Dance

Rajasthani dances are a spectacular celebration of life and colour. The people of Rajasthan live life to the hilt. After hard work in the harsh desert, sun and rocky terrain whenever they take time off they let themselves go in gay abandon. There is dancing, singing, drama, devotional music and puppet shows and other communities festivities which transforms the hardworking Rajasthani into a fun-loving and carefree individual. Each region has its own folk entertainment. The dance styles differ as do the songs. Some of the better known forms of the entertainment are :

Chari Dance :

This is popular in the Kishangarh region. Gathering water is a part of the everyday life of women of Rajasthan. The women go many miles to collect water for their families and their joy is reflected through the Chari Dance. Dancers choreograph deft patterns with their hands while balancing brass pots on their heads. The performance is made more picturesque with the flames from cottonseeds set alight, so that the bobbing heads create streaks of illuminating patterns as they move effortlessly around the floor.

Kalbelia Dance :

This fascinating kalbelia dance is performed by the women of Kalbelia community, their age-old occupation being catching snakes and trading snake venom. Hence the dance movements and the costumes bear resemblance to that of the serpents. Dancers are attired in traditional black swirling skirts, sway sinuously to the accompaniment of pungi, dufli and plaintive notes of the 'been' - the wooden instrument of the snake charmers.

Two or three women sing in a high-pitched, free flowing voice, while others join in the dance. The vigorous and zestful display of their perfect movements to the enchanting tune of musical instruments is a treat to the eyes.

Bhavai :

Bhavai is a gracefully choreographed presentation by veiled women balancing seven to nine brass decanters as they dance nimbly. At the climax the lead dancer perches precariously on glass or even an edge of a sword to sway gracefully with hand movements. This gives a sentiment of suspense to the audiences at the dexterity of the performers.

Kachhi Ghodi :

It comes from the bandit regions of Shekhawati and is a dance for entertaining the visiting bridegroom’s party. The costumes are designed to appear like the dancer is riding a mock horse. A vigorous dance engages nimble side stepping and pirouetting to music of fifes and drums. The dancers can be found brandishing swords enacting mock fights. A ballad singer also sings the stories on exploits of local heroes.

Ghoomar Dance :

The Ghoomar is the characteristic dance of the Bhils. This is basically a community dance for women and performed on auspicious occasions. Derived from the word ghoomna, this is a very simple dance where the ladies move gently and gracefully in circles. . The dances are to rhythms of a song and songs are invariably about domestic relations. With faces covered by veils this colourful dance captures the mood of any celebration and is also performed to welcome a bride to her new home. The home of this dance form is Jodhpur and is performed in single lines.

Ghair :

The ghair dance is performed mainly in the Mewar region. Regal men in fulsome, gathered white ankle-length skirts and brilliant turbans swirl slowly in alternately clockwise and anticlockwise motions, clicking long, painted sticks with each other.

Terah Taali :

This dance is traditionally performed by women in honour of the folk hero “Baba Ramdev”. This is a dance of professional expertise where the dancer performs with the help of hollow metallic discs (Manjeeras) tied on the hands, legs and foreheads - at thirteen different places. The performers start beating these manjeeras at thirteen different places in rhythms with the music.

Fire Dance :

It is a divine dance of protection, performed on burning coal by the Jasnaiths of Bikaner and Churu. The dancers perform on a bed of flaming coal to the rhythms of a beating drum. Their steps keep pace with the drum beats until a crescendo is reached and the dancer attains a near hypnotic trans. The dance is usually performed on late winter nights. After the dance is over the dancers have no blisters to show.