‘It’s about changing minds. I want to make choosing bhangra ‘normal’ for everyone.’
Julia Thorley is put through her paces by Aman Singh and Kettering Bhangra Classes.
Bhangra is a traditional dance style comprised of energetic jumps, kicks and bends of the body, often with strong arm and shoulder movements. It originated in the Punjab, and was performed by farmers to showcase to their community a sense of accomplishment and to welcome the new harvesting season. Over time it became a feature of other celebrations, such as weddings, parties and local fairs. Now it has extended its reach in the West – including Kettering.
It retains its traditional roots, but Bhangra has evolved to include integration into popular music, group-based competitions, and fitness and dance programmes. There is no doubt that it is a great form of exercise. It is done to swinging, rhythmic music. Traditionally it would be played to the accompaniment of a double-headed drum called a dhol that gives it its strong, syncopated style.
Kettering Bhangra Classes is run by Aman Singh, who leads the sessions with support from other members of the group.
“My family is Punjabi, but I was around four or five years old when we moved to England, so I grew up here. It wasn’t until I went to Loughborough University [where he studied Information Management and Business] that I rediscovered bhangra. Now it’s a big part of my life and I teach four times a week at various venues, including here in Kettering at the Science Academy.”
Aman teaches the dance routines in stages, demonstrating the intricate movements four beats at a time. Once he’s run through the entire combination of steps, the group dances the whole sequence together. Yes, it’s tricky and tests the memory as much as the body, but there are plenty of proficient dancers to follow, and even first-timers can pick their way through. The atmosphere in the room is friendly and supportive, with regulars checking up on newcomers during the breaks and small breakout groups helping each other to learn the steps.
Aman calls out some of the traditional names of the steps in the combination as he teaches and they all mean something.
“You can hear references to the harvest in some of the names. For instance phulka reflects making chapatis, with arm movements that mimic folding in the flour and then pounding the dough.”
The people who come to Aman’s classes are not exclusively of Punjabi heritage: far from it. Everyone is welcome, whatever their background, gender, age or fitness level. This inclusivity is something that Aman is keen to foster.
“It’s about changing minds. I want to make choosing bhangra ‘normal’ for everyone, even though in many ways it’s different from other classes people might have tried. In group competitions, it’s important to have the hand positions just so, but that doesn’t matter in an ordinary class like ours. I really want people to enjoy the sessions.”
Bhangra began as a community activity, and Aman takes seriously his role in his own community. Over the past couple of years, his group has raised nearly £30,000 for various charities. A recent event raised over £600 for The Washing Machine Project, an organisation that provides hand-cranked washing machines to low-income and displaced communities in need.
The emphasis in the classes might be on having fun, but Aman says there is a serious side, too. There are huge benefits to be had to mental health and overall wellbeing.
“I know lots of people who have found that dancing with the group has built up their confidence and helped them through difficult times, such as coping with bullying. I do believe it offers something different from other dance styles. For me, bhangra gives an escape from the stresses of work and life.”
You can find kettering_bhangra_classes on Facebook.
Julia says, ‘I’ve done a lot of dancing over the years, but nothing quite like bhangra. I discovered I could do the arms or the legs or the leaping, but combining them was a big challenge. It really was exhilarating.’