Bhangra, Bollywood at Buckingham Palace

The pulsating beats of bhangra reached the royal environs of the Buckingham Palace as Queen Elizabeth hosted a reception for Indian-origin achievers ahead of a state visit by President Pratibha Patil later this month.

  • Britain's Queen Elizabeth II is introduced to the dancers of Nutkhut, a London-based British-Indian dance company, by their artistic director Ajay Chhabra, left, after they had presented an extract of Bollywood Steps, during a reception inside the ballroom of Buckingham Palace in central London, Tuesday, Oct. 13 2009. The reception is in advance of the State Visit by the President of India later this month. (Photo: AP Photo/Johnny Green/pool)
    Britain's Queen Elizabeth II is introduced to the dancers of Nutkhut, a London-based British-Indian dance company, by their artistic director Ajay Chhabra, left, after they had presented an extract of Bollywood Steps, during a reception inside the ballroom of Buckingham Palace in central London, Tuesday, Oct. 13 2009. The reception is in advance of the State Visit by the President of India later this month. (Photo: AP Photo/Johnny Green/pool)
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  • Queen Elizabeth II (2ndR) and Duke of Edinburgh (R) watch a performance by Nutkhut, a London-based British-Indian dance company, who had presented an extract of Bollywood Steps, during a reception on October 13, 2009 inside the ballroom of Buckingham Palace in central London. (Photo: AFP PHOTO/POOL)
    Queen Elizabeth II (2ndR) and Duke of Edinburgh (R) watch a performance by Nutkhut, a London-based British-Indian dance company, who had presented an extract of Bollywood Steps, during a reception on October 13, 2009 inside the ballroom of Buckingham Palace in central London. (Photo: AFP PHOTO/POOL)
  • Nutkhut, a London-based British-Indian dance company, perform to an audience which included Britain's Queen Elizabeth II as they present an extract of Bollywood Steps, during a reception inside the ballroom of Buckingham Palace in central London, Tuesday, Oct. 13 2009. The reception is in advance of the State Visit by the President of India later this month. (Photo: AP Photo/Johnny Green/pool)
    Nutkhut, a London-based British-Indian dance company, perform to an audience which included Britain's Queen Elizabeth II as they present an extract of Bollywood Steps, during a reception inside the ballroom of Buckingham Palace in central London, Tuesday, Oct. 13 2009. The reception is in advance of the State Visit by the President of India later this month. (Photo: AP Photo/Johnny Green/pool)
  • Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, right, meets sportsmen, from, left, Samit Patel, Michael Chopra and Monty Panesar, after having watched a performance by Nutkhut, a London-based British-Indian dance company, who had presented an extract of Bollywood Steps, during a reception inside the ballroom of Buckingham Palace in central London, Tuesday, Oct. 13 2009. The reception is in advance of the State Visit by the President of India later this month. (Photo: AP Photo/Johnny Green/pool)
    Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, right, meets sportsmen, from, left, Samit Patel, Michael Chopra and Monty Panesar, after having watched a performance by Nutkhut, a London-based British-Indian dance company, who had presented an extract of Bollywood Steps, during a reception inside the ballroom of Buckingham Palace in central London, Tuesday, Oct. 13 2009. The reception is in advance of the State Visit by the President of India later this month. (Photo: AP Photo/Johnny Green/pool)
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  • Nutkhut, a London-based British-Indian dance company, perform to an audience which included Britain's Queen Elizabeth II as they present an extract of Bollywood Steps, during a reception inside the ballroom of Buckingham Palace in central London, Tuesday, Oct. 13 2009. The reception is in advance of the State Visit by the President of India later this month. (Photo: AP Photo/Johnny Green/pool)
    Nutkhut, a London-based British-Indian dance company, perform to an audience which included Britain's Queen Elizabeth II as they present an extract of Bollywood Steps, during a reception inside the ballroom of Buckingham Palace in central London, Tuesday, Oct. 13 2009. The reception is in advance of the State Visit by the President of India later this month. (Photo: AP Photo/Johnny Green/pool)
  • Nutkhut, a London-based British-Indian dance company, perform to an audience which included Britain's Queen Elizabeth II as they present an extract of Bollywood Steps, during a reception inside the ballroom of Buckingham Palace in central London, Tuesday, Oct. 13 2009. The reception is in advance of the State Visit by the President of India later this month. (Photo: AP Photo/Johnny Green/pool)
    Nutkhut, a London-based British-Indian dance company, perform to an audience which included Britain's Queen Elizabeth II as they present an extract of Bollywood Steps, during a reception inside the ballroom of Buckingham Palace in central London, Tuesday, Oct. 13 2009. The reception is in advance of the State Visit by the President of India later this month. (Photo: AP Photo/Johnny Green/pool)
  • Performers from the dance group Nutkhut, founded by husband and wife team of Ajay Chhabra and Simmy Gupta, performed a 15-minute extract from the couple's show Bollywood Steps, inspired by Indian movies. (Photo: AFP)
    Performers from the dance group Nutkhut, founded by husband and wife team of Ajay Chhabra and Simmy Gupta, performed a 15-minute extract from the couple's show Bollywood Steps, inspired by Indian movies. (Photo: AFP)
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  • Five female dancers and three males performed in the 15-minute show. It was a truncated version of the 40-minute outdoor show which Nutkhut has been performing around Britain for the past four years and is described as "a spectacular celebration of all that is kitsch in Indian cinema". (Photo: AP)
    Five female dancers and three males performed in the 15-minute show. It was a truncated version of the 40-minute outdoor show which Nutkhut has been performing around Britain for the past four years and is described as "a spectacular celebration of all that is kitsch in Indian cinema". (Photo: AP)
  • Nutkhut, a London-based British-Indian dance company, perform to an audience which included Britain's Queen Elizabeth II as they present an extract of Bollywood Steps, during a reception inside the ballroom of Buckingham Palace in central London, Tuesday, Oct. 13 2009. The reception is in advance of the State Visit by the President of India later this month. (Photo: AP/Johnny Green/pool)
    Nutkhut, a London-based British-Indian dance company, perform to an audience which included Britain's Queen Elizabeth II as they present an extract of Bollywood Steps, during a reception inside the ballroom of Buckingham Palace in central London, Tuesday, Oct. 13 2009. The reception is in advance of the State Visit by the President of India later this month. (Photo: AP/Johnny Green/pool)
  • Nutkhut, a London-based British-Indian dance company, perform to an audience which included Britain's Queen Elizabeth II as they present an extract of Bollywood Steps, during a reception inside the ballroom of Buckingham Palace in central London, Tuesday, Oct. 13 2009. The reception is in advance of the State Visit by the President of India later this month. (Photo: AFP)
    Nutkhut, a London-based British-Indian dance company, perform to an audience which included Britain's Queen Elizabeth II as they present an extract of Bollywood Steps, during a reception inside the ballroom of Buckingham Palace in central London, Tuesday, Oct. 13 2009. The reception is in advance of the State Visit by the President of India later this month. (Photo: AFP)
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  • Queen Elizabeth II (2ndL) meets meets a guest after having watched a performance by Nutkhut, a London-based British-Indian dance company, who had presented an extract of Bollywood Steps, during a reception on October 13, 2009 inside the ballroom of Buckingham Palace in central London. (Photo: AFP PHOTO/POOL/JOHNNY GREEN)
    Queen Elizabeth II (2ndL) meets meets a guest after having watched a performance by Nutkhut, a London-based British-Indian dance company, who had presented an extract of Bollywood Steps, during a reception on October 13, 2009 inside the ballroom of Buckingham Palace in central London. (Photo: AFP PHOTO/POOL/JOHNNY GREEN)
  • Queen Elizabeth II (R) meets Sanjeev Bhaskar (2ndL) and Meera Syal (L), known for their work in 'Goodness Gracious Me' and 'The Kumars at No. 42', after having watched a performance by Nutkhut, a London-based British-Indian dance company, who had presented an extract of Bollywood Steps, during a reception on October 13, 2009 inside the ballroom of Buckingham Palace in central London. (Photo: AFP PHOTO/POOL)
    Queen Elizabeth II (R) meets Sanjeev Bhaskar (2ndL) and Meera Syal (L), known for their work in 'Goodness Gracious Me' and 'The Kumars at No. 42', after having watched a performance by Nutkhut, a London-based British-Indian dance company, who had presented an extract of Bollywood Steps, during a reception on October 13, 2009 inside the ballroom of Buckingham Palace in central London. (Photo: AFP PHOTO/POOL)