Hi Sarina,

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the importance of community. This quote by bestselling author and digital anthropologist Brian Solis really summed it up for me:

"Community is much more than belonging to something; it's about doing something together that makes belonging matter."

In my work, I have always prioritized honoring my culture as well as getting everyone up and moving in a fun, engaging way. Twenty-one years ago, Masala Bhangra started off as an Indian dance aerobic workout, but over time, it has evolved into a community of people that come together to:

It amazes me how far we have come.

With so much having changed in the past year though, we have all struggled to figure out new ways to create and maintain community when we can’t see each other in person. My students—you—have also changed. Some have found new workouts they like to do, others have gotten complacent, etc. Habits have changed, and it feels like I am starting all over again.

But being an entrepreneur has taught me to constantly keep evolving and keep growing while still being passionate about what I do. That’s why this month I’m giving you three different ways to heal, dance, and find a sense of belonging right here in the Masala Bhangra community.

I used to teach Bhangra to the 34th Street parks community. This year, I have been longing to bring that community back together again to remind everyone what NYC is all about. I wanted to create something to bring people together—always keeping safety in mind—where we can celebrate culture, music and dance.

So I stepped out of my comfort zone and pitched an event to 34th Street parks. To my surprise, they loved it! Y’all, I am a producer of a new event, BHANGRA IN THE PLAZA!!!!! AND it’s all going down this month (October 2021) in the heart of New York City!

Every Thursday evening in October from 6:00 to 7:30 PM, the Masala Bhangra performance team (made up of real people with real lives) will be performing live—and I will get you all up and moving in a simple, fun way! Our resident DJ Ashu will be spinning Bollywood and Bhangra tunes for us to freestyle dance to, all right in Greeley Square. If you are in the NYC area or even visiting, I hope you will join us. If you are not in this area, then send us some positive vibes as we make this event a successful one!

I am also still teaching my virtual class Saturday mornings at 10:30am ET, so if you don’t live in New York City and can’t make it to the park during October, I’d love to see you on Zoom. My virtual classes have helped us all stay connected during the past year, and I know they’ll remain a part of keeping our larger Masala Bhangra community jumping. Please join me from the comfort of your own home as we dance it out together! Email us for more info.

In closing, I’d also like to acknowledge that October is also Breast Cancer Awareness month. The breast cancer community does such amazing work of encouraging cancer patients and survivors to keep on fighting, and I encourage you to be a part of that support network by donating to a breast cancer foundation of your choice or participating in a fundraiser this month.

Let’s all stay healthy so that we can keep dancing together for many years to come!

In wellness and health,

Sarina