IT is an art form enjoyed across the world by millions.

Bhangra is a fusion of music and dance originating from the Punjab region of India and Pakistan.

And now Huddersfield children will have the chance to join international stars in a performance to celebrate World Bhangra Day.

During the event on Saturday, April 13, there will be live links to Bhangra performed in unison in key cities around the world including Birmingham, Madrid, Patiala, Mumbai, Singapore, Brisbane, Vancouver, Mexico City and New York – and Huddersfield.

Malkit Singh, billed as the world’s most successful Bhangra performer and singer, will be topping the bill in Huddersfield.

With 21 albums and 36 tours under his belt, Malkit is Bhangra’s biggest selling artist in music history. He was presented with an MBE in 2008.

Also appearing will be Brit Asia star Sukhi Shin, who is singer and front man of the Bhangra Band DCS. He is also the star of the musical ‘Britain’s Got Bhangra’.

A performance piece will start the event showing the evolution of Bhangra from its rural roots in Punjab to its current form.

There will also be a live dance performance involving children from schools across the region, which will be synchronised live with performances in India, Singapore, Australia, Canada, North and South America.

Screens will show these live performances from around the world during the live stage performance.

The World Bhangra dance routine has been taught to pupils from The Mount School, Huddersfield, Linthwaite Ardron School, Colne Valley Arts College, Kirklees College, Huddersfield University and several other schools.

The performance is the brainchild of VIRSA, a Kirklees-based community project which has received £30,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for its ‘Bhangra Renaissance’ project.

The aim is to strengthen the understanding of memories based around Bhangra through oral histories/recordings; an exhibition currently running at Lawrence Batley Theatre and finally through a book launch covering the project and World Bhangra Day.

Tickets for the town hall event will cost from £5 to £15 and are available from Kirklees Booking Offices on 01484 223200 / 01924 324501 or book online at www.kirklees.gov.uk/townhalls.

More information on the Bhangra Renaissance project is available on the group’s website at www.virsa.info