There is one thing that is for sure and that is that India does not lack a diversity of folk dances. Some of these dances are not well known, but they reveal the character and spirit of a diversity of people in India. For example, the dance, Dol Cholam, is a kind of drum dance in Manipur. The people that perform this Dance are skilled drum makers and are able to play several different drums. The combination of this drum making skill has been incorporated in the Dol Cholam Dance.

The Kinnauri Dance is a dance performed in Himachal Pradesh. The Kinnauri Dance represents the windy breezes of the Himachal region and the back and forth movements of the trees. Other movements of the Dance involve the activities of sowing and reaping crops. As a result, this Dance is very communal in nature because the nature of harvesting crops is communal as well. My favorite part of the Kinnauri Dance is the arm movements. You can watch a clip of this Dance in action:

The Koli Dance is performed in Goa, and in other coastal communities where the population is largely composed of people who make their living catching and selling fish. The Koli Dance first came about as a way for the fishermen to unwind after a long day out at sea. The Koli Dance represents aspects of the fishing community. Therefore the Koli Dance is like a story being told about the daily trials and joys of making a living around catching fish.

In Chhattisgarh, there’s a folk dance called Panthi. The dancers move their body to the beat of the music. The beat can quicken and change in pace, then suddenly slow down. What’s also interesting about this dance is that after the rhythm increases pace, you can see a human pyramid being formed. The Panthi Dance is actually a religious dance performed by the Satnami community in Chhattisgarh. The dancers swing their arms and sing songs that praise the Guru Ghasidas. It’s a very active dance!