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Navasandhi
Navasandhi meaning nine directions is a dance performed to the
accompaniment of music at the flag-hoisting ceremony, which heralds the annual
festival of the temple at Tiruchendur. Several other dance traditions have
been noticed in a number of temples in Tamil Nadu. The dances performed by
the Palanquin-bearers of the Lord are other variations of the drama tradition
combining music and dance.
Kuravaik-Koothu
This
is a type of dance in which seven girls form a circle clapping one other's
hand. This dance is referred to as Aichiyar Kuravai
or the dance of the cowherd women in Chilappadikaram.
This dance has a peculiar musical significance.
The seven
notes of the musical scale are arranged in a circle and the seven girls are
called by the names of the seven musical notes viz Kural, Tattam, Kalikkilae. The
Achoponga Folk dance is a remnant of this defunct dance. In this dance, a
number of girls form a circle and do simple rhythmic movements, singing and
clapping their hands according to the rhythm.
Kazhaikoothu
This
is a dance performed by standing on bamboo poles. A
specimen of this occurs in bas-relief sculptured in the Sri Andal Temple at
Srivilliputhur. The dancer balances himself standing on two poles, each
two meters long, dancing to the accompaniment of a two-faced drum played by his
wife.
Kummi
In
Kummi, girls sing several songs. Kummi consist of common Kummi and the Oyil
Kummi. In the common Kummi, the dancers
are rhythmical and the girls dance in different postures. The rhythm of both
dance and music delights the audience. The word Kummi is said to be derived from
Kommai and means to 'dance with clapping of hands' to time and singing poems in
a metre adopted to Kummi dance.
Oyil Kummi
Oyil Kummi or Oyil Attam is performed by large groups of men
wearing bells on their feet and narrating mythological stories. The
invocation song prays to gods and also instructs the participants to give
adequate space for the movement of the neighbours legs and prevent their coming
into physical contact.
Bommalattam or Pavakkuthu
This is puppet dance and this art form is used to spread
religious stories. Simple folk believe that it is auspicious to have this
performance in their village and that its performance will ward off evil
spirits/epidemics and bring prosperity. The main themes are the stories from the
Ramayana, the Mahabharatha and the Bhagavatha. This show is manipulated by
strings and iron rods suspended from above. The stage is so setup that the
puppets alone are seen through an opening roughly about four metres in height.
The puppets are moved by skilled and experienced players who stand behind,
unseen by the audience. The puppets are tied to the player's hand with black
strings which are not visible.
The performance usually begins at 10 pm. and is over by about 4
am, the following morning it is continued for a week or ten days. On either
side of the stage big earthen castor oil lamps are placed. The screen is a big
black cloth about three metres high. In front of this curtain, the puppet make
their appearance.
When the chandramati puppet and the dancing puppet appear, the
manipulators behind the curtains have themselves to do all the bodily movements
and dancing. Their legs and arms have full work. The scenes in which chandramati
tears her garland to pieces and laments on the cremation ground are great
attractions.
Leather puppet show
 The leather puppet show introduced from Maharashtra to Thanjavur
is sometimes held in Tamil Nadu. These puppets are made of thin goat skin
carefully cured to make them translucent. They are cut and joined in such a way
that the limbs can be moved. They are painted with ordinary dry and deep colours
as men, women, gods, goddess, demons and animals. Many of them being as tall as
human beings. Operated from below, they are made to gesticulate, move and dance
with considerable skill.
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