I would argue that girls teams should be free to dance as they wish with respect to bhangra, just as every other team can. SMD shouldn't have to add girly moves, no. But they SHOULD be be free to add those moves without repercussions (outside of the more traditional frameworks).

The NA Bhangra framework has made room for this anyway for many years. College teams have had girls do tiny pseudo-giddha segments for years. Co-ed teams have girls do girly stuff during interactions between guys and girls. All-guys teams do pseudo-gay steps during sequences like jhummar to express what the song is talking about. Sitting on a guys lap and having both of you pretend you're a girl, is not bhangra. Should we free all-guys teams from such actions as well?

No of course not, because the point is that the All-Guys team is not trying to be a co-ed team. Similarly, All-girls teams are not trying to be All-guys teams anymore than a co-ed team is trying to be an all-guys team.

If the rubric is a more traditional one that respects a rigid framework, then it behooves the girls-team to follow that and try to reach their max potential on it.

But if the rubric is more laxed then they have every right to add the moves if they feel that
a) the audience will enjoy it
b) it does not violate their sense of what bhangra is
c) they feel that it does not diminish their overall set

Teams should be free to dance as they wish and have a common rubric applied fairly. The difficulty becomes how to separate the inherent differences in teams. The fact is that stunts that involve upper body strength are more difficult for girls. It's a fact, so if TAG were to pull of a 3 man tower, I would be more impressed than if an all-guys team did. Should I merit them same points? Extrapolate that to more scenarios, like if an all-guys team and co-ed team do the exact same 'cute interaction' do I credit them the same? Probably yes, but it is harder to force that type of interaction in an all-guys set than a co-ed set, so I would prefer the co-ed team to do more and be more creative. etc etc. Just some more thoughts for the discussion

Your treading into water where your challenging the structure of the said categories.  I understand and agree with your point about girls and dancing, but the premise that they should be restricted to girly steps is problematic when you think of stereotypical moves and sets done by coed, all guys, and all girl teams.  People lay certain criterion for each, whether it be conditionally in terms of judging(un-biased or no) and watching the performance.

Frankly, this touches of the debate of whether its a bhangra team performing, or a live, modern, all guys, all girls, coed, etc team performing.  Yes there has been intermingling of some "styles" like swi has mentioned above, but its more of the mindset of performers and judges.  As long as the other two groups stick to the ideas and choreo they have produced, then youll see judges be harsh on changes in one perceived sector of bhangra.

Also, its more that change comes from the top, and people on the lower rungs of competition get fed backlash.  Its good that SMD and TAG have placed and won, and these categories such as an All-Girls Category has come about because it gave the opportunity for an All-Girls team to not be unfairly judged against other teams, win, and elicit change based on a reputation built in such competition, but the negative side has been that has sometimes it has not transcended to spheres of competitions where all parties are judged equally. 

I think that more teams should be judged as "Bhangra teams" and not as all-guy, coed, and all girl.  If you try twisting it saying that everything must vary to cater to differences in makeup of teams, then id say your swerving away from the purported conservative base of bhangra.  People should have less pre-conceived notions off bhangra when it comes to the makeup of a roster, and not make certain expectations based on the "Masculinity" or "womanliness" of a roster.

Also, it should be noted that since judges sometimes look down on girly steps (I know one judge said giddha shouldnt be in a bhangra routine), advocating the idea of girly steps should be stricken because WTF, why promote something that will cause people to lose.  Let girls have there independence and the flexibility and fluidity all teams have when picking and choosing competitions, because that will have a level playing field and factors into results.

this has been simmering in my head for a bit since some people were critical of smd doing giddha at vibc and placing there. "bhangra" as we know it is an umbrella term encompassing ALL the punjabi dance forms that we think of when we say bhangra. that means jhummar, dhamaal, mirza, all the prop segments, AND giddha all count as "bhangra". if people are going to come and say, this is a bhangra competition and i dont know how a team who does giddha can place at this competition, or to a more extreme level, that there is no place for giddha at a bhangra competition, then please, exclude all these other punjabi dance forms as well. jhummar is a separate dance form. dhamaal is a separate dance form. sialkoti is a separate dance form. giddha is a separate dance form. but in the competitive world that we have created here in america, they ALL are treated as bhangra.

as for something more on topic, i think swi said it best: teams that know their identity should maximize what works for them. for many teams, its a stylistic thing, and there is nothing wrong with how each team works their style. ava and tag have a great style and that works for them, and smd has their own style which works for them. is one better than the other? thats all in the eye of beholder, but the long and short of it is no, each team does what they do best, to great success in this past season.

two short thoughts:

1) Unfortunately, until we get all the judges to be Avtar Channas and stalk BTF, I feel like very little of this discussion will have impact on the judging of comps (if that's what you are concerned with)

2) It always struck me as bizzare that Canada teams (which are considerably more traditional that American teams) always had their girls dancing in what I assume to be chaddre, and not ghugre/salwaars/punjabi womens bottoms.

This is like title 9 for bhangra lol.

IMO girls should not be limited to a certain type of choreography and at the same time, shouldn't be held to certain standards. Bhangra is bhangra no matter who does it and it brings joy to those who participate so if someone's pleasure is restricted to certain standards, then where's the freedom in that?

And yeah, I hear you on that about Canada's girls wearing chadre. It quite goes against the stereotype that canadian teams tend to be more traditional.

this is nothing like title 9....

when our generation of bhangra dancers retire and become future judges, things will begin to change.

not this particular situation but the girls doing bhangra as a whole. First it was not allowed, then restricted, and here we are discussing what the next step is.

I know that with PANJ Girls we have always tried to do each move how its suppose to be done, and I think that automatically puts you in the same league as guys. I dont think you have to concentrate on doing it like a guy, just do it how its meant to be done and your good to go. Well at least its worked for us.

I know that with PANJ Girls we have always tried to do each move how its suppose to be done, and I think that automatically puts you in the same league as guys. I dont think you have to concentrate on doing it like a guy, just do it how its meant to be done and your good to go. Well at least its worked for us.

!AY, CARAMBA!

I can understand different feelings on this but here's my opinion:

You're already doing bhangra, you might as well do it all out and do the moves proper.   Slap your thighs, spread your knees for bethkaan. 


I like the way Harkiran put it... it's about doing good bhangra, not being like a guy or not.  (But often doing it well and doing it like a guy will be the same)



That aside... I highlyy suggest every girl try to dance on an all-girl set at least once in her life!  Pick up a shykka, wear a chadar.  Guaranteed it will make you a better dancer and you'll have soooo much fun

I have lots to say on this topic (obviously) and despite the fact that I pretty much never respond on BTF, this issue is something I have been dealing with for the last 9 years on the circuit so I wanted to comment. I have offered my opinions on this in interviews with rajbir and his crew, juhi and sim and am hoping that stuff will come out soon. (Harjot and I also offered our opinion on the "state of bhangra" in our interviews with Rajbir's crew as well if anyone is interested in some additional oldie opinions on that issue.)
 
Until those interviews come out, I thought I would just say that I echo Harkiran's response that women ought to do the moves the way they are meant to be done. Much of the critique of women in bhangra stems from the social construction of gender norms and the time it has taken our particular art form (yes, I realize calling bhangra an art form has been the subject of debate on this forum) to a) realize the sources of certain prejudices and b) challenge those prejudices. I can go in to greater detail, but in light of what's been said I think it would be duplicative (or maybe I have had this debate/conversation so many times I don't want to sound like a broken record). If you'd like more of my opinions, feel free to let me know.
 
I most recently offered SMD some suggestions on confronting criticisms of dancing too "manly" or too "feminine" and some tips/tactics for self-critiquing when cleaning/perfecting choreography at Bruin and would love to do the same for other women that are looking for that kind of help. I consider it a personal responsibility to encourage more women to do bhangra so if you are interested in discussing with me, please reach out.
 
To add something completely unrelated to the post, I don't think there has been a post on age in bhangra and would love to chime in on that issue as well (ha). If there has been, please point me to it and I'll add my two cents there.

Jasmine = Bhangre Di Rani       Your toooo sick maam