Sentinelese Dance (Andaman)

Understand

Where Sentinelese Dance (Andaman) comes from

The Sentinelese dance is the ceremonial-dance of the Sentinelese people of the North Sentinel Island of the Andamans. The Sentinelese are one of the most isolated and protected communities of the world, with virtually no contact with the outside. The dance is performed at the community gatherings of the Sentinelese and is associated with the ceremonial life of the community. The form is one of the documented regional traditions of the Andaman Islands and is preserved as part of the Andamanese cultural heritage.

How it's practiced

The Sentinelese dance is performed by the men and women of the Sentinelese community in a circle at the central courtyard of the village or at the open ground of the festival. The men and women perform in coordinated steps to the song of the Sentinelese cycle and to the rhythm of the small regional instruments. The dance is gentle, with the small stepping rhythm of the Sentinelese community. Costume is the traditional Sentinelese dress — the leaf and the body-paint of the community. Performances are at the central courtyard of the village and at the cultural gatherings of the community.