Spotted: at Oakland's First Fridays Festival
Occupation: Bhangra Dancer with Dhol Rhythms Dance Company
Do you dance everyday?
I dance pretty much everyday. We rehearse between two to three times per week and we perform all over the Bay Area, Canada and LA. The days that I don’t "officially dance" yeah, I probably do dance anyway.
Are you going to dance at First Friday today?
We danced already today, this is the only time we’re doing [First Friday] this summer!
Where is Bhangra from?
From Punjab, North India.
Where can we go to dance Bhangra?
We have a monthly event called Non Stop Bhangra every second Saturday in San Francisco at Public Works. We teach classes at Ashkenaz in Berkeley and Abada-Capoeira Studio in San Francisco
What do you do when you aren’t dancing?
I develop, operate and lead educational travel programs around the world.
Do you travel to those places?
Yes, I do. [Where is your favorite place?] India.
Where else have you been?
A lot of places. I’ve been through most of South America, all of Europe, Mongolia and Buton.
That is so awesome! What do you do for fun?
Dance! (laughs)
Could you tell me about your head wear?
This thing in my hair is called a parandi, again that’s from the North of India, it’s typical punjab.This [the head piece] is called a tikka and the dot is a bhindi.
Where did you get your Jewelry?
I actually got these in Berkeley. It’s a set—the necklace, the earrings and the tikka. And then the bangles to go with it. I got some rings in Berkeley at one of the indian stores and some at the Himalayan festival. It’s my favorite festival in the Bay Area. And the bag is from the Himalayan festival, too. Actually, pretty much everything I’m wearing is local.
What about the rest of the outfit?
The skirt/pants thing is a sharara and this scarf is called a dupatta.
Do you live in the Bay Area?
Yeah, I live in Berkeley and I grew up in Oakland. I’m actually from here!
Would you ever move?
I would never live anywhere else in the US, lets put it that way. My favorite place is here—my parents are in Oakland still and my sister is in Berkeley and this is where my friends that I grew up with are.
Where is your favorite place you have ever lived?
That’s a tough one. Florence, Italy was pretty cool. It wasn’t really reality. I was in school but you know—endless pasta and gelatto and beautiful people and things. That was really great. I lived with an Italian family.
How would you describe your style in a three words?
Pretty. Damn. Eclectic.
