Tertali Dance

Understand

Where Tertali Dance comes from

Tertali is a women's folk dance of central India (with documented practice in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and adjoining regions), named after the tati — a small brass plate or bowl that the performer balances on the body while dancing. The form is one of several central Indian plate-balancing dances (alongside Bhavai and Matki) that test the performer's skill in supporting objects on multiple body parts simultaneously while dancing to the rhythm. The dance is performed at weddings and at women's religious festivals of the region.

How it's practiced

Tertali is performed by a solo woman dancer who balances multiple small brass plates (tatis) and bowls — typically on the head, in the mouth, on the hands and on the elbows — while dancing to the rhythm of the dhol drum. The dance requires considerable balance and poise, with the slightest misstep risking the cascading loss of the balanced objects. The dance movements are otherwise simple — circling, turning and small steps — with the focus on the technical feat of the balance. Costume is the traditional ghagra-choli with heavy jewellery and a veil. The dance is performed at weddings, at religious festivals and at women's community gatherings.