amazing dances from around the world

This pre-Spanish dance from the Philippines involves two people tapping, beating and sliding bamboo poles on the ground as well as against one another in coordination while stepping over and in between the poles.

Also known as Gopak, it is considered to be the official dance of the Ukraine and is composed of visually and technically amazing acrobatic feats. These include jumps and spins, and are usually the highlight of the performance.

With a tradition that s more than 1,500 years old, these have combined their knowledge, discipline and their martial art in order to make this dance form their very own.

Kathak is one of the eight forms of Indian classical dances which originated from India. This dance form traces its origins to the nomadic bards of ancient northern India, known as Kathakars or storytellers.

This dance combines both Indian dance and music with big Hollywood movie-style set. You can expect the dresses to not just be bright but colorful too.

Translating to mean, Lion Mask in English, Huli Vesha is a traditional dance form native to the Tulu Nadu area in Karnataka. Performed during the famed festival of nine nights, Navratri, it is a dance form in appeasement of the Goddess Sharada whose preferred animal happens to be a tiger. The youthful faces of dancers are painted with the colours of tiger stripes, the makeup is only removed on the last day of Navratri. The act consists of traditional narratives, but is truly enthralling and entertaining to watch!

A dance reminiscent of the golden era of late 18th

In the hills of Uttarakhand, the rhythms and dance reflect the rich martial traditions of the land as well as their mixed and yet prosperous heritage. Chholiya is one such dance that demonstrates the bravado of the warriors, who are the main performers of this dance form. Traditionally, it is performed at Kumaoni weddings and can trace its roots back to the belief that bad spirits follow a happy occasion and must be warded off. The beat of the Chholiya is given by the customary brass instruments such as Bagpipes, Dhol, Damaun and the nine-holed flute. The warriors dance is backed by enthusiastic and upbeat music designed to pump up their spirits and the act also consists of mock fights that they mime with swords in order to scare off the bad omens.

We could not resist including this unique form of dance from Indonesia, Barong just like Kathakali in India is another story telling dance that demonstrates the fight between the good and evil. Barong is believed to be a lion like creature in the mythology of Indonesian culture specifically Bali region. The leader of the good, Barong, battles against the enemy Rangda who is considered as the demon queen and mother of spirit guarders. The dance initially begins with a peaceful environment but soon is followed by the Keris Dance where Rangda appears and cast a black magic on the men of Erlangga, the king of Bali. The dance ends with a fight between Barong and Rangda where Rangda runs, depicting that good always wins over evil. The masks of Barong and Rangda are considered scared and thus are worshipped before being used in the dance. Barong is an extremely dangerous form of dancing as somebody can die or get injured during the dance. This dance is a beautiful blend of bravado, mythology and art.

Nati a traditional dance form of Himachal Pradesh is largely performed during celebrations. The dance reflects the rich natural beauty of this serene place. The dance involved slow moves but a sequence is maintained throughout the dance. Dancers join their hands and move in a clockwise direction in large circles with the music. In all, there are thirteen types of dancing styles in Nati itself. Nati was initially performed by men dancers wearing famous Himachali caps and Kurta and Churidaars. However, now it is performed with men & women together. The music throughout the dance is played manually on special drums and trumpets that are specifically made for Himachali Nati.