On the right foot

Jasmine Singh

There are two things that Tejinder Singh doesn’t leave his home without, a broad smile and gallons of positive attitude. And the most interesting part is, although the curve on his face might get broader or narrow as per how things are around, the attitude is unscathed. And he makes sure to leave a bit of it with everyone he meets. The charter member to start Rotary Club of Surrey Newton, having worked for numerous social projects, a founding member of Punjabi Photography Club, holding training sessions and seminars for budding photographers in the community, Tejinder Singh is one of the only diaspora artiste, a TV and radio show presenter and producer, cinematographer, script writer who is credited for amalgamating Bhangra and Jewish dance. Born in Jalandhar, he moved to Canada in 1999. “I started my career in IT field as a lead software quality assurance analyst. I have worked in areas of software project management, software quality and process management and business analyst,” shares Tejinder who then discovered that he had always felt strongly for his Punjabi roots. 

Foreign land meant new challenges everyday but Tejinder yearned to be close to his culture, his customs and Bhangra! “So, I danced with Surrey India Arts Club (an institute promoting, preserving and performing Punjabi folk dances in Canada since 1975). From parks of Surrey to beaches of Florida, from fields of Yuba City to Parliament of Canada, I have performed at many different events and venues. Being part of Surrey India Arts Club, we have won many competitions across North America. I have also judged Bhangra competitions across North America and in Australia,” shares Tejinder who is a certified bhangra instructor of Canadian Alliance of Dance Artists/West Chapter (CADA) and teaches Punjabi folk dancers to instructors at Surrey India Arts Club. 

Additionally, he has also written, performed and scripted performance of Punjabi folk music, dance and instruments in Vancouver, “I am currently working on the documentation of Punjabi folk dances and giving presentations to young dancers,” he adds with a spring in his voice and we bet steps too. 

Like many others from the diaspora community, Tejinder too is worried about young generation not embracing Punjabi culture and tradition. But he finds the saviour in art, literature and dance. As part of the first Bhangra team that was invited to perform in Pakistan in 1997 at six different venues, Tejinder has closely worked with Jewish Culture Association, Vancouver, in developing and performing dance fusion between Bhangra and Jewish dance Hawa Nagila. “I have also worked with local organization, NAAD Foundation, in Bharatnatyam/Gidda fusion and fusion of Bhangra with other dances of India, and feel that people do feel a connection to art forms. A Punjabi cannot stop oneself from dancing to the beats of dhol, and when they do that, they form a connection with the culture.” 

A promoter of Punjabi culture, Tejinder Singh is working hard to also document it in a way that it will be easily accessible for generations to come. “Cultural trends are like a pendulum, if the baseline is intact and documented, even if the current generation is interested in something else.” On their upcoming radio station platform, Tejinder and his team are developing such content that will possibly bring youth close to our culture. “On personal level, I am working on different initiatives that can help develop our language to be used with modern technologies and digital platforms. I am also working on scripts for animated short films in Punjabi that our youth can consume and get motivated to do the same,” he shares.