Dance forms of Andhra Pradesh

Hi All,

Its been a while since we had a post here (five and half months, and that’s the longest gap we ever had since the start of WorthvieW in 2008), unfortunate but inevitable as well. There has been so much happening in our lives that we couldn’t afford really to miss it. So much so a while that I had to renew the hosting service of this website on the last day before it gets expired!

Nevertheless, here we are, back and prompt. Hopefully.

There have been lots of learnings in these days, lots of new places, travels and treks and more than that all, lots of new people.

I realized that it is important, and may be even my responsibility to share with you all, some of the experiences that I come across in my training, here at the Academy. We were introduced to some of the most experienced persons and people of high worth from all parts of the country and from different fields that, the ideas they stress upon are not only essential for those in services, but to all. So it is through this medium that I would try and spread all the good ideas and aspirations of the country.

I won’t go to serious topics right away, but one such experience is the preparation for the India Day. We have, in the academy, an ongoing tradition of celebrating ‘India Day‘ where OTs (Officer Trainees, essentially, all of us who joined the training as a batch) from each of the regions will perform in their style, showcasing their tradtional performances and cultural dance and other artistic forms.
It was a totally new experience to see so many diverse colors on the stage one after another, some of them we never knew. The songs were beautiful, the dance forms were extremely simple yet elegant. Even though these forms are so much unknown , yet there is some familiarty we can associate ourselves with. We indeed have been celebrating the diversity !

OTs from Andhra Pradesh , which of course, includes me, also started preparing for it. Through this time, I realised how many dance forms we have even within our own state. Some of them are so simple and enjoyable. The cultural heritage is so much that it is ironic that in general , none of us so much familiar with it ! Our popular dance forms (read, movie folk and other movie popular dance styles) have indeed overshadowed all other forms (though it is heartening to see a huge following and appreciation for ‘dance’ in general, in Andhra Pradesh). I have come to know of some new names of dances.

The dance forms that we have :

Vilasini Natyam is dance tradition of deva dasis in Andhra Pradesh (it is fading out ! )

Burrakatha is the new name (twentieth century) for the theatre known as Jangam Katha. The jangams were wandering shiva worshippers.

A very old form of dance in the state of Andhra Pradesh that has a lot of religious significance attached to it; that is Veeranatyam : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_dj55b8f5Q

Butta Bommalu, a typical folk dance of AP : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRq7FhnR2UM

Dappu Dance (part of the telangana custom) : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmGek-GPeM8

Tappeta Gullu (this is a devotional dance which invokes the Rain God of Srikakulam district) : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jTRrvchNBQ

Lambadi (Associated with daily tasks harvesting, planting, sowing etc., performed by the Ganjaras) : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oxw3ge8QbJ8

Bonalu (Folk festival and dance form of the Telangana Region)

Dhimsa ( is a dance of young and old, men and women of Valmiki, Bagata, Khond and Kotia tribes living in the enchanting Araku Valley in the hilly tracts of Vishakhapatam district.) : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBrqAQNl-JA

Kolattam (or the stick dance, is one of the most popular dance narratives in Andhra Pradesh)

And more forms include Gobbi Dance, Bathakamma Dance, Bhamakalapam, Dhamal, Mathuri and Dandaria Dance.

A different form of Lord Shiva’s dance, Perini, hailed from Hyderabad, it is performed mostly by an all male group, emphasizing its origin as a warrior dance.

The point I am trying to make here is that, we need to start looking at our own cultural forms and protect them. The way to protect them is to propagate them. Kuchipudi dance form is our classical representation, but that won’t suffice. We need to spread the word on performances of other forms as well. And as I said, they are not tough in any way. I will try and help in giving some songs and videos of the different styles, it is now pertinent on us to edificate the students of most of the schools (early in their school life) to inculcate in their cultural performance and other events, all of these styles.

Please go through the Wiki pages for more information and get familiar with them. And do perform.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dance_forms_of_Andhra_Pradesh

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_Andhra_Pradesh

http://www.indianetzone.com/1/folk_dances_andhra_pradesh.htm

In the end, I am attaching a video that was neatly made, depicting Andhra Pradesh in its true flavor. Enjoy it.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MR0QOosoaRQ

P.S : Please provide the links for the dance forms that I could not find links for, in time. Thank you !