Folk dances performed at Kala Academy TNN, Mar 23, 2010, 12.03am IST
Today many of the vivid and rich folk traditions of Goa are on the verge of extinction on account of modernization and westernization. It is essential to revive some of the folk traditions as they depict the cultural heritage inherited by the land since time immemorial.
A folk art festival was organized at the Kala Academy in collaboration with the West Zone Cultural Center, Udaipur on March 20. It was inaugurated by speaker of Goa Assembly and chairperson of KA Pratapsingh Rane. Altogether 60 artists took part in the folk art festival.
At the folk art festival, Amelia Dias presented Christian kunbi, dhalo and fugdi dances. Gudulya Gita is a type of tribal folk art wherein there is singing of folk narratives throughout the night. Themes of these songs are based on Bhim, the second Pandavas from Mahabharat. Gavan Kani is a recitation of folk story.
Both these folk forms were presented by the folk artists from Cotigao. They also presented the unique folk recitation performances of Zado and Shelop.
Morulo is a typical folk dance of men which depicts dancing patterns of peacocks. Many villages in Goa used to perform it. But today it is performed in Sarvan Bicholim. The Morulo dance performed by folk artists from Sarvan won the appreciation of the audience through their singing, dancing and playing of folk musical instruments with co-ordination.
Surla, a village situated at the highest point in Goa, has the tradition of Geeti wherein folk songs are recited by women during the night from Dussera to Diwali by lighting a traditional lamp. Laxmi Zarmekar, 70, who imparts skills of recitation of folk songs of Geeti says, "Our women have forgotten this folk art but the revival scheme of Guru-sishya has helped to revive it to some extent".
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Folk-dances-performed-at-Kala-Academy/articleshow/5713473.cms
