Bhangra (music)

Bhangra is a Punjabi folk dance, which originated in Punjab, a region in northwestern India and Pakistan.

Originally, it was mainly danced by men, since women are more likely the preferred Giddha - not least because of the far -flung dance steps that were difficult to portray in traditional dresses.

Bhangra is not just in Punjab for all celebrations as a fixed point on the agenda, but in addition to Bollywood dance is the only dance that is popular all over India.

There are no established dance steps as in many European dances; Bhangra at the dancers move mostly loose, bounce on the ground and swinging his arms. Accordingly, each Bhangra can easily learn. However, Professional Bhangragruppen invent increasingly sophisticated steps that they then combine with classic.

Usually, the double - barrel drum skin care dhol and the tumbi, a one-stringed lute spit, for rhythmic accompaniment. Other traditional accompanying instruments are the chimta, a percussion instrument with iron rods, wooden rattle sap, instead of tumbi plucking drum ektara, and the double flute alghoza. However, nowadays more and more bhangra groups are switching to music tapes or CDs, because it is not always possible to raise about a dhol player. Expatriate Indians and Pakistanis try to get through the Bhangra competitions, which take place in India in large numbers.

About the Indians in the UK, the British Bhangra has also become internationally known as a fusion between western pop and traditional Punjabi folk music. Modern bands and solo artists such as Panjabi MC Bhangra have done in the music charts, by mixing traditional elements with pop, hip-hop and modern Indian music. Became famous especially Mundian To Bach Ke and Jogi Panjabi MC.

In India today is usually referred to as the Bhangra played in Indian discotheques and on MTV kind of Indian pop music that belongs next to the soundtracks of Bollywood productions, the most popular pop music in the country.

Abroad, especially in Britain, Canada and the United States, Bhangra is part of the played music in discotheques. In Germany and Austria, the Bhangra makes its way from the underground clubs in larger establishments.