Rajasthani
dances are a spectacular celebration of life and color. Festivals are
incomplete without dance performance. The ambience is evoked by the rhythmic
clash of the long, painted sticks, the swaying and swirling of the
performers to every beat of the drum. Vigorous dance with folk ballads and
sharp pirouetting and brandishing of swords flares out in a blaze of color
and movement.
Ghoomar
The best known dance is Ghoomar. The ghoomar is an exclusive dance of the
Rajput ladies in which they swirl and sway in a circle to the accompaniment
of a kettledrum. The ghoomar is performed generally in the privacy of homes.
Sapera Dance
The sapera (snake charmers) dance of the Kalbeliyas (Snake-charmar`s
community), is sensuous and riveting in the extreme. Wearing long, black
skirts embroidered with silver ribbons, they spin in a circle, their body
sways acrobatically. With the increases in beat, the pace of the spin
increases.
Terah-Taali
The Terah Taali (thirteen cymbals) are fastened to the arms, legs, ankles,
toe and instep of the performer, to give rhythm to the intricate movements
of the performer and to provide a synchronous pulse to the accompanying
musical instruments as well as the devotional singing. The magnificence of
this grandiose spectacle lies in the simultaneous swift and elegant shaking
motion of the performer- leaning, inclining and swaying back and forth of
the torso, while striking tinkling cymbals with great precision, as if in a
hypnotic trance.
Kachchi Ghodi
The folks also enjoy a dance, largely associated with marriage festivities
called kachchi Ghodi. Performed mainly by the men-folk of the Bavariia,
kumhar and Sargara communities. The Kachhi-Ghodi is a particularly vigorous
dance in which the bridegroom's party boisterously sings folk ballads and
stages a mock fight with much nimble side-stepping, sharp pirouetting and
brandishing of swords; dancers are fixed within the figure of a horse with
just their torsos showing. The dance concludes with some vigorous movements
synchronal with the galloping tunes of the musical aids.
Charee Dance
Charee is performed as a gesture of welcome to an honored guest, specially
the bridegroom and his party on their arrival at the bride's house. The
performers adorn themselves with the best ornaments and colorful attire.
Heavily veiled, the flaming cottonseeds on their heads and dance in gay
abandon, squatting, reclining and caprioling elegantly to the flow of rhythm
provided by the dholak and bankia till the flames die out.
Gair
The gair is performed exclusively by men. Holding colourful and ornamental
sticks with tiny bells attached to them in both hands and attired in flowing
apparel, they form a circle, alternate members facing outside. With the
beating of the drum the performers begin moving anti-clockwise; and then
striking their sticks to their own first and then to the those to their
left. Swirling and striking of sticks takes place in alternate intervals.
Many complicated but interesting patterns involving wrapping or looping is
executed in the dance. Gair is performed at the time of Holi.
Some other dance of the Rajasthan are
Fire dance, geendar, gavvi dance.
