Bhangra: Punjabi Shoulder-and-Bounce Dance

Students learn four basic steps of bhangra, a festive dance from the Punjab region, and link them into a high-energy class routine with raised arms and bouncing. Students work on rhythm, arm and leg coordination and cardio endurance.

How to play

1. Take one minute to explain that bhangra began as a harvest celebration dance in Punjab and is danced with lots of energy and smiles (1 min).
2. In staggered rows, teach the shoulder bounce: arms up, hands open, shoulders popping up and down to the beat while the knees bounce (3 min).
3. Teach the hop kick: a small hop on one foot while the other foot kicks forward, alternating, arms up (3 min).
4. Teach the scissor step with wrist twists and the high-knee step with a clap, each in 8-count blocks (4 min).
5. Link the four steps into a 32-count sequence and dance it to music three times, rotating the front row each time (5 min).
6. In groups of 4, students create an 8-count entrance, and the whole class dances the final routine with each group's entrance (4 min).

Rules

• Keep two arms' length apart so raised arms don't hit anyone.
• Land hops on the balls of the feet with soft knees.
• If you get tired, march the step without hopping, but keep dancing.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: the student dances seated with shoulder bounces, wrist twists and claps, which are the heart of the style.
• Autism: preview the sequence with the four step names written in order and give a heads-up before turning the music up.
• Fitness level: offer a low-impact version with heel raises instead of hops.

Learning goals

• Perform basic bhangra steps on the beat.
• Coordinate raised arms with footwork for several minutes.
• Appreciate a traditional dance from another culture.

Equipment for a class of 25

• music: 1
• speakers: 1

Teacher tip

Pick bhangra music with a clear beat, which is usually very strong. The typical mistake is dropping the arms when tired, so cheer students on with the harvest-party idea and give short breaks every two run-throughs.

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