Bhangra is the Punjabi folk dance from the Punjab region of India, danced to the deep beat of the dhol. It is fast, loud and joyful: high jumps, raised arms, bouncing shoulders and bright costumes. In Singapore you can book a bhangra troupe for a wedding, a company dinner, a Deepavali celebration or a party, with dhol drummers on stage or roving at the door.
Price: a bhangra troupe of 4 to 6 dancers usually costs SGD 1,000 to 2,200 for a 15 to 20 minute set, and dhol drummers SGD 400 to 1,800. See how much a cultural dance performance costs in Singapore.
What a bhangra performance looks like
The dancers perform in Punjabi attire: kurtas, turbans and traditional accessories. The music can be traditional Punjabi beats or modern remixes. A booking can be a solo dancer, a group or a full troupe with dhol players, and the routine can be traditional bhangra or a fusion with Bollywood, hip hop or contemporary dance. The troupe can add a short interactive segment at the end, where guests learn a step or two and join the dancers.
One bhangra troupe on our roster was and performs both traditional and modern fusion routines.
The dhol
The dhol is a double sided barrel drum from the Punjab region of India, played with two sticks. It drives every bhangra routine, and it works on its own too: dhol drummers play wedding processions, company events and festivals. A solo or duo dhol act makes a strong roving welcome at an entrance, and a full set pairs with a bhangra or Bollywood troupe on stage.
When to book bhangra
- Weddings. The sangeet or mehendi night, the entrance of the couple or the baraat, the reception and the after party. See cultural dance for weddings.
- Corporate events and gala dinners. A high energy item before the awards or the dance floor. See corporate events and dinner and dance.
- Deepavali and multicultural festivals. A closing bhangra number with the audience, after a classical or Bollywood item. See the festivals page.
- Private parties, school and community events. Birthdays, anniversaries and cultural days.
Space and sound
A bhangra or Bollywood troupe of six or more needs at least 4 by 5 metres of clear, non slip floor. Marble and polished tile, common in mall atriums and hotel lobbies, can be slippery for footwork heavy styles, so ask the venue about a dance floor or matting. Dhol and bhangra are loud and carry. That is perfect on a condo function lawn or in a ballroom, and a problem in an enclosed office lobby with sound restrictions. Ask your venue about noise curfews and volume limits before you confirm.
Bhangra or Bollywood?
Both are Indian dance, but they are different. Bhangra is a Punjabi folk dance with its own steps, costumes and dhol rhythm. Bollywood dance is a modern style set to film songs. Many Deepavali programmes use both, with bhangra to close. Read about Indian classical and Bollywood dance.
Book bhangra and dhol
Send the date, the venue, the guest count and the moment you want the dhol for on WhatsApp or through the quote form. Book at least 2 to 4 weeks ahead, and earlier for wedding season and the weekends before Deepavali.
