Enjoyable performance illustrates the heart that beats in the deserts of Rajasthan. (Review by Kajal Bagwandeen)The National Arts Festival with support from the Indian Cultural Centre (Consulate General of India) presented Rasjasthani folk dance, song and music hosted at the Great Hall, a wonderful venue for dance.
Rajasthan is the desert state of India and is well known for its specific style of music using stringed instruments, percussions and wind instruments. ie Sarangi, Dholak and Algoza, to name a few, as well as their extremely colourful traditional dances.
Each dance has its own significance. In this performance, there were three dancers and eight musicians but most of the dance styles were performed by one female artist who wowed the audiences with her various artistic skills.
The folk dances included the Chari, women with fire vessels on their head offered to the mother goddess. The Ghoomar, one of the most popular folk dances of Rajasthan – the word is derived from “Ghoomna” which mean twirling, and as the name states, there are many circles and semi-circles made by the women that are enhanced by their colourful costumes.
In The Bhavai, the dancer performed with seven vessels placed on her head, this requires a great amount of balance and specific body postures. This was particularly interesting as the artist danced on glass cups as well as a set of knives.
The Kalbeliya or “snake dance” was also performed and this was illustrated by swaying and writhing the body like a snake. The Kalbeliyas are also a big “snake charmer” community of Rajasthan. In the Kalbeliya the dancer picked up a set of finger rings off the floor with her eyes while bending backwards. This was the final “wow” for the audience.
All these styles were performed with artistic finesse and grace and the dance sequences were nicely spread out by including haunting musical interludes, some of which were beautifully improvised by awe-inspiring musicians. The Indian instruments clearly had the audiences swaying in their seats.
The audience was briefed about each instrument and dance style before the item began which allowed them to understand and enjoy each item.
This was a most enjoyable performance illustrating the heart that beats within the vast deserts of Rajasthan. – Kajal Bagwandeen
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