Mayor of Whitehorse dons turban, learns Bhangra dance, goes viral

Whitehorse mayor Dan Curtis admits he had no idea what he was getting intowhen he agreed to meet with local citizen GurdeepPandher.

He certainly didn't think he'd soon be a bit of an online sensation.

"I had no clue,"Curtissays. "I was out of my comfort zone, to be honest. No one with my physique is that comfortable with juggling around.

"I thought it was going to be a couple of still photos."

Instead, Pandhermade a video, showing the mayor being fitted with a Sikh turban and then being taught some Bhangradance moves, all in the council chambers of the Yukon capital.

The seven-minute video was posted to Facebookon Friday. Since then, it's racked up more than a million views. Curtis said he's been receivingcalls and emails from across Canada, as well as the U.S., India and Japan.

"It's really surreal," Curtis said. "I kind of wish I had more practice and knew what I was doing, now."

It's not the first time a video shot atWhitehorse City Council chambers has gone viral. In 2013,Northwestel's community cable station put together an epic-style trailer for its broadcasts of Whitehorse city council meetings.

• Whitehorse city council 'epic trailer' goes viral

'It brings us together'

Pandher, who's already cultivated an international following onlinewith Bhangra dance videos hemakes in Yukon, says he too issurprised by the response.

• Whitehorse Bhangra dancer shows off Yukon to the world

He's also grateful to the mayor for being a good sport.

"I feel that when we know about different cultures, we connect betterand it brings us together. And as Canada is a multicultural country, I strongly believe this is the best way to deal with the hate and racism.

"The message we tried to give is that we are one Canada."