There is really no such genre as folk dancing. Rather, there is a large body of unrelated non-classical dance forms. The only thing common among these dance forms is their rural origins.
Many folk dances are performed by ordinary people rather than professional dancers. It is very usual that on special occasions, the villagers will gather and sing and dance, accompanying themselves on a variety of folk instruments. Such special occasions include harvesting, planting, marriages and religious holidays.
Here are spectacles of dances that fascinate and enchant.
· Central India :-
1. Jawara (Madhya Pradesh)
2. Charkula (Madhya Pradesh)
· Eastern India :-
1. Chhau (Bihar)
2. Karma/ Munda ( Bihar)
3. Brita Dance (West Bengal)
4. Dalkhai (Orissa)
5. Goti Puas (Orissa)
6. Ruk Mar Nacha (Orissa)
7. Panthi ( Chhattisgarh)
8. Raut Nacha ( Chhattisgarh)
· North East India :-
1. Bihu (Assam)
2. Hajgiri (Tripura)
3. Nongkrem (Meghalaya)
4. Dhol-Cholom (Manipur)
5. Bardo Chham (Arunchal Pradesh)
6. Chang Lo (or) Sua Lua (Nagaland)
7. Cheraw Dance ( Mizoram )
8. Singhi Chham ( Sikkim)
9. Thang Ta (Manipur)
· Northern India :-
1. Dumhal (Jammu & Kashmir)
2. Hikat (Himachal Pradesh)
3. Namagen (Himachal Pradesh)
4. Kinnauri Nati (Himachal Pradesh)
5. Hurka Baul (Uttar Pradesh)
6. Bhangra (Punjab)
7. Dhamyal (Haryana)
· North West India :-
1. Dandiya (Gujarat)
2. Garba (Gujarat)
3. Padhar (Gujarat)
4. Raas (Gujarat)
5. Tarpha Nach
6. Tera Tali (Rajasthan)
7. Ghoomar (Rajasthan)
8. Kalbelia (Rajasthan)
· Southern India :-
1. Padayani (Kerala)
2. Kummi (Tamil Nadu)
3. Kargam (Tamil Nadu)
4. Devarattam (Tamil Nadu)
5. Kamandi or Kaman Pandigai (Tamil Nadu)
