Royal Academy participated in a collection of major mainstage performances, cross-disciplinary experiments, and corporate community engagements presented in partnership with the Vancouver International Bhangra Celebration (VIBC) and the annual City of Bhangra festival.
These diverse projects expanded how Punjabi folk arts are perceived, opened vital doors into Vancouver's corporate and contemporary dance sectors, and created landmark intercultural smash-ups with local diverse dance communities.
HSBC Canada sponsored the City of Bhangra festival in Vancouver, a show which presents artists, music and singers from around the world. To coincide with this, a group of employees, some with no dance training, decided to put together their own team to perform at the festival.
With a group that represents gender, culture and generational diversity, meet the HSBC bhangra dancing team. Choreographed By Hardeep Singh Sahota.
HSBC Canada sponsored the City of Bhangra festival in Vancouver, a show which presents artists, music and singers from around the world. To coincide with this, a group of employees, some with no dance training, decided to put together their own team to perform at the festival.
With a group that represents gender, culture and generational diversity, meet the HSBC bhangra dancing team. Choreographed By Hardeep Singh Sahota.
May 29, 2014. Fei and Milton Wong Experimental Theatre, SFU Woodward’s, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
An exhilarating start to the Festival, led by MC and beatboxer Rup Sidhu and choreographed by Hardeep Sahota, with performances by Native Thunder Productions, JCC Shalom Dancers, Now or Never Crew, Leela Dance, and the Royal Academy of Punjabi, all accompanied by Karnveer Bhuller on Dhol. This event was a unique opportunity to experience First Nations, Jewish, Hip-Hop, and Garba dancers creating intercultural mash-ups by blending bhangra moves with their own indigenous folk traditions. Opening Reception catered by Nanak Foods. Presented with support from Canada Council for the Arts.
Performers:
Native Thunder Productions (First Nations Group)
JCC Shalom Dancers (Jewish Dancers)
Now or Never Crew (Breakdancers)
Leela Dance (Garba Dancers)
Royal Academy of Punjabi, featuring Surrey Folk Bhangra Club
Dholi – Karnvir Bhuller
MC – Rupinder Sidhu
Choreographer – Hardeep Sahota from Royal Academy of Punjabi
Surrey City Hall, Surrey, BC, Canada. Mar 19, 2015.
Royal Academy of Punjabi
Hardeep Singh Sahota (Choreographer), Parminder Prince (Punjabi Folk Singer), Sheru Chahal (Dhol)
Description:
VIBC’s vision is to create an inclusive community for all through celebration and the joy of bhangra. On March 19, we invite you to attend an extraordinary event at Surrey City Hall, connecting revolutionary Ghadar poetry to elements of folk bhangra performance.
Sponsored by Hari Sharma Foundation, and hosted by Bali “Lady B” Deol of Swaraj Radio, Songs of Revolution includes discussion, dance, poetry, and music inspired by the Ghadar movement, undertaken in the 1900s in Canada, the US, and India by Indians seeking their freedom from the British Raj.
Songs of Revolution takes place in four parts, each in its own way illuminating aspects of a movement that shaped—and continues to shape—the lives of so many individuals and families here in Canada and abroad. To open the evening, local community members and academics will introduce the Ghadar movement and explore its significance today. Then Royal Academy of Punjabi will present a ten-minute performance set to poetry describing scene-by-scene the story of the Ghadarites’ call for India’s independence. This will be followed by recitations of Ghadar poetry by local poets, authors, and scholars such as Sohan Singh Pooni, Jasmin Chahal, Sandeep Singh, Kalwant Singh Nadeem Parmar, and Amal Rana. The evening concludes with a short reception sponsored by Nanak Foods, to which everyone is invited to socialize and share more poetry in an informal setting.
Kade Mangyian Milann Azadiyan Na
Hunde Tarliyan Naal Na Raj Loko
Karo Na Minnat Ainwe Bano Na Kaiyar
Fardo Talwar Ehnan Nahin Rahnna
Freedom is not obtained by begging
By appeals political power is not won
Do not petition like cowards
Take the sword and they will run
Ghadar Poem
This event is presented by VIBC. Many thanks to sponsor Hari Sharma Foundation; to supporters Swaraj Radio 96.1FM, Simon Fraser University’s Centre for Policy Studies on Culture and Communities, Simon Fraser University Surrey, Nanak Foods, and Royal Academy of Punjabi ; and to all of our event participants, performers, and volunteers.
Surrey, BC.
TransFusion 2015 has always been about pushing boundaries and taking artistic liberties. This year, VIBC is excited to partner up with Hardeep Singh Sahota from Royal Academy of Punjabi who guided all the artists Vanessa Goodman, Stu Iguidez, Dayna Szyndrowski, and Jacky Yenta about Punjabi Folk Dances.
Together, we present bhangra abstracted — elements of the dance movements, the music, the instruments, the language — seen through a new and unique lens. This is our opportunity to get weird, to explore, and to excite you with an innovative performance, blending and creating new pieces in partnership with local artists. Art has no boundaries, and through TransFusion, VIBC continues to break through the silos and explore new possibilities for cross-cultural understanding.
Performance done on December 3rd, 2015
Royal Academy of Punjab’s initiatives reflect an ongoing commitment to sustaining Punjabi folk traditions while actively embedding them within civic, academic, and intercultural spaces across British Columbia. Through performances in educational institutions, civic celebrations, reconciliation events, and cross-community festivals, the Academy uses dance and cultural practice as a living form of heritage preservation and dialogue.
Collectively, these projects demonstrate the Royal Academy’s role in not only preserving Punjabi folk arts, but also activating them as a platform for inclusion, education, reconciliation, and cultural visibility across diverse public spheres in Canada.
These initiatives include:
The Royal Academy of Punjab proudly hosted Dhol & Goals – Canada Day Edition 2026, a vibrant community celebration that brought together families, youth, and community members for a day filled with Punjabi folk arts, sports, music, dance, and cultural experiences.
The event featured live performances, interactive Punjabi folk dance and dhol workshops, soccer activities, family-friendly games, and opportunities for people of all ages to connect, learn, and celebrate together. Dhol & Goals reflects our commitment to promoting cultural diversity, healthy lifestyles, and community engagement while celebrating Canada's multicultural spirit.
We extend our sincere thanks to everyone who attended, volunteered, performed, and helped make this event such a memorable success.
Supported by:
In Partnership With:
Thank you for celebrating with us. We look forward to welcoming you to our future community events and cultural programs.
BHANGRA as a part of this Whatcom County residency
“We were thrilled to work with Hardeep Singh Sahota director of The Royal Academy of Punjabi”
Hardeep Singh Sahota taught at Carl Cozier, Alderwood Elementary, and Squalicum High School. Dancers from the Academy performed at the two elementary schools as well as at Sterling Meadows Church.
Pictures of Deep teaching in the public schools, as well as at the academy, along with pictures of performances by Royal Academy dancers can be seen in the video slideshow below.
A presentation created and performed by our Artistic Dance Director Hardeep Singh Sahota & The Founder of The Spirit of the village Jacky Yenga.
Music Master: Vijay Yamla
Drum: Amarjeet Valjot
What our members are saying:
"I joined Royal Academy just for exercise but they encouraged us so much that we performed. I am enjoying so much now that want to continue forever."
"Royal Academy of Punjab is an amazing place to learn Bhangra! The instructors are top-notch, and the atmosphere is so energetic and fun."