Theyyam
Theyyam is form of ritualistic performance where a man dons the guise of the Goddess Kali.
The performer is believed to be in a trance during the performance,
and is mainly performed in the northern Malabar regions of Kerala.
Mayilattam
The costume for this particular dance is painstakingly made to mimic a peacock.
The dancer performs on long piece of wood attached to the end of his feet and
hence require extensive training. Mayilattam belongs to the state of Tamil Nadu
and is primarily performed in Lord Subrahmanya temples.
Yakshagana
The traditional theatre dance form is a combination of dance, music, dialogue, costume, and make-up.
The dance drama is performed during the night in the coastal
districts and the Malenadu region of Karnataka.
Kummattikali
Performed during the Onam festival, the dance form is mainly prevalent
in the Thrissur, Wayanad, and the Palakkad districts, along with some regions in southern Malabar.
One of the most striking features of the dance is the vibrant hand-painted wooden masks depicting various deities.
Arjuna Nritham
Also known as Mayilpeeli Thookkam, Arjuna Nritham loosely translates to the 'dance of Arjuna.'
The dance form is mainly prevalent in the Bhagavathy temples of south Kerala.
Based on the various themes of the Puranas, the dance is performed to rhythm-based songs called Kavithangal.
Garadi
Garadi is a celebratory dance specific to Puducherry and its surrounding regions.
Garadi is known for the rhythm created by the combination of
drumbeats and the ankle bells donned by the performers.
Padayani
Padayani is traditionally performed in the Bhagavati temples of central Kerala.
Part of a series of rituals to honour harvest, the dance form is a celebration of fertility and prosperity.
Somana Kunitha
Specific to the southern region of Karnataka, Somana Kunita is a ritualistic dance
dedicated to the guardian spirit. It is known for its vivid
visual impact attained with the help of dramatic masks or soma.
Traditionally, only men are permitted to take part in the performance.
Therukoothu
Traditionally performed in the rural regions of north and south Arcot and Thanjavur districts of Tamil Nadu,
Therukoothu is a folk theatre dance performed in the open during
the temple festival of rain goddesses.
Thirayattam
Native to the south Malabar region of Kerala, Thirayattam is performed primarily during temple festivals.
It is a combination of dance and martial arts. Thirayattam is staged during the night
and it has another version known as Vellattam, which is staged during the day.
