Exclusive Interview with #DanceWithPreet
Hey Preet, thank you for joining Punjab2000 today…what time is it in Canada currently?
Hi, sure no problem thanks for having me its around 2pm so it’s around 9 in the UK right. Yeah quite late (late for me anyway lol).
So, I came across your Instagram page and just loved your videos! For those that don’t know anything about you please can you tell our followers about you?
So, I was born in Edmonton in Canada and my parents are actually from the UK (Wolverhampton and Birmingham) and I’ve been dancing since as far as I can remember it’s something I’m passionate about. I’ve not had any formal training, I would class myself as a self-taught dancer. I tend to dance to everything dancehall, salsa, Dominican especially as I visit countries I try to learnt the dance of the country. I actually took Bollywood classes from young age but passionate about Bhangra and lately fusion music.
You mention that type of music, I’ve noticed the BhangraFunk girls and Manpreet Toor have gone viral is this something you wish to do?
I’m all about positivity, I mean I am sometimes nick named Positive Preet I want to make people feel confident and obviously there is a fitness side of it. It would be great to collaborate with these types of dancers! One video that sticks out for me is ‘Phulkari’ by Kaur B!
#DanceWithPreet Facebook video: Freestyle fusion #jhoomer to #akhar by Amrinder Gill
Where did these steps come from? Your moves are effortless!
I think it helps that if know the song you can anticipate the moves adding various styles like contemporary, hip hop and facial expressions help!
As a female in this industry were your family supportive including your parents and what about the community in Edmonton?
Well firstly, my family (my parents) have always supported me I actually had quite a few jobs and studied nursing. Dancing is a passion of mine and something I love so I have pursued this. In school I was the one known as a dancer and that’s how I was referred to by the hip hop teams. The weather conditions do not help out here it can get -30 so it can be hit and miss with people attending classes.
Edmonton is a small city and sometimes I feel people can have a small mind mentality. As your family are from the UK, what do you think about the current UK bhangra scene?
I absolutely loved B21 and Bally Jagpal! I think the UK scene is not as great as it used to be, the lyrics have not been as great and I feel as if there is no soul in the music and the videos.
We’ve lost that element of passion! 100% agree with you there! So, what does the future hold for ‘Positive Preet’ and what have you been up to?
I’ve done modelling, acting (commercials) ‘Amazing Race Canada’ and media dance videos. I have also choregraphed ‘Pyaar Jatt Da’ for Jeeti Productions. The future? I guess who knows, I would love to move to Toronto, Vancover or even England as Edmonton is quite small and get myself out there!
Is there anybody you would love to collaborate with, especially in the Bhangra industry?
Probably everyone in the UK! Jasmine Sandlas is killing it! Even Tru Skool would be a great Collab especially as my parents have their roots in the UK.
On that note, what advice would you give young girls? Scrap that also those ‘Yummy mummies’ as I would like to call them.
All my family are back home in England so I have been isolated from many people and my upbringing was quite different to the girls who are from here. I was not as restricted as some people so I could express who I was easily but it does not mean I did not face any hardships. I dance when I’m happy and sad as it’s an expressing yourself in a healthy way. I try to use my page to inspire people and to not go by stereotypes of what beauty supposed to look like & dancing to look like not an all-star dancer. Times are changing, mums are juggling their lives, staying fit and the beautiful thing about being a woman is balancing things (gym, home and seeing friends) Yummy mummies! Life all about balance and lastly self-love is the most important thing how can you love your family if you don’t love yourself.
What a beautiful note to end on but just before I leave you, where can we find you?
So I currently run classes in Edmonton on Thursday from 6pm to 7pm and Southside Millwoods Monday 6pm-7pm and on social media under dancewithpreet! I should hopefully be launching my Youtube channel soon!
Thank you for taking time to speak with me and we look forward to connecting with you when you’re next down in the UK!