Saturday 9 February 2013

Villupattu (Bow song)



     Have you heard us singing with a Villu (bow) fixed with bells? Our main singer narrates a tale along with sime lively sings and the rest of the troupe sings along with him or her as a chorus. We also use other musical instruments for the rhythm.

Thappattam



     Children, do you know that Thappattam has been in practice from ancient times? In Tamil, the word "parai" means to "speak" or to "tell". The parai is an ancient instrument performed in the courts of Sangam, Chola and Pandiya rulers. The drums were used to announce important messages and orders of the great Tamil Kings. The famous epic Silapathigaram talks about the striking rhythm of the Parai (Thappu). The same person beats the Thappu and also dances.

Oyilattam (Dance of eauty and grace)



     Twelve to twenty of us stand in a row and perform the dance to rhythmic music with intricate foorwork and graceful gestures. Just imagine...... how colourful it would be! This folk art is originally from Madurai and Theni and is now popular throughout Tamilnadu. Our costumes include a coloured sash (cloth belt) around our hips, a coloured turban or ribbon on our heads and bells on our feet. Nowadays, both men and women perform this dance. Here we are at the Republic Day Parade,in Chennai.

Rouf Dance

     Rouf, a folk dance, is usually performed by women during spring time in Jammu & Kashmir. The dancers split themselves into two rows facing each other & put their arms around the shoulder of the dancers next to them.
     
     The dance is inclusive of simple footwork. Chakri, a pleasant pathetic song based on mystical poetry, is sung while performance. Rouf is also performed on all festive occasions such as Id-Ul-Fitar.

     This dance almost steeped in antiquity. Rouf is always performed in the accompaniment of pleasant pathetic songs. It is performed on all festive occasions and particularly on the evenings of Ramzan and IDD days.

Thursday 7 February 2013

Meghalaya Dance



     Meghalaya dance forms an integral part of the culture of meghalaya. The festivities in meghalya seem to be incomplete without dancing and mysic. Dance in meghalaya forms an important part of the meghalaya Society : Birth, Marriage, annual festival, etc. Some of the meghalaya dance are (Shad Sukmysiem, Shad nongkrem, Derogata, Do dru sua, Caho, etc.)