At this year’s Holi – Colours of Spring 2018 Festival held at the Esplanades, RedDot Bhangra had the audience toe-tapping and shoulder-shrugging as they brought alive the exuberance of Holi with their powerful high-energy moves.
RedDot Bhangra is a multi-racial group run entirely by volunteers, and is dedicated to providing a platform for youth to engage with their roots and heritage through the main dance form of Punjabi culture. The community also aims to foster understanding and harmony among diverse groups in Singapore through sharing the joy of Bhangra.
Through outreach programmes like these, RedDot Bhangra hopes to introduce the concept of Bhangra dance to the local community. It also aims to provide platforms for Bhangra dance groups in Singapore to learn and improve through means of discussions and competitions.
Holi – Colours of Spring 2018 was held over the weekend of March 17-18. The free-for-all performances at Holi – Colours of Spring 2018 featured two dynamic local Bhangra dance troupes: S.W.A.T. Singapore and SherePunjab Bhangra.
A total of 16 dancers – with the youngest being just 12 years old – owned the stage. The audience enthusiastically joined in some basic dance moves after the performances.
“This event is very exciting because it is the first time the Bhangra community has come together to showcase Bhangra to the public,” said Toh Bao En, Outreach Lead, RedDot Bhangra. “For many in the audience, this might be their first time watching Bhangra. I hope the young children in the audience will watch us and feel a sense of wonder and excitement, and maybe even discover a window to a different culture, just like I did when I was a child. I like to think that we are contributing to a happier and more harmonious society, one dance at a time.”
Amolak Singh, one of the members of RedDot Bhangra, added, “I’ve been dancing for 16 years, but each performance is exciting and special in its own way. Seeing everyone having a good time and enjoying the joy of Bhangra is very fulfilling. I hope that our dance has inspired both young and old in the audience to learn more about Bhangra.”