Chhau dance

A semi classical martial Indian dance found in its eastern states
Wikidata item: Chhau dance (Q1071518)
UNESCO ICH ID: RL/00337
instance of: type of dance
country: India
subclass of: Indian folk dance and war dance
indigenous to: Purulia district, Mayurbhanj district and Seraikela Kharsawan district
intangible cultural heritage status: Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity (2010) and National List for Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH)
described at URL: https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/00337 (English)
https://ich.unesco.org/fr/RL/00337 (French)
https://ich.unesco.org/es/RL/00337 (Spanish)

Introduction

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Chhau dance is a tradition from eastern India that enacts episodes from epics including the Ramayana and Mahabharata, local folklore and abstract themes. Its three distinct styles hail from the regions of Seraikela Kharsawan district, Purulia Chhau dance and Mayurbhanj Chhau of Orissa, the first two using Chhau mask. Chhau dance is intimately connected to regional festivals, notably the spring festival Chaitra Parva. Its origin is traceable to indigenous forms of dance and martial practices. Its vocabulary of movement includes mock combat techniques, stylized gaits of birds and animals and movements modelled on the chores of village housewives. Chhau is taught to male dancers from families of traditional artists or from local communities. The dance is performed at night in an open space to traditional and folk melodies, played on the reed pipes mahuri and shehnai. The reverberating drumbeats of a variety of drums dominate the accompanying music ensemble. Chhau is an integral part of the culture of these communities. It binds together people from different social strata and ethnic background with diverse social practices, beliefs, professions and languages. However, increasing industrialization, economic pressures and new media are leading to a decrease in collective participation with communities becoming disconnected from their roots.^[1]

Communities

The dances mainly come from communities known as Mundas, Mahatos, Kalindis, Pattnaiks, Samals, Darogas, Mohantys, Acharyas, Bhols, Kars, Dubeys, and Sahoos. Musicians are from the communities known as Mukhis, Kalindis, Ghadheis, Dhada. They are also involved in the making of the instruments. Masks form an integral part of Chhau Dance in Purulia and Seraikella. Communities of traditional painters known as Maharanas, Mohapatras, Sutradhars are involved in the making of these masks.^[2]

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American Sign Language

Amharic

Amis

Angika

Modern Standard Arabic

Chhau dantza (Basque)

Chhau dance (Dagaare)

Chhau dance (Dagbani)

تشاو (Egyptian Arabic)

Emilian–Romagnol

Chhau dance (English)

Chhau (danse) (French)

Ghanaian Pidgin English

Tari Chhau (Indonesian)

ഛൗ നൃത്തം (Malayalam)

Standard Moroccan Amazigh

https://nn.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:CX?campaign=wiki-loves-living-heritage&from=de&to=no
nn&page=Chhau Nynorsk

Danza Chhau (Spanish)

End of auto-generated list.

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