Bell presents City of Bhangra

Dance, sing, watch and learn as Bell presents the City of Bhangra Festival from February 29 to March 8, 2008.

This annual festival takes place across Metro Vancouver and includes a diverse and eclectic line-up of events, including a drum circle, art exhibit, an intercultural dance mash-up and the finale Coast Capital Bhangra Competition.

Where is the City of Bhangra? Click here to view a map of Downtown Vancouver and the locations of all City of Bhangra events.

Events Listing

City of Bhangra Art Exhibit
Opening Gala presented by The Bay Downtown
Drum Circle
Bhangra 101 Workshops
Transfusion
Bhangra Authentic
Disorienting Bhangra
Downtown Bhangra
Coast Capital Bhangra Competition
Bhangra Love by Beats Without Borders
Official City of Bhangra After Party

City of Bhangra Art Exhibit

February 24 - March 9, Art + Soul Gallery: Experience the art of Bhangra on canvas at the Art + Soul Gallery. This exhibit will feature the work of local artists and commission new pieces created specifically for the exhibit. The spirit of Bhangra is interpreted and evoked in vibrant displays using acrylic and oil paint, pencil drawings and sculpture. Free.

Opening Gala presented by The Bay Downtown

February 27, Zin Lounge & Art + Soul Gallery: The Opening Gala officially launches the City of Bhangra Festival with dance and music performances. Celebrate, laugh and enjoy Bhangra with sponsors, members of the arts community and our supporters. Music and dancer performances by soulful singer Daksh Kubba, dancers from Academy of Creative Arts, and winners of the VIBC's NEXT Bhangra Competition 2007, BC Cultural Group. By invitation only.

Bhangra Authentic

March 2 - 2:00 p.m. matinee / 7:00 p.m.: Co-presented by the VIBC Society and the Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad, this original presentation brings together performers and teachers of folk music and dance from PAAR Club and PCAC Bhangra Group in this English-narrated stage production. This production was also staged at the 2007 Vancouver Folk Music Festival. Sign language interpreters will be at both showings of Bhangra Authentic. Tickets $12 matinee / $18 through Ticketmaster.ca or by calling 604.280.4444.

Vancouver International Film Centre, 1181 Seymour Street, Vancouver

Bhangra 101

March 2 at 2:30 & 3:45 p.m. at Roundhouse Community Centre & March 6 at 6:00 p.m. at Coal Harbour Community Centre: Learn how to dance Bhangra by instructor Raakhi Sinha from South Asian Arts. These fun, high energy workshops bring together new and old dancers to learn the basics of this dynamic and fun dance form. Pay online through PayPal or $7 cash at the door.

Downtown Bhangra

March 7 from 5:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. & March 8 from 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., Vancouver Art Gallery - Georgia Street Plaza: Dance on the sidewalk and sing out loud at Downtown Bhangra, a free outdoor concert stagefeaturing Vancouver’s finest talent. From drummers, beat-boxers andsingers to Bhangra dancers, break dancers and folk dancers of othervarieties, this stage is full of non-stop action. Stay for the party onFriday night as DJs and bands throw down tracks at the stage. Free.

Coast Capital Bhangra Competition

March 8 - 5:30 p.m. (doors 4:30 p.m.), Queen Elizabeth Theatre: Former first place winners Khalsa Junction and UBC Girlz battle it out with seven other Bhangra teams as they all compete for $5000 and a gorgeous glass trophy. Acclaimed international Bhangra superstar, Malkit Singh, will perform with the Golden Star Group. Watch the following teams light up the stage at the Coast Capital Bhangra Competition:

Columbia Bhangra (New York, USA)
Duniya Allstars Coed (Vancouver, Canada)
Gator Bhangra (Florida, USA)
Khalsa Junction (California, USA)
Nachdi Jawani (Toronto, Canada)
National Bhangra Association (California, USA)
Texas Bhangra (Texas, USA)
UBC Girlz (Vancouver, Canada)
United Bhangra (Vancouver, Canada)

Tickets $35, $45, $55, VIP. Tickets available through Ticketmaster.ca or by calling 604.280.4444, and at Kamal's Video Palace, Anmol Video and Tasleem's Video.

The VIBC Society is excited to have Coast Capital Savings, Canada's second largest credit union, support our organization by sponsoring the Bhangra Competition. Coast Capital Savings serves nearly 360,000 customers across the Metro Vancouver and Vancouver Island regions of British Columbia.

Drum Circle

February 29 - 7:00 p.m., Auditorium, Vancouver Community College - Broadway: Led by Sal Ferraras, explore percussion and folk drumming from the variety of cultures that represent Vancouver. This exhibition will include performances by a number of multicultural drum troupes and Bhangra dhol drums. The highlight of this event will feature a collective performance of drums and rhythms representing the many cultural heritages of Vancouver—distinct in their style—beating as one. Donations appreciated.

TransFusion

February 29 & March 1 - 8:00 p.m. Co-presented by the VIBC Society and the Cultural Olympiad, this unique event blends contemporary and traditional folk dance styles spanning the subcontinent of India and reaching as far West as the Latin world and the Highlands of Scotland. Watch as Flamenco blurs into Kathak, and Bhangra is intertwined with Celtic in this 90-minute presentation of folk dances from around the world. Directed by Tarun Nayar, assistant director Raakhi Sinha. Tickets available for $18 from Ticketmaster.ca or by calling 604.280.4444.

Vancouver International Film Centre, 1181 Seymour Street, Vancouver

Disorienting Bhangra

March 6 - 7:00 p.m. Join guest panelists Gibb Schreffler, Ashveer Singh, Jora Nijjar and Sanjay Seran as they discuss, argue and question what Bhangra is and what it means today in a North American setting. This unique panel of scholars, students, dancers and musicians will discuss how and why Bhangra is performed and its relevance outside of Punjab. By donation.

UBC Robson Square Theatre, 800 Robson Street, Vancouver

Bhangra Love
the City of Bhangra dance party

March 6 - 9:00 p.m. The BWB crew's biggest annual party, and the kick off to the VIBC's City of Bhangra Festival. Killer acts including DJ Sandeep Kumar from LA, live bhangra from the city's hottest bhangra band, En Karma, and a special dance performance pitting bhangra dancers vs street dancers. More fun times at the Red Room! This party will sell out, so come nice and early... Tickets $10 @ the door. http://www.beatswithoutborders.com

The Red Room, 398 Richards, Vancouver

Official City of Bhangra After Party

March 8 - 9:00 p.m., former Storeyum location in Gastown. Celebrate Bhangra and the end of another festival as superstar Malkit Singh hits the stage with the Golden Star Band and special guests.

Tickets available through Ticketmaster.ca or 604.280.4444.