Indian folk dances Flashcards
What does the word ‘Chhau’ mean ?
Shadow
What kind of dresses are used in Chhau ?
Mask dance
Is Chhau narrative ?
Yes, is narrates mythological stories using vigorous martial movements
What are the main two themes of Chhau ?
- Sarpa Nitya (serpent dance)
2. Mayur Nitya (peacock dance)
Why is Chhau special among folk dances ?
Ministry of Culture recognises it as 9th dance form
How many styles are there in Chhau ?
3
What are the 3 styles ?
- Saraikella
- Mayurbhanj
- Purulia
Saraikella Chau is from ?
Jharkhand
Mayurbhanj Chhau is from ?
Odisha
Purulia Chhau is from ?
West Bengal
Where is Garba from ?
Gujarat
When is Garba held ?
Navratri
What does Garba refer to ?
Earthen pot
How is garba characterised ?
Circular movement and rhythmic clapping
What is dandiya raas ?
Lively dance with stick of Gujarat
What does dandiya represent ?
Mock fight between Durga and Mahishasura
What is the folk dance of Goa called ?
Tarangamel
What does Tarangamel celebrate ?
Youthfulness
When is Tarangamel performed ?
Dussehra and Holi
How is Tarangamel made visually appealing ?
Rainbow costumes and colourful flags
What is the folk dance of women in Bhil tribe of Rajasthan called ?
Ghoomar
Which movie had a controversial song involving Ghoomar ?
Padmaavat
What costume is worn while performing Ghoomar ?
Colourful ghagra
Which Rajasthani tribe’s women’s folk dance is Kalbelia ?
Kalbelia tribe
Which animal does Kalbelia dance imitate ?
Serpents
Which musical instrument is used ?
Been - Snake charming wind instrument
What is the folk dance of Himachal Pradesh ?
Charba
When is Charba performed ?
Dusshera
What is energetic folk dance of Punjab called ?
Bhangra
What is the female counterpart of Bhangra ?
Giddha
What is the popular folk dance of Uttar Pradesh ?
Raslila
What is the folklore behind Raslila ?
Radha-Krishna love story
What is the semi-classical form of dance in Uttar Pradesh ?
Dadra
Dadra is popular among courtesans of which region in UP ?
Lucknow
What is the harvest dance in Bundelkhand (MP) ?
Jawara
What is balanced on the head in Jawara ?
A basket full of jawar
What is the name of the dance performed by women in Malwa region ?
Matki
When is Matki performed ?
Weddings, mainly. Other festivals too
How is Matki performed ?
Solo, balancing earthen pots on head
What are popular variants of Matki dance ?
Aada Nach
Khada Nach
What is the important folk dance of Chhattisgarh ?
Gaur Maria
Which tribe in Chhatisgarh performs this ?
Bison Horn Maria tribe
Where in Chhatisgarh does this tribe stay ?
Bastar region
Which animal does this dance imitate ?
Bison
Is it performed by men or women ?
Both
Where is Alkap prevalent in Jharkhand ?
Rajmahal hills
Where is Alkap prevalent in West Bengal ?
Rajshahi, Murshidabad, Malda
Who performs it ?
Troops of 10-12 dancers
What is the lead singer in Alkap called ?
gayens
What are the comical sketches of this dance called ?
Kap
Which festival is associated with Alkap ?
Gajan festival, Shiva
Where is Biraha dance performed ?
Rural Bihar
What does Biraha portray ?
Pain of women
Why are women pained ?
Men are away from home
Who performs this dance - men or women ?
Solely men
Do the men pretend to be females in Biraha ?
Yes
Where is Paika dance performed ?
Southern part of Odisha
What kind of dance is Paika ?
Martial
What are costumes of Paika dancers ?
Armed with wooden spears and shields
What does Paika mean ?
Battle
Where is Jat-Jatin performed ?
Northern Bihar, Mithila
What does Jat-Jatin represent ?
Quarrel of a married couple
Where does Jhumar happen ?
Jharkhand and Odisha
When does Jhumar happen ?
Harvest dance
Female variant of Jhumar ?
Janani Jhumar
Male variant of Jhumar ?
Mardana Jhumar
Where is Danda-Jatra held ?
Odisha
What is it about ?
Narrative stories about Shiva
What is general theme of Danda-Jatra ?
Social harmony and brotherhood
What is Assam’s folk dance called ?
Bihu
How is Bihu characterised ?
Brisk footsteps, rapid hand movements
What is Manipur’s folk dance called ?
Thang Ta
How is it characterised ?
Martial
What does Thang mean ?
Sword
What does Ta mean ?
Spear
What do dancers of Thang Ta enact ?
Mock fight sequence.
Leap to attack and defend
What is the war dance of the nagas called ?
Rangma
How are the dancers dressed ?
Headgear, jewellery, colourful costume
What do Rangma dancers enact ?
War formations
What is the popular mask dance of Sikkim called ?
Singhi Chham
How are dancers of Singhi Chham dressed ?
Furry costumes
Which animal does Singhi Chham symbolise ?
Snow Lion
What does Singhi Chham give tribute to ?
Khang Chen Dzong Pa
Kachcnjunga peak
Where is Kummi popular ?
Tamil Nadu and Kerala
Who performs this ?
Women, in circular formation
Why is Kummi unique ?
There is no music
How are the beats in Kummi generated ?
Clapping
When is Kummi performed ?
Pongal
Where is Mayilattam performed ?
Tamil Nadu and Kerala
What are the costumes for Mayilattam dancers ?
Peacocks, with colourful headgear
What is Mayilattam also called ?
Peacock dance
What is Kaali Arram known as ?
Bull Dance
What is Karadi Attam known as ?
Bear dance
What is Aali Attam known as ?
Demon Dance
What is Pampu Attam known as ?
Snake dance
Which dance is performed in Konkan region of Goa ?
Fugdi
What is the formations in Fugdi
Circles and rows
What is the folk dance of Mizoram ?
Cheraw
What do men do in Cheraw ?
Make rhythmic beats with bamboo
What do girls do in Cheraw ?
Dance to the beats
Which folk dance of Odisha is mostly performed in Dusshera ?
Dalkhai
What is represented in Dalkhai ?
Ramayana, Mahbharata, Shri Krishna stories
Which dance is performed by Wattal tribe of Jammu and Kashmir ?
Dumhal
What kind of hat is used in Dumhal ?
Tall, conical hat
What instrument is used in Dumhal ?
Drum beats
Which dance is performed in Chhattisgarh by Yadav community ?
Raut Naach
When is Raut Naach performed ?
Diwali
Where is Burrakatha performed ?
Andhra Pradesh
What happens in Burrakatha ?
Single performer narrates stories
Where are stories narrated from in Burrakatha ?
Puranas
Where is Butta Bommalu performed ?
West Godavi, Andhra Pradesh
What does ‘Butta Bommalu’ mean ?
Basket toys
What do the dancers wear in Butta Bommalu ?
Masks of different characters
How is the music in Butta Bommalu ?
Non verbal
What is a popular temple dance in Kerala called ?
Kaikottikali
Who performes it ?
Men and women
When is Kaikottikali performed ?
Onam, during harvest
What is the martial dance form in Kerala temples called ?
Padayani
What does Padayani mean ?
Rows of Infantry
What do the dancers wear ?
Huge masks
What do the masks in Padayani represent ?
Divine and semi-divine narratives
What is the popular dance form in Kerala and Lakswadeep called ?
Kolkali-Parichakali
What does Kol mean ?
Stick
What does Paricha mean ?
Shield
What do the dancers use in Kolkali Parichakali ?
Mock weapons,
What is enacted in Kolkali Parichakali ?
Mock fights, start slowly but tempo keeps increasing
What is a popular ‘ghost worship’ dance of Karnataka called ?
Bhootha Aradhane
What does the dancer do in Bhootha Aradhane ?
Act as if possessed in front of idols of demons
What is Mysore’s popular folk dance called ?
Pata Kunitha
What do men use in Pata Kunitha ?
Long decorated bamboo poles
What is a variant of Pata Kunitha popular in Mandya and Bengaluru ?
Puja Kunitha
Where is Chakyar Koothu performed ?
Kerala
How does the performer in Chakyar Koothu dress ?
Snake
How is Chakyar Koothu ?
Narrative, prose and poetry
Which caste performs Chakyar Koothu ?
Chakyar community
Dress of Chakyar Koothu ?
Colourful Headgear, black moustache, red spots
Where is Jhoomar performed ?
Tribal Sikhs in Punjab
When is Jhoomar performed ?
Harvest season
What is the most important part of Jhoomar ?
Movement of arms to tune of drums
Who carried Jhoomar to India ?
Balochistan traders
Where is Karma Naach performed ?
Chota Nagpur plateau
When is Karma Naach performed ?
Tribal festival of Karma
How is Karma Naach performed ?
Dancers form circles and dance with arms on each other’s waists
