“Being able to give Diljit a hug and express our love for his music"
Ravneet and Pritpal Mann, of Jodi Dancers, have reflected on the unforgettable moment they were invited onto the stage during Diljit Dosanjh’s Birmingham concert.
The husband-and-wife Bhangra duo were enjoying Diljit’s AURA Tour show when he noticed them in the crowd and waved them onto the stage.
The unexpected moment brought together their love of Punjabi music, Bhangra, and performing alongside Diljit Dosanjh.
The dancers have built a following through performances at melas and alongside Punjabi artists including Jassi Sidhu and Raf-Saperra.
They have now opened up about their Diljit experience, their journey and their work to keep Bhangra alive across the West Midlands.
Rav and Prit’s Unforgettable Diljit Moment
Rav and Prit said they were initially in shock when Diljit Dosanjh noticed them in the Birmingham crowd.
They explained: “We were in shock that we had got chosen and couldn’t quite believe that our dreams were about to become true.”
As they made their way towards the stage, Rav and Prit said they felt a surge of adrenaline knowing they were about to meet one of the biggest names in Punjabi music.
Once on stage, however, the pair said they were completely in their element.
“We loved it! We’re in our element when we’re on stage and the energy the crowd gave spurred us on even more.”
The occasion was even more special because the concert took place near their home city of Wolverhampton, with friends and family among the audience.
One of their favourite moments was hugging Diljit and dancing alongside him.
“Being able to give Diljit a hug and express our love for his music by dancing on stage with the legend himself!”
From Wembley to Birmingham and Manchester
Rav and Prit attended Diljit’s three UK shows – Wembley, Birmingham and Manchester.
They booked Wembley as soon as tickets were released because they wanted to witness what they described as a historic moment.
Birmingham followed because they wanted to see Diljit perform in the West Midlands. By chance, they found two seats near the front, eventually leading to their unexpected stage appearance.
Their Diljit experience continued in Manchester, where they decided to attend the final UK show of the tour.
After contemplating the idea, they booked tickets at around 2 pm on Sunday, got into their car and drove to Manchester.
They were then surprised when Diljit recognised them in the crowd again.
Before the Birmingham show, they had dressed in a Diljit T-shirt and Bhangra jackets, hoping they might somehow get their moment on stage.
“After experiencing Wembley, we felt that if we were to ever get on stage with him, it would be in our hometown.”
“As the show started, we looked at each other and just felt like this was our moment, and then low and behold he waved us onto the stage.”
Bringing Bhangra to Wider Audiences
Rav and Prit’s connection with Diljit goes beyond being fans.
As Bhangra dancers and co-founders of Jodi Dancers, they see Punjabi music as an opportunity to introduce the dance form to wider audiences.
They explained: “We know with any of Diljit’s songs we are going to instantly love them, and then create routines for them.
“His songs never fail to get us dancing.”
They also believe Diljit reaching audiences outside the South Asian community gives Bhangra dancers an opportunity to introduce Punjabi dance to new communities.
Rav and Prit have already performed at melas and alongside artists including Jassi Sidhu, as well as appearing in a music video, ‘Pend Khalli’, for Raf-Saperra.
Jassi Sidhu’s 30th anniversary concert was particularly memorable because they had grown up listening to his music.
They also highlighted their first international booking in Norway last year as another major milestone.
“We looked at each other and thought our hard work is paying off”
For Rav and Prit, their recent moment with Diljit has added another special chapter to their journey.
Keeping Bhangra Alive in the West Midlands
Rav and Prit’s work is rooted in their desire to make Bhangra accessible across the West Midlands.
They want to create an environment where people of different ages and abilities can learn Bhangra and connect with Punjabi culture.
“We want to create a safe, inclusive space where people of all ages and abilities can come and learn bhangra, connect with new people and bring our culture to them.”
The dancers also believe creating opportunities for young people is important for preserving Punjabi culture and keeping Bhangra alive for future generations.
Their own journey began after marriage, when Prit decided to take a break from dancing while Rav wanted to continue.
Rav kept encouraging Prit to start their own group until Prit eventually agreed, leading to the creation of Jodi Dancers.
Since then, they have continued performing, developing their work and building connections within the Punjabi music and dance community.
“We want to continue to grow, work hard and take every opportunity that comes our way.”
From local melas to international bookings and an unexpected appearance on stage with Diljit, Rav and Prit continue to combine their passion for Bhangra with their desire to celebrate Punjabi culture.
For the Wolverhampton-based duo, their Diljit Dosanjh moment may have been unexpected, but it represents another memorable step in their journey as dancers.
