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Goan folk dances bear a tradition of thousands of years, characterized by innumerable forms performed by and reflecting lifestyles, cultures and aspirations of different strata, religions and castes of Goan society. The prominent ones include Corredinho Dance, Dekhni Dance, Dhalo Dance, Dhangar Dance, Fugdi Dance, Ghode Modni, Goff Dance, Kunbi Dance, Lamp Dance, Mussal dance and Romal Dance. Dance Style Goff Dance Each dancer holds a colourful cord hanging at the centre point of the 'Mand' - the place of performance - and starts dancing intricately with the others, forming a beautiful, colourful, intricate braid at the end of the first movement. |
The music starts again and the dancers reverse the pattern of dancing so skillfully that the braid gets unraveled and at the end of the second movement, all the cords are loose and single once again. There are 4 different braids of Goff. The songs sung are devoted to Lord Krishna. "Ghumat", "Samael" and "Surta Shansi" or melodic instruments accompany the dance. Goff has an affinity with tribal dance forms of Gujarat.
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Kunbi Dance Their songs and dance belonging to the pre-Portuguese era are uniquely social and not religious. The fast and elegant dance by a group of Kunbi women dancers, wearing traditional yet very simple dresses, lends a colourful touch to this ethnic art form. Lamp Dance |
The accompanying instruments include Ghumat, Samael, Cymbal and Harmonium. The performers indulge in a slow dancing movement, balancing brass lamps with burning wicks on the head and the hands. The balancing act controlled by tremendous self-discipline and exquisite footwork matching with the rhythms of the traditional folksongs are eye-catching. This group dance is popular in the southern and central Goa.
Mussal Dance
The Kshatriyas, the warrior class of 'Chandor' (erstwhile Chandrapur,
the capital of the "Kadamba" rulers) perform this dance-cum-song to
celebrate the victory of Harihar, the Hindu King of Vijaynagar over the
Cholas in the early 14th century. They hold and brandish pestles
('Mussals') - a favourite war instrument with the Yadavas - during the
victory parade and dance as the original one held centuries ago.
The march comprises 4 couplets while the main dance uses 22 couplets. Originally the Gaonkars did the performance on the full-moon night of the Falguna. The Kshatriyas, though converted to Christianity, still retains the cultural heritage and perform it now on the second day of the carnival.
Romat Dance
This thanks-giving ceremonial dance-cum-procession performed during the
Shigmo festival is known as Romat in the northern Goa and Mell in the
central Goa. It is an extremely crowded, noisy and colourful affair.
Teams of dancers drawn from different sections of the village dance and
march martially with huge banners, ceremonial umbrellas, festooned
sticks and batons towards the temple of the presiding deity or to the
house of the landlord.
The cacophony emanating from deafening beats of huge 'Dhols' and 'Tashas' and a prolonged, vigourous dancing procession displaying colourful dresses leave the spectators spell-bound.
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