Rajasthan Travel Guide

Kalbelia Dance – Folk Dance of Rajasthan

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Kalbelia dance is a folk dance of Rajasthan state of India. It is well known by other names like 'Sapera Dance' or 'Snake Charmer Dance'. Kalbelia dance is particularly performed by a Rajasthani tribe called 'Kalbelia'. The popularity of this dance is so much worldwide that Rajasthan's Kalbelia dance and songs are now in UNESCO's representative list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity from the year 2010. In Kalbelia dance, males play various traditional instruments and females perform the dance. Kalbelia dance is one of the most sensuous dance among all Rajasthani dances.

Kalbelia dance is a folk dance of Rajasthan state of India. It is well known by other names like ‘Sapera Dance’ or ‘Snake Charmer Dance’. Kalbelia dance is particularly performed by a Rajasthani tribe called ‘Kalbelia’. The popularity of this dance is so much worldwide that Rajasthan’s Kalbelia dance and songs are now in UNESCO’s representative list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity from the year 2010. In Kalbelia dance, males play various traditional instruments and females perform a dance. Kalbelia dance is one of the most sensuous dance among all Rajasthani dances.

Kalbelia Dance Evolution

Kalbelia dance is a dance of Kalbelia tribe of Rajasthan. This tribe is a community of Rajasthan which in ancient time known move frequently from one place to another rather than staying and building their homes at one place. Kalbelia tribe people are known to have the main occupation of catching snakes and trading snake venom. They are also called Sapera’s or Snake Charmers. Kalbelia folk dance is performed by females on the tunes of Been on the occasion of joy in the Kalbelia community. There is no any organized training system or school, manuscripts, and written text to teach and learn Kalbelia songs and Kalbelia dance. This folk art is transmitted from generation to generation.

Kalbelia Dance Video

Kalbelia Dance Elements

Kalbelia dance has a traditional musical instrument which is Poongi also called Been. Poongi is a kind of woodwind musical instrument used by Kalbelia tribe during catching snakes. Other traditional musical instruments used by Kalbelia tribe in Kalbelia dance are Dufli, Morchang, Dholak, Khanjari, and Khuralio. When these instruments play all together with poongi, they result into a sensuous and amazing music.

Kalbelia dance the main performer are females dancers who dance and swirl, replicating the movements of a serpent. Dancers wear a traditional dress of Kalbelia tribe. On the upper body, the female Kalbelia dancers wear Angrakhi. On the head, the female Kalbelia dancers wear Odhani. They wear a long skirt on the lower body which has a wide circumference. This long skirt of Kalbelia dancers is called Lehenga or Ghagra. This complete dress is essentially black in color with the red decorative laces. Embroidery from a silver thread in various patterns on the black dress resembles a black snake with white spots or white stripes. Mirror work on the dresses of Kalbelia dancers also finds many times. Kalbelia dancers wear lot of traditional jewelry.



Kalbelia

Kalbelia

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2 Responses to “Kalbelia Dance – Folk Dance of Rajasthan”

manish Says

we required to improve and advertisment our culture..!!

preet uberoi Says

lovely dance very graceful