Letter to the Editor: Bhangra Beat brings high energy dance and culture

The University of Mary Washington is about to experience the enigmatic energy of dance, and great surges of it, this Saturday, Nov. 17.

Framar Hall, the International Living Center, in conjunction with the Association of Residence Halls, will be hosting Bhangra Beat, at 7 p.m. in the Anderson Center for free.

Bhangra Beat’s inception goes back eight years, when the Framar community had the idea to expose international culture through a fun, dance-competition platform. While offering a brief background of the South Asian folk dance, its origins, history and current evolution, university teams across Virginia are invited to participate by simultaneously showcasing their talents and competing for monetary prizes.

Eight years later, we stand by our mission to introduce and educate the eclectic Mary Washington student body and extend an invitation to the Fredericksburg community to one of the most outstanding experiences they will have: our annual, most successful event.

There are plenty of incentives to factor into your attendance this year: a larger venue, more nationally-ranked competing teams, such as Virginia Tech, Virginia Commonwealth University, James Madison University and the College of William and Mary, Dhamaal, an exhibition performance by our own Eagle Bhangra, raffle prizes and the fact that there is no cost to pain your pockets. Bhangra Beat is a one-of-a-kind experience.

Upma Kapoor is Co-President of Framar Hall and President of Eagle Bhangra.