Warli Dance (DNH)

Understand

Where Warli Dance (DNH) comes from

The Warli dance of DNH is the folk-dance of the Warli community (one of the principal tribal communities of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, with the larger concentration of the Warli in the adjoining Thane and Palghar districts of Maharashtra). The Warli are one of the most distinctive tribal communities of the western Indian belt and have their own characteristic wall-painting tradition (the Warli painting) and dance. The dance is performed at the central courtyard of the village and at the cultural programmes of the union territory.

How it's practiced

The Warli dance of DNH is performed by men and women of the Warli 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 Warli cycle and to the rhythm of the small regional instruments. The dance is gentle, with the small stepping rhythm of the Warli tradition. Costume is the everyday Warli dress — the dhoti and the regional shawl. Performances are at the central courtyard and at the cultural programmes of the union territory.