Bhangra Elite, widely known around UNC's campus for their high-impact routines and explosive energy on stage, is a pinnacle part of the University's dance scene. Established in 1996, the group spreads the joy of bhangra, a dance form originating from the Punjab region in Northern India, to Chapel Hill and surrounding communities. Simran Arora, Gurnoor Grewal and Anjali Nelatoor, who are sophomores, and freshman Vraj Hingoo are all members of the team. This year, Bhangra Elite has 29 dancers in total.
“The main goal is just to spread awareness on what the Punjabi community is, what the traditional dance of Northern India is all about. Very high energy, high impact," Grewal said.
For these four dancers, bhangra is not just an expressive performance outlet. It also provides them with a platform to leverage their talents for the charitable causes.
Bhangra Elite is currently in the midst of preparing for their annual charity event, Bhangra Sutra. Sutra is a showcase of performances from diverse groups across the Research Triangle, including UNC groups Tar Heel Raas, Flying Silk, Moonlight, Que Rico and UNC Bharat Sangeet. Duke Dhamaka and Bull City Raas, which are Duke’s premier bhangra and raas teams, will also be in attendance. Finally, the showcase will feature performances from Learn Bhangra, which offers bhangra classes in the Triangle Area, as well as Carolina Indian Arts. The main goal of Sutra is to showcase the diversity of dance and performance to students, encouraging them to immerse themselves in a variety of cultures.
Each year, all proceeds go toward the group’s charity of choice. This year, Sutra is supporting Khalsa Aid, which is a Punjabi-founded organization that provides humanitarian relief to refugees in civil conflict zones. Arora, who is a co-director for Sutra along with Grewal, said that they chose this charity as it upholds the principle of selfless service that Bhangra Elite strives to uplift and embody.
Besides Sutra, however, the group takes pride in making frequent appearances across campus. This year, they have performed at basketball and football halftime shows as well as cultural events in the community. This past Saturday, Bhangra Elite performed at Mock Shaadi, an event hosted by UNC’s South Asian organization, Sangam, and will be performing at Holi Moli in April. Additionally, as a competitive team they create intricate routines to be judged at the local and national levels.
“We love what we do, and we want to show everyone that we love what we do," Nelatoor said.
As a team, the group is very tight-knit. What makes Bhangra Elite so special is how it allows dancers to both foster strong friendships and deepen their connection with Punjabi culture through movement. Although many of the dancers are not Punjabi themselves, the team provides a welcoming space for everyone to engage with and celebrate the rich traditions of the style.
“Ever since I knew I was committed to UNC, I wanted to join. And like, it's been so fun. I wouldn’t join another dance team other than Bhangra Elite," Hingoo said.
