|
Ghumar Dance
Some dancers receive their inspiration from religion.
The gods and the
elements are invoked to shower their blessing on the labours of a community.
Ghumar is
a Rajasthani dance but it is popular in Laharu, Dadri and some parts
of the Hiss ar and
Bhiwani, bordering Rajasthan. The dance is performed by women
devotees on their way to the temple. Young women and girls carrying brass plates of
offerings in their hands go to the temple singing devotional songs. The
dance is performed on Diwali, the festival of lights and
Holi, the festivals of spring or on the
occasion of the local ceremony of Gangor Puja.
Brass plates in their hands, girls make a circle and start
singing. The Musicians strike a chord and as soon as the tune begins
to take shape and gain momentum, the dancers put their offerings aside
forming a large circle and dances gracefully with uplifted arms to the
simplest beats. Slowly the dance gather momentum, the swaying bodies become
frantic, taking the dance to its climax.
Top
Khoria Dance
This dance is a variety of Jhumar dance. It is performed by
woman only. It is popular in the central areas of Haryana. It is connected
with the daily life of the people and with the most important events like
harvest. Singing a folk song, the girls enter dancing place and make a
ring. The simple movements acquire form and colour with the swirling off
their full-gold-work skirts and coloured chundries and the gleam and jingle
of heavy rustic jewellery. The graceful steps give place to faster
tempo until two or three pairs of the girls break from the ring into the
centre with crossed arms joined together swirling on the axis of their
feet. The girls in the ring clap to the beat of the drum. In final stage
the dance is around the circumference.
Top
Holi Dance
This exuberant dance is connected with the seasonal festival
of spring. When the rural community rejoices and relaxes after the completion
of their agricultural operations. It is performed in various formations
to the accompaniment of drums and pipes. Both men and women
participate in this dance. Percussion instruments like dhol, jhajh, chimta,
khartal and thalis and anklets on the feet of the dancers produce the
rhythm. Abir, gulal and coloured water is sprinkled on each other by the
dancers. The dance is accompanied by the Chaupies and Chaumbaulas
which sustain performance for hours. Women folk use twisted ropes,
Kolars to mock-beat their counterparts. Men in a mood of frivolity wear
women's costumes and exhibit their talent in female steps. The men folk
not even a guest is spared. The dance is popular in Faridabad, Pulwal
and Ballabhgarh. It is also performed in other areas.
Top
Gangor-Puja Dance
This dance is performed in villages bordering on Rajasthan.
It is ceremonial dance of woman in connection with puja ceremony
of Iswar and Gangor (Lord
Shiva and Pravati)
dressed in colourful costumes and Jewellery, with brass jars on their
head, the woman move in circle, the movements and the pattern of the dance
changing according to the music. The smiles of the dancers are important
element in the performance. It is devotional dance to invoke the blessings
of the gods for good harvest and is usually performed in the months
of palghun and Chait. Sometimes the dance takes the form of a Kirtan,
associated with the love of Lord Shiva and Parvati. The girls enter
the circle one by one, dancing and singing devotional songs. The dance
continues for hours.
Top
Sapela
Dance
Women often perform the Sapela dance in which one acts the
role of the village belle while the other acts as the snake charmer.
Top
|
