Her roots are entrenched in the seductive twirls of Kalbeliya
The doyenne of Kalbeliya folk dance, Gulabo Sapera, at 50 aspires to open an academy which will not only pass the traditional folk to the younger generation but also showcase the handicrafts and musical instruments to keep folk culture alive.
One can’t help but dwell on the beguiling visuals of Rajasthani women twirling at a dizzying pace, their meticulously crafted inky dark skirts cast an enigmatic circular spell which remains etched into the memory of beholder for a long time. At festivals, in folk-dance competitions, on television, the dance can be seen everywhere.
What may look as a traditional gypsy dance form of the nomadic tribes of Rajasthan, Kalbeliya is actually an invented tradition which evolved and became hugely popular over the years.
With a vision to pass the tradition to younger generations and gleaning commercial advantage for Kalbeliya families. Padma Shri recipient Gulabo Sapera endeavours to open an academy in Pushkar which will not only teach Kalbeliya, but also showcase handicrafts, traditional instruments and much more to keep the folk culture alive. During the coronavirus lockdown, it has been a tough time for artistes, making it difficult to find work.
Ever since the dance appeared on the stage in 1981 to the present, Kalbeliya dancers’ families have elucidated how this inventive dance practice was formed to fit into national and transnational narratives with the aim of commercializing it globally and of generating a new, lucrative livelihood for these Kalbeliya families.
Dance finds itself at the crossroads of commercial tourism and cultural folklorism and is creating a discourses on neo-orientalist folk culture which welcomes the fusion of various music genres.
