Artist Feature: Bhupinderjit Chana
Meet Madhuban artist Bhupinderjit Chana (@chefbhu on IG)!
Bhu began her dance journey at the age of eight, performing with an Indian folk group. After taking a few years off, she rediscovered dance with the primary goal of moving her body. A close friend, @ishitasiingla encouraged her to pursue dance “with passion” and to join the Madhuban Performing Arts collective (@madhubanpersformingarts)! Not only does Bhu now perform with the troupe, but she has taken on several key roles behind-the-scenes, including Dance Team Lead and Stage Manager.
You can watch Bhu perform in Madhuban’s latest show, I, Sita on September 27 right here at The GRAND! I, Sita is a bold retelling of the ancient Indian epic, Ramayana, which the Madhuban team has created from the ground up. When asked about what makes this show special Bhu says, “The process of creating it! We are approaching the story with an open mind, experimenting with different styles and art forms, and pushing boundaries by telling this story from a female perspective. And I am in love with the dances! Every emotion and story is described through dance,” she says.
Bhu was born in Canada to parents who immigrated from India. As such, she often feels like she is trying to bridge two cultures and find her place in the world. She draws a lot of inspiration for her creative endeavours from her ongoing journey to blend her western upbringing with her Indian heritage. Bhu also credits her early experiences working in community-based and volunteer roles - supporting youth, not-for-profits, cultural institutions and community events - for shaping who she is today.
Currently, Bhu works as a high school math and science teacher. She balances out her logical, analytical side by pursuing a mix of creative outlets in her free time. “I love to explore and be adventurous; I don’t like to follow a linear path,” she says. When she’s not dancing, you will most likely find Bhu cooking Indian and fusion cuisine (her specialty dish is shahi paneer pizza) making and editing videos, and finding innovative ways to bring all of her passions together.