Registration
Don’t miss your Chance to Compete against the Best!
Thank you for your interest in the Boston Bhangra Competition. After the phenomenal success of our competition the last 21 years, we look forward to bringing an even better competition to you this year! Teams from these competitions have deemed us one of the “best competitions” in the country, and we look forward to living up to that title again this year.
This year’s competition will be taking place on Saturday November 15th, 2025 @ the historic Strand Theatre in Boston. Registration is now closed and we are pleased to announce the following Team Lineup!
This year’s competition will be taking place on Saturday November 15th, 2025 @ the historic Strand Theatre in Boston. For the 22nd year, we will have the following benefits:
Benefits for Regular Registration (By August 29th):
- Pay just a $100 non-refundable application fee.
- We will accept a limited number of teams on a rolling basis. If you apply early, and can convince us of accepting you, we will take you early!
General Registration Information:
- For late registration, the non-refundable application fee is $130.
We will be placing 1st ($2,500), 2nd ($1,000) and 3rd ($0) in the music category. However, more importantly than the ranking, we promise to bring the best competition and proper organization to Bhangra. Our goal is to promote our South Asian culture and our love of Bhangra in the US, and through proper organization, creativity, and planning we believe this event will help us reach that goal.
If you have any questions, please contact us @ info@bostonbhangra.com.
Judging
Ensure Integrity for our Rich Dance
We understand that teams are always concerned about qualified judges and having an appropriate scoresheet that will fit their style. We go through many means to ensure that our scoring and judges are well qualified for the Boston Bhangra Competition.
Our scoresheet puts the emphasis on creativity and difficulty. Those are the areas that have always differentiated the champions of Boston Bhangra. Our emphasis is on looking for the BEST team of the night irrespective of your style. We want modern and traditional teams and a good mix of male, female and co-ed teams. We want all different styles to compete against one another to showcase which is the best that night. Bottom line to teams is that you have to BRING IT with your style! We want our qualified judges to have a TOUGH time based on your performances. Below is the rubric that we have aligned with our judges:
| Criteria | Points |
|---|---|
| MUSIC CATEGORY | |
| DESIGN | |
| Creativity in Choreo | 15 |
| Difficulty of Choreo | 10 |
| Opening | 5 |
| Ending | 5 |
| Formation Design | 10 |
| EXECUTION | |
| Team Synchronization | 10 |
| Individual Dancing Form | 15 |
| Formations | 10 |
| Stage Presence/Nakhra | 10 |
| Consistency of Energy | 10 |
| OVERALL IMPACT | 15 |
JUDGES
Below is a listing our esteemed judges. This list may still change, but these are all the confirmed judges in alphabetical order:
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| MUSIC JUDGES | |
| Deshmesh Singh | A former dancer and current Bhangra coach, he’s spent more than a decade giving back to the community. From founding and captaining Alamo City Bhangra (2010-2019) to launching the Alamo Folk Arts Bhangra Academy, Deshmesh brings experience across choreography, set design, and competition management. He also runs Bhangra at the Alamo, now in its fourth year and regarded as one of the most competitive events in North America. With 35+ competitions and 20+ podium finishes, he offers practical insight that helps teams refine their routines, strengthen team identity, and handle the realities of performing under pressure. He values the competitive scene and will push teams to bring their absolute best to the stage. |
| Karan Lamba | Karan Lamba started dancing in 2006. He watched his cousin, who danced at prestigious competitions and from there his love for bhangra grew. He has been a member of Soormay for the past 9 years in which they have won multiple competitions. Being the founder of Soormay Bhangra Academy, he consistently contributes to both the community and to competitive platforms, as a senior dancer at competitions such as the American Bhangra Championship, Bhangra in the 6ix, Legacy of Bhangra, Bhangra Fever, and Bhangra in the Burgh. Judging over 15+ competitions, Karan loves to see team originality and unique choreography that sets teams apart from other teams. He looks forward to inspiring the youth and new upcoming teams in the bhangra circuit. |
| Ram Mahalingam | As a founding member of First Class Bhangra, Ram transformed a high school passion into one of the most dominant forces in the Bhangra circuit. His 11-year competitive career included over 50 competitions, showcasing his comprehensive experience in every aspect of Bhangra. With over 20 podium finishes and an unparalleled four-year streak of consistently placing in the top two (from 2014-2018, with a single exception at Bruin 2014), his record speaks for itself.He has a proven track record of choreographing winning sets, producing mixes, and judging at prestigious competitions like Bhangra Blowout. He's also mentored a successful juniors team whose alumni have collectively participated in over 70 competitions and earned over 20 placements on their respective teams. Additionally, he has hosted podcasts that cover competition reviews and the importance of cultural topics like the role of the dhol in Punjabi culture and dance.Now, he is excited to bring his extensive expertise to Boston Bhangra. |