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Saheli 2001
Cross Cultural Solutions Insight India Program

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PERFORMANCE
[photo]
Folk performers in front of the Bikaner Cultural Centre Museum.
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Folk Dance

.The desert region of Rajasthan is famous for the color and vibrancy of its folk forms. Dance is no exception. Each region in Rajasthan has its own form of folk dance. Tribal areas have maintained these folk dances which are often performed for ceremonial or special occasions.

.Today, more of these dances are being discovered as the dancers begin to come out of their villages to perform on stage. Venues in large urban cities, like Delhi or Jaipur, will arrange for folk dance troupes to perform. Outside the urban areas, small hotels will arrange for a group to perform. We were entertained in Dundlod and in Bikaner at our hotels. In both instances, the dancers performed around an open fire.

.In addition to performing on the stage or for a hotel, folk dancing is an integral part of many festivals throughout Rajasthan. Consult your guide books for dates and venues.

.The dances illustrated below were performed at our hotel in Dundlod Fort as entertainment following our dinner.

[photo]

CHARI DANCE: Water vessels topped with lighted lamps are balanced on the head. This dance is performed by women of the Mali caste to celebrate a marriage or the birth of a male child. Gentle head movements are a must in this dance.
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MATKA BHAVAI: In this dance, the number of vessels are gradually increased until the dancer is balancing up to seven on her head. To finish the performance, she sat on the floor and picked up paper money off the floor with her mouth while continuing to balance the vessels on her head.
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with contributions from participants of the
2001 Saheli Insight India Program
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