Newsletter September 2006

JUGNU
NEWS 3
Sept. 2006
This is the Newsletter of the Jugnu Bhangra Group to keep our Members, Parents and Funders up to date with our progress. Jugnu are
Kent’s premier Punjabi dance group. Our base is “THE STUDIO” Community Arts Centre, Holy Trinity School,Trinity Road, Gravesend.
O
OU
UR
RB
BE S T V A I S A K H I ?
Take 2 French Giants, a huge lorry, dancers, drummers, Jugnu’s minibus, mums, kids from
Rosherville School,Wrotham Road School, Keith interviewed on BBC TV, lots of press
coverage, and a rickshaw shipped from Punjab - what have you got? Jugnu’s dynamic
presence in the 2006 Vaisakhi Festival procession - probably our best yet!! Well done to
all who worked hard to make this an outstanding success, you did us proud!
(see more Vaisakhi pictures inside)
RICKSHAW
One of the surprises and highlights of the
Vaisakhi Parade was a Rickshaw shipped
over from Punjab by Amarjit Kalsi. It was
touch and go whether this would arrive in
time. Amarjit raced to the east coast port
of Harwich, where it arrived in bits in a
container from India, the day before the
festival. A frantic construction job took
place, with help from Archie’s Garage in
The Grove, before the rickshaw lead
Jugnu’s Vaisakhi parade. The Mayor of
Gravesham, Cllr. Ray Parker even
enjoyed a pedal at one stage.
PRESENTATION EVENING
Also in April, Jugnu held its first Presentation
Evening to celebrate the successes of 2005/2006.
200 members, their families, guests and friends
packed the Holy Trinity School Hall for this happy
event. Certificates were awarded to all those who
have contributed to the group; Shaminder Bedi
showed off his MBE; Jaspal Bhanot received a
Marlow Theatre Award for the Arts from Kent
Volunteers; our funders, Urban & Kent
Community Foundation were thanked for their
vital support; and Adam Holloway MP proposed a
vote of thanks from the parents to Jugnu’s
leadership.
Jagdev Singh Virdee & Keith Wyncoll showed
some of their Vaisakhi pictures whilst everyone
enjoyed refreshments donated by Virdee Stores
and Bassant Restaurant.
On to the entertainment an ear blasting opening
by Jugnu’s mass dhol drummers was followed by
dance displays by Teams C and B and the Sahelli
Dancers; DJ Shin (former Jugnu dholli Steve
Hayer) spoke of how the group had inspired him
to become a top DJ and music producer, he also
presented 10 copies of his latest album to
individuals who had particularly worked hard for
the group this year.
And finally, the surprise arrival of our old friend,
African musician Usifu Jalloh. Usifu (who has often
performed with Jugnu and toured Punjab with us
in 2003) is a film star, playwright, singer, drummer
and all round superstar! He led the assembled
crowd in renditions of Bollywood and African
songs before a wild and wonderful finale dance.
JUGNU ON FILM
Thanks to Bollywood Video, you can relive this
wonderful evening, show off your group to friends
and families and make a small donation to our
funds. A superb DVD of this event if available
from Jazz for £6 - don’t miss it.
“JUGNI” - WEDNESDAY’S WOMEN
There was a big demand at the Presentation Evening for a Bhangra Class for women and girls. So thanks
to our new Treasurer, Rifet Parveen - Karim, classes started in May, 2006. Forty have signed up for
“Jugni” with an average of 25 women and girls enjoying this weekly workout.
Jugni’s success in motivating local Asian women, inspired Rifet, Shaminder Bedi and the staff of Guru
Nanak Day Centre to organise “Teeian”, a special concert at Woodville Halls in July, 2006.The place was
packed for this first female-only concert. 600 women enjoyed a fantastic programme of music and
dance.
Jugnu have just returned in
triumph from an
international festival in
Transylvania
(see next Jugnu
Newsletter for info & pics)
➲
CALAIS
Special thanks to
MO Bains (Fortal
construction)
for sponsoring
Jugnu’s T-Shirts
Yes, it did “rain on our parade”- but we still had a fantastic time! 30 dancers and
drummers from Jugnu and Sahelli Dancers took part in a very wet but wonderful
International Parade in Calais, France in late June, 2006.This weekend included spells
on the beach and the chance to shop at Cite Europe.The only downside was watching
England’s World Cup stuttering performance on the youth hostel telly.
Jugnu
in Rom
ania w
ith
Danie
la (To
ur Gu
ide)
JUGNU’S 2006 DIARY
- some highlights
15/04 -
Vaisakhi Festival
21/04 -
Presentation Evening
17/05 -
“Jugni” Bhangra Class for women
and girls started
03/06 -
Global Free Festival, Canterbury
24/25/06 - International Parade, Calais
SUPPORT & RECOGNITION
Jugnu are delighted to share that our bhangra and dhol classes
for children have been part sponsored for the next 18 months
by a wonderful £9,000 grant from Kent Community
Foundation Network Fund. This fund has also agreed £2,000
to support “Jugni” our new Wednesday class for women and
girls.
On 3rd July 2006, about 30 Kent County Councillors and members of the public
visited our Dhol class at The Studio.This was part of a KCC Local Board meeting,
which included a site visit to the new £9million Gurdwara. A Gatka demonstration
was followed by presentations on Social Services’ development work with
Gravesham’s Black and minority ethnic communities.
06/07 -
Group Portrait Photoshoot
29/07 -
Teeian Female Folk Concert
Woodvile Halls
13/08 -
London Mela (Gunnersbury Park)
14/21/08 - “Zamphira's Wedding”,
International Folk Festival,
Transylvania, Romania
02/09
India Independence Day, Dartford
23/09
Maharajah Duleep Singh - Thetford
8/10
-
“A Celebration of Cultures in
Kent”, Gulbenkian Theatre,
Canterbury (performance with
Usifu’s African group)
student file...
The Dhol/Bhangra Classes
Each issue we will select 3 students from our
dhol or dance classes who have worked hard
over the last few months.
As you are aware Dhol Classes are on Monday’s from 6.45pm - 8pm and Bhangra
classes are on Thursday’s as follows:
Team C - 6.45pm - 7.30pm
Team B - 7.30pm - 8.15pm
Team A - 8.30pm - 9.30pm (During school/uni. breaks) or on Fridays at 6.45 8.45pm (term time).
“JUGNI” Ladies Bhangra Class 6.30 - 7.30pm on Friday’s
NEW STUDENTS ARE WELCOME TO JOIN AT ANY TIME
Deepak (21)
dhol/dancer
Any further information please contact:
Rifet Parveen
07973 110252
Jazz Bhanot
07863 337400
Surinder Dhinsa 07789 212235
Keith Wyncoll
01474 329325
How long have you been a Jugnu member
15 Years
Spot The Difference Puzzle
Your best moments so far
The tours of India and Bulgaria
At first glance, the two images appear to be identical. But looks can be deceiving.
There are actually 8 differences between the images. Can you spot them all?
What do you prefer playing the dhol or being
a dancer
Dancing
What football team do you support
Man Utd
Manveer (15)
dancer
How long have you been a Jugnu member
7 Years
Your best moments so far
Performing in front of India High Commission in London, and
dancing with Team B in Dartford.
How many girl friends
Can’t say as my dad will be reading this newsletter
What football team do you support
GNG
Rajdip (7)
- dancer
How long have you been a Jugnu member
1 1/2 Years
What do you like about dancing
I get to dance with my friends and now I can dance same as
Jazzy B
Your favourite Bhangra band
Jazzy B
What football team do you support
Man U
If you would like an article to be considered for the next issue or suggest improvements made to your
Newsletter please speak to Jazz or email [email protected] or Keith at [email protected]
➲
Edited/Designed for Jugnu Bhangra Group: Jazz Bhanot / Keith Wyncoll
web: www.jugnubhangra.com
email: [email protected]
Registered Charity number 1058160