From May 29 to June 7, the City of Bhangra Festival and Vancouver International Bhangra Celebration Society (VIBC) will celebrate their 10th annual festival presenting new and unique insights into Punjabi dance and culture. 

Three years ago, VIBC began a conversation with the local Pakistani community and found inspired partners to help create events that reflect the full spectrum of Punjabi culture from India and Pakistan.

Saieen Zahoorwill headline the festival this year. Zahoor is a leadingSufimusician fromPakistan who has spent most of his life singing in Sufi shrines. He produced his first record in 2006, when he was nominated for theBBC World Music awards, and emerged as theBest BBC voice of the year 2006. Like some traditions of Sufi music, he has a passionate, high-energy style of singing, often dancing in a frenzied style with the tassels on his instrument whirling around him. 

Sufi singing is focused on poetry with themes of devotional love, which shares much withPersianmystic poets likeRumiand with otherSouth Asiantraditions such as theBhakticult.

 Learn more about the festival and all the events at  www.vibc.org.

 

City of Bhangra 2014 Events Listing

 

Transfusion and Opening Reception

SFU Woodwards

May 29 at 6:30 p.m.

 

Media Art Mehfil and Community Reception

Surrey City Hall

May 30 at 7:00 p.m.

 

Ekta featuring Zaieen Zahoor

Vogue Theatre

May 31 at 8:00 p.m.

 

Bhangra Village

SFU Surrey and SFU Woodwards

June 1 at 1:30 p.m. and June 5 at 5:30 p.m.

Bhangra on Main featuring Qurat-ul- Ain Balouch

Fox Theatre

June 3 at 8:00 p.m.

 

Downtown Bhangra with naQsh, Qurat-ul-Ain Balouch and Balkan Bhangra

Vancouver Art Gallery

June 6 at 5:00 p.m.

 

Downtown Bhangra with Jay Status and DJ Sanj

Vancouver Art Gallery

June 7 at 12:00 p.m. 

 

Visit www.vibc.org for full event listings.