Central Idea

What is Kalbeliya Dance?

Kalbeliya Dance is a traditional Indian dance form that originated in the state of Rajasthan.
It is a vibrant, energetic dance that is performed by members of the Kalbeliya, a nomadic tribe of snake charmers in Rajasthan.
It is a highly sensuous dance, with the dancers performing intricate footwork and swaying movements of their arms and body.
In 2010, the Kalbelia folk songs and dances of Rajasthan were declared a part of its Intangible Heritage List by UNESCO.

The dancers are women in flowing black skirts who dance and twirl, replicating the movements of a serpent.
They wear an upper body cloth called an angrakhi and a headcloth known as the odhani; the lower body cloth is called a lehenga.
All these clothes are of mixed red and black hues and embroidered.
The male participants play musical instruments, such as the ‘pungi’, the dufli, been, the khanjari – a percussion instrument, morchang, khuralio and the dholak to create the rhythm on which the dancers perform.
The dancers are tattooed in traditional designs and wear jewellery and garments richly embroidered with small mirrors and silver threads.
As the performance progresses, the rhythm becomes faster and faster and so dances.

Rapid footwork: The fast, intricate footwork of the Kalbeliya dance is the highlight of this folk dance. The dancers move their feet in quick, sharp movements that form intricate patterns on the floor.
Swirling skirts: The colorful skirts of the female dancers swirl gracefully as they move, adding to the beauty of the dance.
Hand and arm movements: The dancers use their hands and arms to create graceful, fluid movements that are integral to the dance.
Singing: Kalbeliya dancers often sing along to the music as they dance, adding to the atmosphere of the performance.