About Us

Did you know? In 1993, our first year, the current name Shan~e~Punjab (SEP) was written as ‘Shannay Punjab’ and since 1993 we have taught over 1000 students, boys and girls, from ages three and up, performing approximately 5-15 performances a year.  Our students have included first, second, third and fourth generation Indo-Canadian.  The school’s name was co-developed to its current spelling with Mrs. Balbir Kaur Thiara, whom is the mother of one of our first students Mrs. Sunny Randhawa.  It was Mrs. Randhawa whom was one of SEP co-founders as well as Ms. Veena Sundher whom initiated our website. 

So what other reasons initiated us to start? There were many youth in their teens, including Sonia’s sister, Mrs. Amy Khangura (nee Grewal), whom had no avenue to connect to her culture, where the atmosphere was friendly, inviting, and respectful of all social backgrounds, ethnic cultures, and all ages.  Of course, everyone loves dancing, so dance became the solution, with the vision for it to be fun, safe and educational – hence the need was met to teach culture through dance! Along with society’s needs, meeting the needs of our students is of utmost importance and as those needs change, so do our goals.   Therefore, over the years, we have also incorporated a variety of dance forms other than those from Indian and Punjabi decent, which include cheerleading (particularly lifts), jazz, ballet, funk, hip hop, line dancing and river dance.  Previous students in the second generation of the advanced team also included: Ms. Jaswinder Bamra, Ms. Sherry Dhillon, Ms. Mona Gandhu, Ms. Aman Nirwan, Ms. Suman Atlas, Ms. Isha Bedi and Ms. Sonya Nirwan.  Our original fourth generation advanced team who performed from 2001 - 2008 consisted of Ms. Janessa Sundher, Ms. Kiera Dheensaw, Ms. Serena Rai, Ms. Jasleen Dhatt, Ms. Lauren Labh, Ms. Aneeta Takhar, Ms. Amy Sundher, Ms. Preeti Kang. Our current fourth generation advanced team consists of Ms. Janessa Sundher (Team Lead/Teacher ages 4-6), Ms. Punam Randhawa (Dance Competition Administrator), Ms. Serena Rai (Team Manager), Ms. Nicole Randhawa (Teacher ages 4-6), Ms. Amy Sundher (Music Coordinator/Teacher co-ed team), Ms. Preeti Kang (Teacher co-ed team), Ms. Raveena Moor (Teacher co-ed team), Ms. Jasleen Dhatt, Ms. Raman Randhawa and Mr. Harkamal Vaid (our Dholee/Dhol Teacher).

Information about classes? Currently SEP teaches classes at Dance Victoria Studio's from approximatley 1:30pm - 8:00pm, on Sunday's and on a long weekend it is Monday's. We have 2-14 students in each of our classes, and do have an additional adults class starting at the beginner level, but we must have 6-8 adults registered in order to start. We have 15 classes currently, and some of these classes will perform up to 3 dances. Therefore, our annual cultural showcase celebrating Visakhi, is approximately 2-3 hours.

So what do we teach? We currently teach dance from all regions of India, mostly focused on dances from Punjab which include, Bhangra, the male traditional folk dance and its various styles; Giddha, is the female traditional folk and its styles include Jago, Teeyan, Sawan Mela, Malwa-ee or Babeh-ah da Giddha and Lohri; Sammi, a female folk dance voicing the heart of Punjabi women; Gypsy Dance (mountains of India); Orissi; Garba; Dhandiyan; Bollywood; Hip Hop; Peacock; Duets; Bharatnatyam hand gestures to a poem called O’Canada written and composed by Dr. Sidney-Price Sparling and Hindi film musicals.  Possibly in the future are Bollywood Salsa as this is becoming ever so popular in India.   Along with a true talent for dance we have also added singing (national anthems, Boliyan, and Suhaag Geet), instrument lessons (Dhol, Dholkee and Tabla), skits, drama, workshops, arts/crafts, mentorship programs, cultural showcases, and summer day camps.

More Ideas? Since then, Ms. Harp Sra was the one to come up with the idea of a summer day camp, and hence have held these annually.  Ms. Jaswinder Bamra was instrumental in leading our first Self-Development Workshops on issues such as ‘fitting in’, ‘communication’, and ‘bullying’.  Many years later with Mrs. Amy Khangura (nee Grewal) and Ms. Karen Basi, the self-development workshops were continued on topics such as, ‘respect’, ‘problem-solving’, ‘anti-racism’, and ‘communication’, along with Ms. Ruby Rana.  Ms. Rana was a key leader in our Mentorship Program, where through the application process for the YM-YWCA Woman of Distinction Awards relationships were built with Indo-Canadian Woman, who have made a significant contribution to society, in the areas of health, education, sports, science, business, public relations and community.

Who..What...Where..commitment to dance for over 14 years? Our pride is our students, and many of them have been committed and dedicated to SEP for 5 to 14 years.  In 2010 at our youth cultural showcase we honoured many students for their commitment and dedication.  Many students, with training over the years have become teachers and/or moved to the senior’s advanced dance team. Therefore, we are now in our third/fourth generation of our senior’s advanced team, and it was our second generation that came up with our current motto. We have in the past and currently are honored to provide Reference and Support Letters for volunteering to students for high school graduation.  Many students require a minimum number of community hours, and students have volunteered their time not only as part of dance teams, but as teachers, substitute teachers, event organization, leadership activities, and/or music preparation.

Yes Victoria is the capital of British Columbia…not Ottawa? We are very honoured to be a part of Victoria the Capital City of British Columbia, and representing Vancouver Island.  As our senior advanced team took centre stage with some of the best teams internationally at the 13th annual Bhangra Nation (the first organization to hold Bhangra Competitions in Canada and possibly North America) Competition in 2009, the Mayor of Victoria, Dean Fortin, recognized the team as “Ambassadors” being the first to represent Victoria and Vancouver Island in this type of dance form. 

The community businesses, non-profit organizations, community members and families have provided their support over the years and we are truly grateful.  In particular, Mr. Jagir Dhanowa, not only our dear uncle and grandfather to four little ones under the age of five, but owner of Island Video, a business that has been established for over 30 years in Victoria, and has been one of our sponsor’s for the majority of our Pride of Shan~e~Punjab Cultural Showcases.  It was Mr. Dhanowa that linked us to our current mascot - the Train!  This was initiated in the fall of 1997, during a video production of all our performances at an evening dinner and dance, of over 500 attendees, celebrating the 100th year of the first Sikh person to arrive in Canada.  There is a train in India, called the Shan-e-Punjab Express, which has been in operation since the 1960’s, traveling to all regions of India.