Academy
The most popular and well established folk dance academy and the creation of Mr. Gursewak Singh Sidhu was created to promote and preserve the punjabi culture and dance. He is a 2 time gold medalist in the event of Individual folk dance Competition of World Level, organized by Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, Llangollen, Wales U.K. in July 2004 & July 2006.Gursewak Singh Sidhu earned the privilege to judge the top bhangra competitions in America,Canada and India like Jashan Bhangra in 2011 and 2012, and Motor City Bhangra in 2015 and 2016. Gursewak Sidhu is working in this field from last 24 years.
Punjabi Folk Dance Academy (PFDA) was started in 2009.Recently one of our girls’ team got 2nd place at Toronto Flower City Bhangra competition. In 2016 our girls’ team got 1stplace at Bhangra In The 6ix.Our senior girls’ team got 3rd place at Junior Bhangra Idols 2015.Our team placed 1st in 2010 at Bhangra Masti. We host an annual event where our students get the chance to showcase their talent, and we perform at various other events across Edmonton.
We organize our annual event Punjabi Folk Festival in the month of May and summer camp for the kids in the month of July and August every year. We teach Bhangra, Gidha and other traditional Punjabi Dances like Jhummar,Luddi,Sammi,Jindhua,Malwai Gidha classes throughout the year. We also teach Dhol as well.For Adults we have Bhangra Fitness Classes in the summer as well.
Our Mission
Our mission is to preserve, and promote punjabi folk culture and heritage with devotion and dedication. This mission is only achievable if we are successful in educating our students about the history of the art and why it is performed in the way it is.
Why we teach?
Dance is a method of communicating what words can’t describe. Once this is understood, the journey to explore the way different cultures perform their art begins. Punjabi cultural performing arts are based on communicating old tales of farming, lifestyles, displays of affection, and celebrations. Bhangra and Gidha are amongst the popular choices of Punjabi cultural performing arts and it’s the style our in-house teams specialize-in.
Our passion and motivation to teach this art is driven by the feelings we as professional dancers have experienced on stage performing this very old performing art. The exhilaration, the emotion, the excitement, all play a role in the overall experience that we wish to give other’s an opportunity to feel.
Punjabi Folk Dance Academy’s mission is to preserve, promote and prosper the Punjabi Folk art with devotion and dedication. And this mission is only achievable if we are successful in educating our students about the history of the art and why it is performed in the way it is. Along with our students, our audience, being anyone and everyone, need to equally be educated about Punjabi culture and what it’s about before witnessing and being able to enjoy a Bhangra performance.
OUR PROFESSIONALS
Gursewak Sidhu
Gursewak has more than 24 years of experience in punjabi dance field and performed in many punjabi films also in music albums.He is a two time gold medalist in the World Folk Dance competition in 2004 and 2006. He has a gold medal in many inter-university Bhangra competitions. He has performed in more than 25 countries.
Gursewak earned the privilege to judge the top bhangra competitions in America, Canada and India like Jashan Bhangra in 2011 and 2012, and Motor City Bhangra in 2015 and 2016. He has given coaching to college teams in Punjabi University Patiala and many Punjab University colleges in India.
He has also written many articles about bhangra for numerous newspapers in India and Canada.
- First Position in Individual folk dance competition at the world level organized by Llangollen International Musical Eisteddford at Wales (U.K) in 2004 and 2006.
- First position in Bhangra World Cup – 2006 held at Ontario (Canada) & also got title of Best Dancer in this same competition.
- Participated in The Range of Lakes 2003 in Lithuania.
- Participated in the India Fair held at Dubai in 2000.
- Lead the Indian Bhangra Team in 49th Sikh Festival of Sports held in Malesia in 2000.
- Received a Certificate of Appreciation in the International Cultural Exchange Program performed at the Grand 300th Vaisakhi Anniversary & Sikh Community 34th National Day in 1999 at Singapore.
- Represented India in numerous folk dance competitions held in UK, USA, Canada, France, Holland, Indonesia, Russia etc.
- Preformed at the Common Wealth Games at Pune in Nov, 2008.
- Preformed at the Folk Dance Festival on Republic Day at New Delhi in 2000, 2001, and 2007.
- Preformed at the LokTarang National Festival at New Delhi on Republic Day ,2006
- Preformed at the Indo – Pak Games at Patiala, 2004.
- Preformed at the 1st Afro Asian Games at Hyderabad, 2003.
- Preformed at the Parmpra Festival at Kollam (Kerala) 2003.
- Preformed at the Cultural Program atThanjavuar 2000.
- Preformed at the Horticulture Show at Hydrabad 2000.
- 1st Position in All India Inter University competition 97-98.
- Honored University color in Folk Dance by Punjabi University, PATIALA in 97– 98.
Dr Inderjeet Kaur Goldi
Born and brought up in in the Malwa region of Punjab,friendly and carefree by nature, Dr Inderjeet Kaur Goldi has maintained a bold and fearless identity of her own. Holding a doctorate degree in Punjabi rangmanch and having performed wonders on about thirty Punjabi plays,this actress is a fine example of academics and work.
Dr Goldi has also acted in several popular TV serials like Parchhave, Vichhoda, DaneAnaarDe and ApnaPunjab. She served as an Assistant Professor in the department of Indian Theater ,Panjab University, Chandigarh. In addition to participating in a number of national and international conferences, Dr Inderjeet Kaur Goldi has also published several research papers.
She has more than 20 years experience in teaching Gidha. Under her coaching lots of college teams got good positions in college and university Gidha competitions. She is also a member of Gidha Judging panel of various universities in Punjab.
Balbir Chand
Balbir Chand is a well-known professional drummer. He is the only person in India who got Punjab State award as a Drummer. He shows his talent in more than 15 countries like Canada, UK, Switzerland, Hungry, Leuthania, Russia, Japan, Germany, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Dubbai etc.
He is playing with the top teams in India. His teams are always winning in college and university competitions. He has played Dhol in Famous Hindi Punjabi Movies like Veer Zara. His perfection in this field depicts through his studio recordings. Now he is spreading his talent by giving coaching to the young generation.
He got privilege to performed with the team of ICCR(Indian council for Culture Realations) and also he played drum with the teams of NZCC (North zone Cultural Centre).