Garbha & Dandiya (Gujrat) - Indian Folk Dance Class

Garbha Dance is a religious dance in honor of Mother Earth performed in Western India. It is performed during any special occasion. Garbha literally means womb. It symbolizes divine maternal energy and the dance represents reproductive energy. Garbha Dance is performed by a group of women who dance in a circular pattern clapping their hands around a pot containing a lamp. The pot is considered to be a womb and the lamp as the life in it. The dancers hold sticks and hit them together according to the rhythmic tune of the accompanying song.

Indian folk and tribal dances are simple dances, and are performed to express joy. Folk and tribal dances are performed for every possible occasion, to celebrate the arrival of seasons, birth of a child, a wedding and festivals. The dances are extremely simple with minimum of steps or movement. The dances burst with verve and vitality. Men and women perform some dances exclusively, while in some performances men and women dance together. On most occasions, the dancers sing themselves, while being accompanied by artists on the instruments. Each form of dance has a specific costume. Most costumes are flamboyant with extensive jewels.