The experience
In the hills above Pernem, Sakharam will teach you the swaying, crook-in-hand steps of the Dhangar dance, danced by his shepherding community at seasonal fairs. Bells on the dancers' anklets keep time along with the dhol, echoing the sound of grazing flocks.
Why this matters
The Dhangar community's pastoral way of life is increasingly rare in Goa, and their dance is one of the few living records of a shepherding culture that once moved seasonally through the state's hills.
Cultural background
Performed with wooden crooks and bell-anklets, the Dhangar dance is danced at community fairs and festivals, its rhythm and gestures drawn directly from the movements of herding sheep.
Meet the practitioner
We're still verifying a practitioner for this experience — check back soon.
Schedule
Morning
Basic footwork and crook handling
Afternoon
Full group formation with dhol and shehnai
Difficulty
Moderate — rhythmic footwork with a prop
Age suitability
10 and up
Gallery
Sakharam's troupe with crooks and anklets
Practising the swaying step
The Pernem hillside settingPhotographs from this experience will replace these panels once available.
Included
- Instruction from Sakharam's troupe
- Refreshments
- Traditional dhol and shehnai accompaniment
Not included
- Flights to Goa
- Accommodation
- Personal insurance
Before you arrive
- · Comfortable outdoor footwear
- · Sun protection — sessions are held in open hillside clearings
- · Water bottle recommended
Frequently asked
Do I need to bring a crook?
No, practice crooks are provided by the troupe.
Is this dance still performed regularly?
Mainly at community fairs and seasonal gatherings, which Sakharam can sometimes arrange visits around.
What people say
“Loved learning about a side of Goa most tourists never see — the shepherding hills, not the beaches.”
Om T. · 5/5
“Sakharam's stories about his family's flocks made this so much more than a dance class.”
Elena V. · 5/5
Not a sight to see — a practice to enter.