FOLK
DANCES
DHAMAL
The Dhamal dance is especially popular in Ahir areas
of Gurgaon. The been player gives the first long note, then Dhol, Tasha, Nagara, pick up
the beat and the dance begins. Some of the dancers carry large Daphs in their hands. These
are edged with frills of brightly colored fabric, others carry sticks (Shuntis) of medium
length, wrapped in tinsel and tasseled at both ends.
PHAG
The name of the dance suggests that it is danced to
celebrate the mellow month of Phagun, but it most prominently marks the colorful festival
of Holi. The dancers come together by the sound of Tasha, Nagara and Dhol. The men come
running & singing "Here arrives the colorful Phagun." Then the women come
in, carrying Koraras which are knotted lengths of cloths. They run about the men hitting
with the Koraras while men defend themselves as best as they can with Shuntis. 
GHOOMER
Ghoomer is a dance performed by the girls of the
areas bordering Rajasthan. The girls form semi circles and start singing and clapping. The
dancers then form a circle and the tempo of the dance is accelerated. The movements are
made by holding the weight on one foot and moving forward. As the tempo increases towards
the end of the dancers whirl around in pairs. The accompanying songs are full of satire
and humor and refer to contemporary events.
LOOR
The Loor is danced by women of the Bangar areas of
Haryana. This dance is performed during the period about the Holi festival. It, thus marks
the spring season and the sowing of the Rabi crops. The song is generally in the form of
questions and answers.
OTHER DANCES
Other dances of Haryana include Khoria, which is
quite similar to Ghoomer and is performed only by women on weddings and festivals. The chaupaia
is a devotional dance and is performed by men and women carrying Manjiras. In the Deepak
dance men and women carrying earthen lamps, express their devotion through dance,
which often lasts for the whole night. The Gugga is a ritualistic dance performed
in procession taken out in memory of Gugga. The main dancers carry their own musical
instrument i.e. Dholak, Manjira, Chimta, Deru and Cymbals and dance to the beat
thereby creating a solemn atmosphere.
|
