South Asian Arts - About Us

Gurpreet Sian began playing dhol/dholki over 10 years ago and has been teaching group and private lessons for the last 5. Having a passion for the South Asian arts, he has participated in international Bhangra competitions with the award winning VIBE dance team and locally with the traditional group PAAR Club. He also plays Dhol for the hit pop bhangra group Signia, as well as with a local brass band called Surya Brass Band. Gurpreet has also danced in many music videos and movies, as well as taught Bhangra workshops to adults and kids during festival times throughout the lower mainland. Gopi, as he is commonly known, has always taken active interest in the community through his positive influence on South Asian kids. From the hit show "Punjabi Vibes", the trio of hosts, Gopi being one of them, often focus on pressing youth issues. South Asian Arts is his way of providing structure to a passion he can share with the next generation. Gurpreet teaches Bhangra and Dhol classes.

Raakhi Sinha has been dancing her whole life. Having completed her Bharatnatyam Arengetram (graduation) in 1998, she has done many local classical solo performances. Her classical exposure also extends to Kathak, which she is currently training in and plans to complete in the coming years. Raakhi's Bhangra experience is in line with Gurpreet's, as they are on the same internationally competitive Bhangra team, VIBE. She also has about 15 years of experience in Garba, which is the traditional folk dance of Gujarat. Raakhi has competed nationally on very successful teams, both as a Garba dancer and a choreographer. An accomplished pianist and harmonium player, Raakhi would like to share the vast talents of India with kids of all ages. Raakhi is the Programs Director at South Asian Arts and teaches ladies fitness, Bhangra, as well as private piano and harmonium classes.

Neelamjit Dhillon is a professional musician equally versed in both Eastern and Western traditions. He has obtained a Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Studies (majoring in saxophone performance) from Capilano College and has also completed a Bachelor of Education degree in Secondary Music Education from the University of British Columbia. Upon graduation he received a grant from the Canada Council for the Arts to further his Tabla studies at the Ustad Allarakha Institute of Music in Mumbai. The Tabla is Neelamjit's first instrument and he studies under the tutelage of world-renowned maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain. Neelamjit has had the fortunate opportunity to work with some great names in jazz such as Bob Mintzer, Kurt Elling, Nenna Freelon and Cedar Walton. He has also had the distinction of working with some of India's finest such as Louiz Banks, Fazal Qureshi, Rakesh Chaurassia and Taufiq Qureshi.

Poonam Sandhu, the energetic co-host of the acclaimed TV show Desi Rhythms, has traveled to India to work in Bollywood with such famed actors as Aishwariya Rai and Shah Rukh Khan. She has worked with choreographers Ganesh Hedge and Raju Khan and has appeared in several movies including Kushi, starring Kareena Kapoor. Known for her choreographical skills, Poonam is a creative genius when it comes to taking the ordinary dancer and pushing them to the next level.

Preet Sandhu, the other co-host of Desi Rhythms, is an expert in doing heart pounding, stamina building, attention grabbing Bhangra! Preet has danced with the Bhangra greats including Malkit Singh, Kamal Heer, B21, Sukbir, Sukhdev Sukha, while performing in North American cities such as New York, Washington, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle, Montreal, and Vancouver.

We are always looking for energetic, enthusiastic, and self-motivated individuals to help with our programs.

If you feel you are one of those people, we would love to chat with you.

Feel free to drop us an email at
info@southasianarts.ca.
We look forward to hearing from you.