Padayani (Kerala)
Padayani is one of the most colorful and popular dances of Southern
Kerala. Padayani is associated with the festival of certain temples,
called Padayani or Paddeni. Such temples are in Alleppey, Quilon,
Pathanamthitta and Kottayam districts. The main Kolams (huge masks)
displayed in Padayani are Bhairavi (Kali), Kalan (god of death), Yakshi
(fairy) and Pakshi (bird).
Padayani involves a series of divine and semi divine imitation, putting
Kolams of different shapes and colors. In the performance of Padayani,
dancers, actors, singers and instrumentalists play an important role.
The actors or dancers wear Kolams that are huge headgears, with many
projections and devices and a mask for the face or a chest piece to
cover the breast and abdomen of the performer.
Kummi (Tamil Nadu)
Kummi is a popular
folk
dance of Tamil Nadu. Kummi dance is performed by tribal women
during festivals. Kummi is a simple folk dance where dancers form
circles and clap in rhythmic way.
Kolattam
'Kollattam' or the stick dance is one of the most popular dances of
Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Kolattam is derived from Kol (a small
stick) and Attam (play). It is also called as Kolannalu or Kolkolannalu.
Kolattam dance is a combination of rhythmic movements, songs and music
and is performed during local village festivals. Kolattam is known by
different names in different states of India. The Kolattam group
consists of dancers in the range of 8 to 40. The stick, used in the
Kolattam dance, provides the main rhythm.
Perini
The Perini Thandavam is a male dance of the warriors. As a part of
tradition, the warriors performed this dominant dance in front of the
idol of Nataraja or Lord Shiva, before leaving for the battlefield. This
is popular in some parts of Andhra Pradesh state. In earlier times the
rulers of the Kakatiya dynasty patronized this form of dance. The Perini
dance is performed to the accompaniment of the beat of the drums.
Thapetta Gullu (Andhra Pradesh)
Thapetta Gullu is a folk dance form of Srikakulam district, Andhra
Pradesh. In the Thapetta Gullu dance more than ten persons participate.
The participants or performers sing songs in the praise of local
goddess. While performing the Thapetta Gullu dance, the dancers use
drums, hanging around their necks. The dancers wear tinkling bells
around their waist.
