Indain Folk Dance

Ghoomar Dance

Ghoomar Dance Rajasthan

 The popular ghoomar is the characteristic dance of the Bhils although it is especially associated with the royal ladies now.  As Bhils have remained loyal to the side of the Kachhwahas. The ghoomar dance is one of the legacies that they passed on to the Rajput royalty. Derived from the word ghoomna (pirouette), this is a very simple dance where the ladies, dressed in resplendent voluminous ghagras, move smoothly and gracefully in circles. The accompanying songs are sung alternately by both men and women, as the dancers move both clockwise and anti-clockwise. The effect of the free play of the folds of the ample and colourful ghagra is dazzling.

Hip Hop Dance
Hip hop dance refers to dance styles primarily danced to a hip hop music. It was created and formed as result of urban culture. Hip-hop dance consist of combinations, each combination is broken down into counts, and each count into movement which in result creates final dance compilation.Traditional dances in comparison to hip-hop have more stabilized composition of dance steps. Recent hip hop styles incorporate more and more new steps from other dance styles including classic and balet dances

Kachi Ghodi dance(Rajasthan)

Kachi Ghodi dance(Rajasthan)

Kachhi Ghodi is one of the most famous dance forms in Rajasthan and an exemplary folk art form. It brings out the vivid hues and the rustic charms of rural life in Rajasthan. Kachi Ghoodi derives its name from the word Ghoodi meaning ‘mare’.   It is a sprightly dance where the men and women don costumes resembling horses and pretend to be cavalry soldiers or horsed bandits. The costume from hip down is a wooden horse and the footwork is coordinated with the beats of the drums and flutes to resemble the trotting movements of the horse rider.

Chhau Dance (East India)

Chhau Dance (East India)

Chhau is a dance-drama form prevalent in Eastern India. There are three major forms of Chhau, each known by its geographic location. These are Purulia Chhau of West Bengal, Mayurbhanj Chhau of Orissa and Seraikella Chhau of Bihar (now Jharkhand). Although they are all known as Chhau, their styles differ considerably in terms of their cultural background and their dance characteristics. The festival will feature some of the most outstanding exponents representing each of the three traditions.

Sambhalpuri Dance (Orissa)

Sambhalpur is a land of myths which own its origin to the legendary Goddess Samleshwari. This dance is also called Chutkachuta dance which is composed based on the various ragas of Sambhalpuri folk tradition. It is dedicated to Goddess Samleshwari Devi. The meloious song and typical bright and colourful sarees and ornaments used by the dancing girls are eye soothing.

'Kuttu' Dances (Tamil)

Nagad Dance

Maruni Dance (Sikkim)        Moatsu Festival (Nagaland)

Kathi Dance (Madhya Pradesh)

Khoriya Dance (Haryana)

Episodes from the Indian epic 'Mahabharatha' are favourites among folk performances in India. This theatre performance by the Renukambal Kattaikkuttu Nataka Manram tells a story about Arjuna and Krishna.  'Kuttu' (pronounced 'koothu') is the Tamil generic term for a theatre spectacle. The artists sustain all-night performances with music, dance and dialogues, which are not just entertaining but also profound in their logic and emotional value.

Parajas Dance (Orissa)

The Parajas are a tribal people who live mainly in the Koraput district of Orissa. Music and dance are an integral part of their life, and reflect their proximity to nature. For example, the movements of animals like the sliding of snake, the jump of the frog, and the chirping of birds are imitated in their performance. The dance of the Parajas express their joy and sorrow as well as their delight in nature. Rajendra Padhy of Adivasi Gabeshana Manch, Orissa and his Group are performing the Paraja dance.

Kathi Dance (Madhya Pradesh)

Kanthi is a traditional folk dance popular amongst the satnami community of madhya pradesh, performed in the process of paying homage to their spiritual teacher guru ghasidas. the satnamis worship and dance eulo-gizing guru ghasidas. Kathi dance is the festival of balahi harijan community in nimar region of hoshangabad to worship the mother power parvati, and is a very powerful form of folk theatre of this region. 

Chari Dance

Chari Dance (Rajasthan)

This is a famous dance of females belonging to gujjar community of Kishangarh. These ladies carry brass pots on their heads balancing it to perfection. Often these pots are kept ignited with the cotton seeds dipped in oil. These lit pots display beautiful effect in the dark night.

This dance does not have any particular movements except balancing the pots on their heads. These ladies dance like ghoomar. Instruments played are dhol, bankiya and thali. This dance is a significance of goodness and is known as a welcome dance also.

Gujjar ladies wear big nose rings, on top of their heads they wear khol(define) of coconut. Sampan ladies wear gold ornaments, Hansli, timniya, mogri, punchi, bangdi, gajra, armlets, karli, tanka, navr are the main ornaments.

Gair Dance (Rajasthan)

Gair Dance is very famous dance in Rajasthan India. The Dancers dress traditional Rajasthani colourful dresses during Dance. men dance in a big circle with wood stick in there hands. The rajasthani folk music play in background with dhol, nagada, and dholak during gair dance. Gair Dance is a very attractive dance of rajasthan, the men move gently in circles. The Gair Dance perform in the time of any big festival like holi and janmastami in rajasthan India. In gair dance men wear traditional colourful long pleated tunics that open out into full length skirts. only men participate in this gair dance of rajasthan, women cannot participate in Ghoomar dance. Gair Dance of rajasthan is a unique dance.Gair dance is specially Performed during Holi festival. Gair dance of Rajasthan is performed by groups of dancers moving in and out a big circle . men beat their sticks to create the rhythm when they turn.

Dollu Kunitha Dance  (Karnataka)

Dollu Kunitha Dance  (Karnataka)

Dollu Kunitha is a very famous dance form of Karnataka and is mainly practiced in north Karnataka. This dance form is most common among the Kuruba  community of northern Karnataka and is performed by both men and women. It is usually performed on an auspicious event. The dance form is famous  in some particular districts like the districts of Shimoga and Chitradurga, which are known for their excellence in this folk form.  Dollu Kunitha like the  other dance forms of India is not done only for entertainment but also focuses on both the well being of the performers and the spectators.

Koli Dance (Maharastra)

Koli is one of the most popular folk dance form of Maharashtra State that derives its name from the fisher folk of Maharashtra - Kolis. These community people are famous for their distinct identity among others and for their lively dances. Their dances consist of elements from their daily work related to the fishing. Both men and women in a group perform this dance. Both of them make their single row or stand in pair. These fishermen portray the movement of the rowing of a boat in this dance form. Sometimes, they also portray the movements of waves and the casting of nets to catch the fish. 

Maruni Dance (Sikkim)

One of the oldest and most popular dances of the Nepalis. Although this dance is associated with the festival of Tihar(Tyohar) or Diwali, because of its popularity it is performed even on occasions like marriages. Tihar is celebrated to mark the return of the Hindu god Rama from exile. During this festival Maruni dancers richly dressed in colourful costumes and resplendent with ornaments and nose rings go on a house to house visit. The dancers are usually also accompanied by a clown called "Dhatu waray". Sometimes Maruni dances are performed to the accompanist of the nine instrument orchestra known as "Naumati Baja".

Moatsu Festival (Nagaland)

Sambhalpuri Dance (Orissa)

Members of the Aos Naga tribe of the Mokokchung District of Nagaland in India (once fearsome headhunters) celebrate the end of their planting season with the Moatsu Festival, held in the village of Chuchuyimlang. The highlight of the festivities is Sangpangtu, during which a big fire is lit and the villagers dance and sing while food and drink are served. There is fierce competition throughout the year to make the best wine (from rice) and to rear the fattest animals for consumption. During the festivities youll also see the beautiful black and red hand-woven shawl that the tribal warriors used to wear, with white, decorated bands signifying their prowess over their enemies.

Taapu Dance  (Arunachal)

This is a war dance of the adis based on the myth of a struggling life of Tani  (man) for survival. his enemies who wanted to crush his supremacy once attacked Tani. But Gumin Soying, who was appointed as his guardian by his divine protectors, Doying Bote and Kiine Naane saved him from the peril. As advised by his saviour , Tani started the performance of Taapu dance in order to drive away the evils.

Nagada Dance (Hariyana)

Nagada Party from Panchari is regularly entertaining visitors in Sheetla Saras Mela. Perhaps the Nagada folk dance became the most entertaining thing in the Mela. Visitors found this dance most attractive and it seems when the nagada party caught everytime surrounded by a big crowd. The response of the crowed also enlarges the performance, as the artists became more energetic. Nagada Party was supposed to entertain everyday everytime till the Mela is on. The nagada party is presenting their nagada folk dance on the tunes of traditional nagada, kettle drums dailywise. Nagada is very famous instrument of Haryana. It is a drum-like wooden material with a rounded back and a hide head. It is thus a membranophone. They are paired with kettledrums traditionally used in the 'naubat' (nine things) a traditional ensemble of nine instruments. Nagara are also played with sticks. Today, this instrument is usually used to accompany the shehnai or "Indian oboe", an indispensable component of any North Indian wedding. 

Santhali Dance  (Jharkhand)

Santhali Dance  (Jharkhand)

The Santhals are an indigenous people of Jharkhand and contiguous areas in the states of Bihar, Orissa, and West Bengal. Dance and music are integrated in their workaday life and festivals such as Magha Parva, Dassai Parva, Ba/Baha Parva, and Karma. The dance is accompanied by the nagara and madal or mandara (drums); bansi (flute); and jahl or kasa thal (large metallic cymbals). The dancers form a circle. Men and women dance in separate rows with interlocked arms and make many cluster formations. There are no open movements of the arms above shoulder level and also no dips of knees or hops. The front torso is bent. The Santhals also have dances exclusively for men or women. 

The Santhal dance is being performed by Ram Dayal Munda of Ranchi and his group.

Pandavani (Chhattisgarh)

Pandavani is a form of narration of the epic Mahabharata, focusing on particular episodes for elaboration. The narrator sings the story and enters into religious discourse addressed to the audience, using mime and dance movements. Two or three musicians accompany the main performer. They sing the refrain of the songs, comment on the narration, and ask questions to emphasize focal parts of the discourse, enhancing the dramatic character of the performance. A Pandavani artist can improvise on a theme or episode for hours. The musical instruments accompanying the artist are the tabla, and cymbals called manjira. Traditionally, Pandavani was performed only by men. Since the 1980s, women have also presented Pandavani.  Prabha Yadav from Chhattisgarh and her group perform Pandavani in the festival.

Tera -Tali Dance  (Rajasthan)

Tera Taal Rajasthan

A ritualistic dance of Rajasthan, Tera-Tali is performed by female dancers with song accompaniment provided by male singers. Their faces thinly veiled, the women squat on the floor with tiny cymbals tied to their outstretched legs. They strike the cymbals rhythmically with the cymbals held in their hands. The accompanying songs generally relate to the life of Lord Krishna. Simple movements of daily work life are subtly transformed into dance, which, as it proceeds, grows in complexity displaying a high degree of rhythmic skill, balance and physical agility. Tera-Tali is being performed by Bhor Das of Udaipur and his group.

Panchavadyam (Chhattisgarh)

The Panchavadyam is an ensemble of five instruments unique to Kerala. There are two groupings and styles developed for two different settings. The Kriyangapanchavadyam is associated with the daily temple rituals in the temples. The instruments here include the thimila, edakka, veeku chenda, shankha and kaimani. The Sevanga Panchavadyam is associated with religious festivals. This ensemble includes the thimila, edakka, maddalam, chengala and shankha. Panchavadyam players stand in predetermined positions while playing. The percussion commences with simple rhythmic variations in a slow tempo. The speed increases with more intricate and complex rhythmic variations, ending in a resounding climax. Panchavadyam is being played by Kunsiraman from Delhi and his group.

Giddha Dance  (Punjab)

Giddha is a very vigorous folk dance and like other such dances it is very much an affair of the legs. So quick is the movement of the feet in its faster parts that it is difficult for the spectator even to wink till the tempo falls again. The embroidered 'duppattas' and heavy jewelry of the participants whose number is unrestricted further exaggerate the movements. 

Khoriya Dance (Haryana)

This dance is popular in the central areas of Haryana. This dance is performed by women at the house of the bridegroom in the night on which the marriage party has gone to the bride's house. By this dance the women ask for the safe and sound return of the marriage party along with the newly wed couple. By staying awake whole night for this dance, they also protect their house since the men folk are all away to the bride's house. Due to the bawdy nature of this dance children are generally kept away.