Lambadi Dance

LAMBADI is a tribe found in the state of Andhra Pradesh. They are also known as Sengalis and Banjaras. The Lambadi women wear a very colourful dress. The clothes they wear are decorated with pieces of mirror and cowrl. They wear ivory bangles and innumerable ornaments.

In Lambadi form of dance, typically the female dancers dance in tune with the male drummers to offer homage to their Lord for a good harvest.

Jabro Dance

Jabro is a traditional dance form prevailing in the Chang Thang and Rong areas of Ladakh region in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. This dance form is performed by the nomadic people of Tibetan origin, living in the high hills of this region.

Melodious songs are characteristic of Jabro, in which both males and females participate. The dancers face each other and form circles or rows. They move forwards and backwards hand in hand, singing beautiful songs.

Bardoi Shikla Dance

This dance represents the advent of the New Year (generally in the month of April or May). In the state of Assam, the Bardoisila is derived from the Bodo word, Bardoi Sikhla a young girl. Bar means wind and Dai means water.

Gair Ghoura

Gair Ghoura is traditional dance of Bheel tribe of the state of Rajasthan. The dancers dress traditional Rajasthani colourful dresses. Men and women dance in a big circle with wood stick in there hands. The Rajasthani folk music play in background with dhol, nagada, and dholak during this dance.

Kokru Dancers

Korku is a scheduled tribe community predominantly found in the East Nimar, Betul and Chhindwara districts of the state of Madhya Pradesh and adjoining areas in Melghat region of state of Maharastra. Korkus have derived their name from the combination of the word koru meaning man and ku which makes it plural meaning tribal man.

Sattriya Dance

The Sattriya dance has evolved out of performances that took shape in the vast network of sattras or monasteries that were established in Assam since the 16th century, when the Vaishnava movement led by Shankaradeva swept the land. Dramatist and composer as much as social and religious reformer, Shankaradeva was the fountainhead of this great array of performance forms, and created a corpus of songs and dance-dramas that constitute the core of the edifice.

Dandiya Raas

Dandiya Raas is the featured and most popular dance of the State of Gujarat. This dance form is actually the staging of a mock-fight between Goddess Durga and Mahishasura, the mighty demon-king. The sticks (dandiyas) represent the sword of Goddess Durga. The origin of these dances can be traced back to the life of Lord Krishna.

Lavani

The word Lavani derived from Lavanya meaning beauty. Lavani is combination of dance and teasing lyrics with warm rhythm of dholki. Women typically wear nine-yard saris while performing Lavani dance.

Celebrating Teej

Teej is a fasting festival for Hindu women. It is celebrated for marital bliss, well-being of spouse and children and purification of own body and soul. The festival is a three-day-long celebration that combines sumptuous feasts as well as rigid fasting.

The above picture depicts women from the state of Haryana celebrating Teej

Prahalad Natak

Pahalad Natak is a form of traditional theatre with a one-play repertoire from the southern district of Orissa, it is commonest in Ganjam. It is performed in the open on a five or six- tiered stage, at the summit of which Hiranyakashipu's throne is placed.

The text of Prahalad Natak, which contains 120 songs, was written by Gopinath Parichha who belonged to the court of Raja Ramakrishna Chhotray of Jalantar ( now in Andhra Pradesh) and ruled from 1857 to 1905.

Bharatnatayam

Bharatnatyam is one of the most sublime of the Indian classical dances. It emerged in the state of Tamil Nadu and among all the Indian classical dances, Bharatnatyam is the most ancient. It is considered to be about 2000 years old and it follows the principles of Natya Shastra (the treatise on dance).

Raas Lila Manipuri

This classical form of Manipuri dance is based and inspired by the theme of Lord Krishna and his beloved, Radha. This graceful and slow movement of the dance makes it one of the most acclaimed classical dances of India. The costume is elegant, as there are nicely embroidered clothes that give luster to the beauty of the art.

Koodiyattam

Koodiyattam is a form of Sanskrit theatre traditionally performed in the state of Kerala. Performed in the Sanskrit language in Hindu temples, it is believed to be 2000 years old. It is officially recognised by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

Mayur Dance

The dancers attire themselves in peacock costumes, which are attached with colorful feathers. The movements capture the mood of the peacock in its full splendor. The beautiful tilts and turns of the head and wings performed by the dancers contain a typical style and charm.

Vande Matram

An integrated performance using nine classical dance forms of India Bharatanatyam, Odissi , Kuchipudi, Kathak, Manipuri, Kathakali, Mohini Attam, Sattriya and Chhau performed at Delhi International Arts Festival, 2008 with artists from various regions of India.