About Us

In 2012, a group of dedicated arts and Punjabi culture enthusiasts created a professional bhangra organization. Royal Academy of Punjab continues to raise the platform of Punjabi Folk Arts through quality programming and events as well as collaborations with the broader community to create awareness and opportunities for fusion, exploration and connection.

First Canadian Not-For-Profit to Offer Formal Punjabi Folk Dance Education

Royal Academy of Punjab is the first Canadian not-for-profit academy to offer a formal Punjabi Folk Dance education with a syllabus consisting of three grade levels. The academy's Dance Director, Hardeep Singh Sahota, was pivotal in developing the Bhangra Syllabus Program for the Canadian Dance Teachers Association BC Branch.

A Creative Outlet

The academy successfully uses the art form of bhangra as a creative outlet to promote skills, discipline and physical fitness and provide team building and leadership initiatives for youth. The academy offers classes in-person and online in Punjabi folk dances such as Bhangra, Giddha, Jhummar, Dhamal, Malwai Giddha, Sammi, Luddi and Kikli. The academy proudly provides training for traditional Punjabi folk instruments, as well.

A Creative Outlet

The Academy successfully uses the art form of bhangra as a creative outlet to promote skills, discipline, physical fitness and provide team building and leadership initiatives for youth. The Academy offers training in Punjabi Folk Dances such as Bhangra, Jhummar, Dhamal and Malwai Giddha, Sammi, and Luddi and Kikli. The Academy proudly provides training for Traditional Punjabi Folk Instruments as well.

First Canadian Non-For-Profit to offer formal Punjabi Folk Dance Education

Royal Academy of Punjab is the first Canadian not-for-profit Academy to offer a formal Punjabi Folk Dance education with a syllabus consisting of three grade levels. The Academy's Dance Director, Hardeep Singh Sahota, was pivotal in developing the bhangra syllabus program for all Canadian Dance Teachers, BC Branch.

Our Mission

Royal Academy of Punjab promotes the mastery of self through Punjabi folk arts by:

Creating opportunities for meaningful engagement in quality programs and events designed to engage, educate and connect Canadian Punjabi youth with their heritage and culture.

Creating an understanding and appreciation for the Punjabi folk art form of Bhangra and folk music in the Diaspora.

Creating an understanding and acceptance and celebrating each Canadian's unique background through innovative and experimental collaborations with diverse music and dance genres.

Our Projects

Royal Academy of Punjab produces socially-relevant programming that:

  • creates opportunity for honest and authentic intercultural dialogue and understanding.
  • challenges audiences and participants to discover how much we have in common with each other.
  • uses collaborative, informative and participatory approaches to explore community identities, heritages and cultures.
  • creates safe community spaces for cultural exploration and exchange.
  • showcases Canada's rich and diverse multicultural mosaic through the art of music, dance and storytelling.

Royal Academy of Punjab is a movement fuelled by passion, dedication and love.

VIEW PROJECTS

Achievements

India
  • Performed as resident artist for North Zone Culture Center from 1992 to 2003
  • Performed as part of school competitions and exhibitions from 1993-97, 1999, 2001
  • Performed at Indian People’s Theater Association National Conference on January 11, 2001
  • Red Cross Millennium Carnival on January 16, 2000
  • Indian Republic Day performance on January 26, 2001
  • Central Cultural Center of Punjab State Electricity Board on February 27, 2002
  • Punjabi University Youth Festival Patiala Zone in 2001-2002
Canada
  • Taught Bhangra at Rangeela Dance School from August 2003 to January 2004
  • Instructor at Surrey India Arts Club from 2003 to present
  • Took over as Creative Director at Surrey India Arts Club from 2009 to 2011
  • Took over as Creative Director at Royal Academy of Punjab from 2011 and continues instructions
Competitions
  • 2004 – Punjabi Showdown
  • 2006 – Punjabi Showdown
  • 2007 – Punjabi Showdown
  • 2010 – Bhangra Idols Coquitlam, BC (judge)
  • 2011 – Bhangra Idols Coquitlam, BC (judge)
  • 2011 – Coast Capital Bhangra Competition, VIBC Vancouver, BC
  • 2012 – Surrey Festival of Dance International Competition SFD, Surrey, BC
  • 2012 – British Columbia High School Bhangra Competition Richmond, BC (judge)
  • 2012 – Bhangra Idols Coquitlam, BC (judge)
  • 2015 – Dance Cup Canada Juniors (1st Place) Whistler, BC
  • 2015 – Dance World Cup Juniors (1st Place) Whistler, BC
  • 2015 – Elite Bhangra Competition Senior Live (1st Place) Abbotsford, BC
  • 2015 – Bhangra State of Mind Senior Live (1st Place) Sacramento, CA
  • 2015 – Legacy of Bhangra Senior Live (1st Place) Legacy, CA
  • 2017 – Bhangra State of Mind (1st Place) Sacramento, CA
  • 2017 – Reign of Bhangra (1st Place) Seattle, WA
  • 2017 – GHG Bhangra (2nd Place) California, CA
  • 2018 – Vibe Bhangra (2nd place) California, CA
  • 2018 – Our Virsa (1st Place) Vancouver, BC
  • 2018 – Bhangra in the 6ix (2nd place) Toronto, ON
  • 2019 – Bhangra Arena (judge) Delhi, India
  • 2019 – West Coast Bhangra (1st Place) Davis, CA
  • 2019 – Big City Junior (2nd Place) Toronto, ON
  • 2019 – Canadian Dance Teachers' 70th Anniversary (1st Place) Regina, SK
  • 2019 – Canadian Teachers' 70th Anniversary (2nd Place) Regina, SK
  • 2019 – GHG Bhangra Competition (3rd Place) Fresno, CA  
  • 2019 – Legacy of Bhangra Competition (Participation) CA
  • 2019 – Queenz City Bhangra Competition (1st Place) OH
  • 2022 – GHG Bhangra Competition (2ndPlace) Fresno, CA
  • 2022 –Bhangra City Competition (3rd Place) Vancouver, BC
Key Performances
Community Workshops & Volunteer Instruction
  • Surrey Fusion Fest 2010
  • International Children’s Festival 2011 Surrey, BC
  • Bhangra.me Exhibition 2011 at Museum of Vancouver Vancouver, BC
  • Canada Day – annually
  • Bhangra Program at Newton Cultural Centre Oct. 2011 – Dec. 31, 2012 Newton, BC
  • International Children’s Festival 2012 Surrey, BC
  • Celebrating the Harvest with VIBC 2012 Surrey, BC
  • Bhangra House with VIBC 2012 Surrey, BC
  • City of Bhangra with HSBC BANK 2012 Vancouver, BC
  • Champlain Community Centre 2012 Vancouver, BC
  • Harrison Festival of Arts 2012 Harrison Hot Springs, BC
  • BC Summer Games Appreciation Closing Party 2012 Guildford, BC
  • Blueberry Festival 2012 Langley, BC
  • Arnold Award VIBC 2012 Vancouver, BC
  • HSBC BANK Diversity Event 2012 Vancouver, BC
  • HSBC BANK Diwali Mela 2012 Vancouver, BC
  • Bhangra Workshop VIBC 2013 Downtown Bhangra
  • Bhangra Workshop Red Fm 2013 Canada Day Surrey, BC
  • Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure 2013 Surrey, BC
  • Step to the Beat Cancer Foundation 2014 Surrey, BC
  • Surrey Association for Community Living 2015 Surrey, BC
  • Welcome Ceremony for the Indian PM Mr. Modi & Canadian PM Mr. Harper 2015 Surrey, BC
  • Punjabi Folk Dance Workshop at Mulgrave School 2015 West Vancouver, BC
  • City of Richmond Workshop in Schools 2016 Richmond, BC
  • Peace Arch Hospital Vaisakhi Celebration 2016 White Rock, BC
  • Princess Margaret School Folk Instruments & Bhangra Workshop 2016 Surrey, BC
  • Frank Hurt Secondary School Bhangra Workshop 2016 Surrey, BC
  • Mulgrave School Bhangra Workshop 2016 West Vancouver, BC
  • South Point Academy Bhangra Workshop and Performance 2017 Surrey, BC
  • Mulgrave School Bhangra Workshop and Performance 2017 West Vancouver, BC
  • Canucks Autism Bhangra Performance and Workshop 2018 Vancouver, BC
  • Kaleidoscope Arts Festival Bhangra Performance and Dance Workshop 2018 Coquitlam, BC
  • Mulgrave School Bhangra Workshop and Performance 2018 West Vancouver, BC
  • Namaste Canada Performance 2018 Burnaby, BC
  • WickFest Community Performance 2019 Guildford, BC
  • Small Stage Valentine Edition 2019 Vancouver, BC
  • Mulgrave School Bhangra Workshop and Performance 2019 West Vancouver, BC
  • Cloverdale Traditional Vaisakhi Event 2019 Cloverdale, BC
  • Children's Festival 2019 Surrey, BC
  • Fusion Festival 2019 Surrey, BC
  • Maple Ridge Country Fest 2019 Pitt Meadows, BC
  • Richmond World Festival 2019 Richmond, BC
  • Namaste Canada (Indian Consulate) 2019 New Westminster, BC
  • Phoenix Drug & Alcohol Recovery & Education Society 2019 Surrey, BC
  • International Farmers Conference 2019 Richmond, BC
  • Republic Day of India Celebration 2020 Richmond, BC
  • WickFest Community Performance 2020 Surrey, BC
  • Mulgrave School Bhangra Workshop and Performance 2020 West Vancouver, BC
  • Mulgrave School Bhangra Workshop and Performance 2021 West Vancouver, BC
  • Mulgrave School Bhangra Workshop and Performance 2022 West Vancouver, BC
  • Mulgrave School Bhangra Workshop and Performance 2023 West Vancouver, BC
  • Ecole Brantford Elementary School Bhangra workshop and performance, 2023 Burnaby, BC
  • Caulfield Elementary School Bhangra workshop and performance, 2023 West Vancouver, BC
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