DJ Rekha to bring Bhangra Beats to the Columbia Museum of Art
June 12, 2017
The Columbia Museum of Art advises you to get ready to get down. Bhangra Beats, a dance party featuring New York-based DJ Rekha, will be held at the CMA on Thursday, June 22, 2017. A folk dance from the Punjab region of India and Pakistan, bhangra has gained popularity around the world and been fused with numerous styles of music.
“If you have never experienced bhangra, you’re really in for a treat,” says Glenna Barlow, CMA manager of education. “It’s a high-energy, ridiculously fun music and dance style that is guaranteed to put a smile on your face. I am absolutely thrilled that the CMA is able to bring a DJ as prominent as DJ Rekha to Columbia, and I can’t wait to fill the museum with Punjabi beats and bring a little bit of South Asia to South Carolina.”
Dubbed the “Ambassador of Bhangra” by the New York Times, DJ Rekha has pioneered merging bhangra and Bollywood sounds with contemporary electronic dance music. She has performed from the Chicago Symphony Hall to the Women’s March in Washington, D.C., and has curated events for Celebrate Brooklyn and Central Park Summerstage.
Bhangra Beats is held in conjunction with Light Beings, the exhibition of new work from contemporary Pakistani artist Sana Arjumand, on view in the Caroline Guignard Community Gallery through Sunday, August 27, 2017.
For those interested in getting a leg up on getting their legs up, dance instructor Rudri Bhatiya will conduct a bhangra tutorial prior to DJ Rekha’s set. Mehndi artist Jugnu Verma will be on hand to beautify hands.
Doors at 6:00 p.m. | Tutorial at 6:30 p.m. | Program at 7:00 p.m.
Cash bar featuring signature cocktail Mango Maah-laqaa.
Tickets are $5 / free for members.
For more information, visit columbiamuseum.org
DJ Rekha. Image courtesy of the artist.
