• Campus
    • Campus
    • Student Life
    • Administration
    • Faculty
    • Higher Education
  • City & County
    • City & County
    • Chapel Hill
    • Carrboro
    • Education
    • Public Safety
  • Politics
    • Politics
    • North Carolina
    • National
  • Sports
    • Sports
    • Football
    • Men's Basketball
    • Women's Basketball
    • Cross Country
    • Golf
    • Men's Soccer
    • Women's Soccer
    • Swimming and Diving
    • Men's Tennis
    • Women's Tennis
    • Field Hockey
    • Rowing
    • Volleyball
  • Culture
    • Culture
    • Arts & Entertainment
    • Food
  • Opinion
    • Opinion
    • Editorials
    • Cartoons
    • Columns
    • Letters
    • Kvetching Board
  • Multimedia
    • Multimedia
    • Video
    • Galleries
    • Audio
  • About
    • About
    • Hiring
    • Board of Directors
    • Alumni
    • Corrections
    • Contact
    • Meet the editors
    • Policies & Bylaws
  • Advertise
    • Advertise
    • Policies
    • Events Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Obituaries
  • Donate
  • Story Collections

  • HeelsHousing
  • Offline Chapel Hill
  • Shop
  • Buy Photos
  • 1893 Brand Studio
  • Alumni
  • Events Calendar
  • Celebrations/Obits
    • Celebrations
    • Obituaries
  • Southern Neighbor
  • Newsletter
  • Classifieds
  • Campus
  • City & County
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Culture
  • Opinion
  • Donate
  • HeelsHousing
  • Search
The Daily Tar Heel

Serving the students and the University community since 1893.

The Daily Tar Heel
    • Campus
      • Campus
      • Student Life
      • Administration
      • Faculty
      • Higher Education
    • City & County
      • City & County
      • Chapel Hill
      • Carrboro
      • Education
      • Public Safety
    • Politics
      • Politics
      • North Carolina
      • National
    • Sports
      • Sports
      • Football
      • Men's Basketball
      • Women's Basketball
      • Cross Country
      • Golf
      • Men's Soccer
      • Women's Soccer
      • Swimming and Diving
      • Men's Tennis
      • Women's Tennis
      • Field Hockey
      • Rowing
      • Volleyball
    • Culture
      • Culture
      • Arts & Entertainment
      • Food
    • Opinion
      • Opinion
      • Editorials
      • Cartoons
      • Columns
      • Letters
      • Kvetching Board
    • Multimedia
      • Multimedia
      • Video
      • Galleries
      • Audio
    • About
      • About
      • Hiring
      • Board of Directors
      • Alumni
      • Corrections
      • Contact
      • Meet the editors
      • Policies & Bylaws
    • Advertise
      • Advertise
      • Policies
      • Events Calendar
      • Celebrations
      • Obituaries
    • Donate
    • Story Collections

    • HeelsHousing
    • Offline Chapel Hill
    • Shop
    • Buy Photos
    • 1893 Brand Studio
    • Alumni
    • Events Calendar
    • Celebrations/Obits
      • Celebrations
      • Obituaries
    • Southern Neighbor
    • Newsletter
    • Classifieds
  • In the News
  • Men's basketball
  • The OC Report
  • Football
  • Business
  • Franklin Street

11/6/2017, 8:28pm

Review: Aaj Ka Dhamaka dance competition

Review: Aaj Ka Dhamaka dance competition Buy Photos
UNC hosted Aaj Ka Dhamaka, an intercollegiate dance competition, Saturday.
Joseph Keys

Share

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Mail
  • Print
BY Joseph Keys

Last Saturday, UNC hosted the annual Aaj Ka Dhamaka dance competition in Memorial Hall. 

The event was presented by UNC’s South Asian Awareness Organization, Sangam, and featured 11 dance teams from North Carolina State University, Virginia Tech, Virginia Commonwealth University, Georgia Tech and more. The competition featured two stylistic categories: Bhangra, a traditional dance from the Punjab region of India; and Fusion, a combination of multiple dance styles. 

“We all interpret Fusion a little differently, and it’s fun and interesting to see how different people from different parts of the nation merge Western and South Asian cultures into a stage-worthy performance,” said Bhavi Patel, a senior member of NC State’s team. 

AKD finds its niche in uniting people from across the country in their love for dance. From the opening act, the atmosphere was electric with booming speakers and screaming fans during each performance that made it difficult not to cheer for every team as if it were your own. There was certainly a competitive nature to the event, but it was encompassed under a greater sense of community and togetherness. 

“VT Bhangra attended AKD in 2012 and 2014. Those dancers have graduated from Virginia Tech, so this is a new experience for most of us who are on the team now,” co-captain Malvika Damle said.


Editors Picks

‘We have made progress’: How UNC has advanced women on campus this past decade


Here's how studying has evolved throughout the decade


The Campaign for Carolina initiative allowed for fundraising growth over the decade



While there were lots of friends and family who were familiar with the competition, for many in attendance, the event was unlike anything they had been a part of before. 

“I’ve never seen a performance of that style and it was really cool to see the different culture,” said Will Smith, a first-year who came with a few friends. 

The event was held in support of Sangam’s Mahatma Gandhi Fellowship, a scholarship established in 1998 which annually grants two students up to $3,000. The money can be used toward a project of the student’s choosing that raises awareness for, or aids in some way, the South Asian community. Proceeds from the competition were used to fund this initiative. 

In the end, Virginia Tech took first place in the Bhangra category and NC State won in the Fusion group. Unfortunately, since UNC hosted this year, our team could not compete as it would have been an unfair advantage to perform on a stage they know so well. Despite their not participating in the event, the turnout was great and it was clear that South Asian culture is cherished and celebrated here at UNC. 

@joe__keys

arts@dailytarheel.com


Next up in Culture

  • Here's how studying has evolved throughout the decade

  • 'People want new voices': How inclusivity has shaped the local comedy scene this decade

  • From 'Pitch Perfect' to Samaa: How a cappella has changed over the decade


Next up in Arts & Entertainment

  • 'She is a goddess': Emmylou Harris brings her unique style of music to UNC

  • 'A universal language': Durham art show highlights LGBTQ+ perspectives

  • Carolina Performing Arts founder departs UNC for N.Y.C. arts foundation


The Daily Tar Heel welcomes thoughtful discussion on all of our stories, but please keep comments civil and on-topic.

Latest Print Edition

Print Edition Print Archive

Decade in Review

Special Print Edition

Start the Presses!

Thank you for reading! You are someone who appreciates independent student journalism, support that work with your tax-deductible donation today!

Donate Now!
    • Front Page
    • Campus
    • City & County
    • Politics
    • Sports
    • Culture
    • Opinion
    • Donate
    • HeelsHousing
Daily Tar Heel To Homepage
109 E. Franklin St. Suite 210, Chapel Hill, NC 27514
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Shop
  • Buy Photos
  • 1893 Brand Studio
  • Alumni
  • Events Calendar
  • Celebrations/Obituaries
  • Southern Neighbor
  • Offline Chapel Hill
  • Newsletter
  • RSS
  • Classifieds

All Rights Reserved

© Copyright 2019 The Daily Tar Heel

Powered by Solutions by The State News.

A Century of Champions

The perfect gift for the UNC fan in your life. Celebrate UNC basketball's years of success with "A Century of Champions," a keepsake poster from The Daily Tar Heel and 1893 Brand Studio.

Buy Now