my old heritage in Punjab and overall I felt that the dance competition really took away all the stress I was facing from my upcoming prelim 2 exams.

This semester I got to check off another of the tasks on the 161 things to do before you graduate: attend Pao Bhangra.  The theme was the Olympics, and several teams from around the country faced off in dance competitions that were then voted on by the audience.  I had never seen this style of dance before, but it was amazing to watch!  The music was fun and upbeat, and the dancing was incredible.  It was clear they had put a lot of preparation in and they all moved so gracefully.  It was awesome to see how pumped everybody got about it as well; while certain people from the Cornell Bhangra team danced, the rest of the team (and the audience) were loudly cheering them on and getting excited over every cool move.  I really enjoyed the show and I will definitely go back next year.

With part of my ancestral heritage tracing back to the state of Punjab, seeing a cultural event celebrating a culture and dance form so closely associated with me was very heartening. I have been friends with many of the members on the Cornell Bhangra team. Watching them perform at a purely Bhangra event was awesome. The event was jam-packed. A lot of people in the university, besides Indians, also came to watch the showcase and support Cornell’s Bhangra. This speaks volumes to the effort that Cornell Bhangra has put into advocacy and mainly the quality of their team. Having such a large audience care about a part of my cultural heritage felt very pretty amazing. Bhangra being the dance form with energy and passion, enjoying the songs and dance routines was but natural. Looking forward to next year’s showcase!

Every time I go to a dance/song performance by Cornell groups, I always walk away amazed. Last night, I was thoroughly impressed with the performance of Cornell Bhangra, The Class Notes, Yamatai, and Loko. It’s amazing to see how much passion and hard work the students put into these performances. Even watching the Bhangra performances from teams outside of Cornell, the sound mixing and dance coordinating to fit both traditional and modern dancing/music is so impressive. I am so proud to be amongst such talented and passionate students.