Kerala – “God’s own country” is the land of nature and splendor. It offers a rich verity of folk dances and traditional art. The land always remains an arena that is highly visited and extremely explored by global travelers. There are more than fifty well known folk dance form in Kerala. Padayani, Kaliyattom, Mudiettu, Kolam thullal, Kolkali, Poorakkali, Valakali, Kamapadavukali, Parichamuttukali, Thappukali, Kanniyarkali, Kuravarkali and Thiruvathirakali are highly renowned among them.
Many exclusive folk dances are performed by man whereas some enacted and completed by women. Several of folk dances are there where both man and women perform together. The folk dances are performed along with those songs sung by the dancers themselves or occasionally by a group of musicians. Some dances performed to the supplemented of musical instruments only. In some folk dances of Kerala, the performers form a circle and clap as they dance. Instead of clapping, strike small sticks which they hold in their hands.
Religious coloring is there in almost all the dances, even in those performed in connection with harvests, sowing of seeds, festivals. It is really difficult to classify these dances as social, religious and martial. The costumes and ornaments of the folk dances in Kerala are peculiar to the places to which they belong. The persuasive, natural relieve which the dances are executed and the overwhelming buoyancy of sprit are breathtaking. There is no difference between the performers and the audience in these folk forms. In a nutshell, Kerala folk forms are ultimate glamour of its culture. Folk dances are simple but beneath this simplicity there lays a profundity of conception and directness of expression.
| A list of all the folk dance in Kerala: |
| Aivar Kali |
Ammanattom |
Arjuna Nritham |
| Arjuna nritham |
Ayyappan Theeyattu |
Ayyappan Vilakku |
| Bhadrakali Thullal |
Bhootham Thullal |
Brahmanippattu |
| Cherumarkali |
Cherumarkali |
Cherumarkali |
| Dappu Kali |
Ezhamathu Kali |
Kaalayum Kudayum |
| Kaavadiyattom |
Kaikottikali |
Kakkarissi Kali |
| Kampadavu Kali |
Kolam Thullal |
Kolkkali |
| Kothaamooriyaattam |
Kothamoori |
Kummaattikkali |
| Kuravar Kali |
Kuthiyottam |
Margomkali |
| Moplah Kali |
Mudiyettu |
Oppana |
| Paana |
Padayani |
Panarkali |
| Parichamuttu Kali |
Pentharumo Nritham |
Poorakkali |
| Poykkalu Kali |
Pulayar Kali |
Pulikali |
| Sangha Kali |
Sarpam Thullal |
Theyyam |
| Thirayaattam |
Thitambu Nritham |
Thiyyattu |
| Thookkam |
Vattakkali |
Vela Kali |
| Velichappaadu Thullal |
Vithuchorial |
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