ZeliangADITI RAJWAR

ROLL NO- 1 GROUP-4

ART & DESIGN AESTHETICS

Folk dance is a form of dance developed by a group of people that reflects the traditional life of the people of a certain country or region. Folk dancing originated in the 18th century to distinguish dance forms of common people from those of the upper classes. Folk dances, unlike most other dance forms, tend to have no stringent rules, and are sometimes formed spontaneously among groups of people.

The steps of folk dances are passed through generations, rarely being changed. Folk dancing is usually associated with social activities, although some folk dances are performed competitively.

What is Folk Dance?

It is noticed in a majority of the cases that the folk dances of Nagaland are performed by males. However, the Zeliang tribe of Nagaland permits their women to take part in the folk dances with men. During a performance, the participants start entering slowly into the stage or arena with some distinctive movements and stand making a circle or other geometrical shape. After that, the dancers adjust the beats and then start dancing by stamping the foot on a continuous pace. The dances of this tribe are interspersed by chanting some set words in chorus and the clapping of hands. These shouting and chanting provides inspiration to every member of the group.

How is Zeliang done?

Lokadharmi NatyadharmiLife oriented.Loka means “the world”, it refers to that mode of representation in traditional indian performance that deals with the wordly activity of people. Lokadharmi does not draw on prescribed codification of gestures (hastas) and walks (gatis),it draws on its own modes of exaggeration, emphasis, improvisation and play, which are non-realistic in their own right.

Natyadharmi means theater oriented. It pertains to the conventions of the stage. It’s the theatrical representation larger than life. It is more stylized and the artists imagination has a free hand in this mode, contrasted with lokadharmi.

 The Nagas dress themselves in ceremonial war-type costume and brass and silver ornaments and other ornaments made of iron in order to beautify their look in the dance. As a result of the regional differences, some changes of very small quantity are observed in the pattern of dance. In general, this dance involves the upright body position at upper part, while the unbent or straight knees always keep equilibrium of movements. After attaining the climax, again the tempo is brought down and it is thus accompanied by a great increase in shouts, calls and cries.

Ornamentation

• In the festivals, the men commonly wear most priced necklaces of red pebbles.It is said that a single stone of this sort is sometimes valued at five mithuns. On the upper arm an ornament of brass is commonly worn and above the calf of the leg numerous rings of cane, very thin, and generally coloured black, are frequently worn.

• The women too always wear large and heavy earrings and numerous necklaces. Bracelets of brass are also worn besides the upper arm and the legs and ankles are bare of ornaments.

• The design of their clothes is conspicuous for the right use of brilliant colours, cowries, ivory and scarlet hair seem peculiarly well fitted to the deep green or bluish background usually afforded by the well weeded hills which is their home.

More about there dressing style:• They love to wear their traditional dresses which

are richly coloured with beautiful and elaborate designs woven by them according to their fancy and skill. Traditionally, the Zeliangrong women possess the knowledge of weaving

• They produce most of their cloth artistically designed and woven by women in the families loin looms. Their yarn is spun from locally grown staple cotton and the dye required for colouring the yarn is also produced by themselves from herbs collected from the forest. • The Zeliangrong males have different styles of haircut according to age and social status-whether youths, married men or aged persons.

http://www.e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=manipur.Ethnic_Races_Manipur.Tracing_the_traditional_Dresses_and_Ornaments_of_Zeliangrongs_part_2

InstrumentsTheku among the Chakhesangs and Angami Nagas, Asem (drum with animal skin masked upon carved wood)

 Indigenous musical instruments made and used by the people are bamboo mouth organs, cup violins, bamboo flutes, trumpets, drums made of cattle skin, and log drums. 

Tati (singlestring fiddle)

Jemji (Horn made using mithun horn)

• Folk songs and dances are essential ingredients of the traditional Naga culture.

• The oral tradition is kept alive through the media of folk tales and songs.

• Naga folk songs are both romantic and historical, with songs narrating entire stories of famous ancestors and incidents.

• Seasonal songs describe activities done in a particular agricultural cycle.

• The themes of the folk music and songs are many; songs eulogizing ancestors, the brave deeds of warriors and traditional heroes; and poetic love songs immortalizing ancient tragic love stories.

• The tribes living in the remote corners of Nagaland have their inherent tradition of music.

FO

LK

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Summary• Zeliang a traditional folk dance of Nagaland is a Lokdharmi form of

dance.No prescribed gestures. It refers to that mode of representation in Zeliang that deals with the wordly activity of people.

• It’s a traditional naga cultural folk dance to narrate ancestors stories. Theme usually being heroic and romance.

• Self made ornaments and clothes for the dance.

http://www.e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=manipur.Ethnic_Races_Manipur.Tracing_the_traditional_Dresses_and_Ornaments_of_Zeliangrongs_part_2

http://www.e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=manipur.Ethnic_Races_Manipur.Tracing_the_traditional_Dresses_and_Ornaments_of_Zeliangrongs_part_1

http://dance.about.com/od/DanceTypes/g/Folk-Dance.htm

Biblography

http://damudrre.blogspot.in/2014/04/h3-margin-bottom-0_16.html

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