Independence Day Parade 2009 in Pictures & News
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NYC Bhangra at 3rd Annual Dance Parade in NYC
Saturday was the 3rd annual Dance Parade. Many asked me the reason for the parade - they seemed perplexed. I answered "to celebrate dance." I'm not sure a parade needs more of a reason - perhaps so many are estranged from celebration and unmitigated fun that something of this nature grates against their being. The parade started at 28th and Broadway and headed south, finishing in Tompkins Square park for the Dancefest from 3-7pm with continuous performances on stage. The other participants did plenty of milling and strutting along with numerous spontaneous performances.
Every imaginable type of dance was represented with broad ethnic diversity. There was Samba, belly dancing, swing, Korean traditional dance, Polynesian, Indian, Nepalese, Afro Latino, Mexican Folkloric, modern, tap, jazz, disco, ballet, plenty of hoop dancers and other creative works. Dance lessons were offered and after parties were thrown around the neighborhood.
Indian Summer Launch Party
The crowd was a pretty diverse mix of people. The Bhangra Club’s members are a diverse crowd in itself, and there was only more fun to be had when drunk bar patrons joined in the mix. It was amusing for me to see them bemused at the unannounced party unfolding in front of them, only to jump right in. Those familiar with bhangra dance moves helped them to move to the energetic beat, teaching them one or two basic bhangra steps. One guy dancing in front of me was doing pretty well, even inventing some of his own moves, until I turned around and realized he was borrowing from the person directly behind me!
Bhangra Dance Classes
The class itself was interesting to watch. Typical classes begin with 15 minutes of stretching, followed by another 15 minutes of basic bhangra steps all done to fast bhangra music. The last half hour of the class is an intense workout of non-stop bhangra dance.
The class was preparing for auditions for an upcoming June performance. In addition to telling the class to bend and smile, Ms. Kalia was also trying to get the class in the mindset of a performing group.