The Kolattam “stick dance” folk dance of Tamilnadu and many parts of South Asia, here performed by eight men who strike each other’s sticks while dancing with ghunghru dancing bells on each ankle. Members of Om Periyaswamy dance troupe. At TamilNadu Hotel.
The Om Periyaswamy music & dance group perform seven dances. Eight men wearing ghunghru ankle bells perform folk dances and songs in Tamil. The ankle bells that the dancers wear can be heard throughout the performance. The dances include the Oyilāṭṭām "graceful dance" with handkerchiefs (Item 3), the Kummi hand clapping dance, and three Kolāttam stick dances in which the dancers tap sticks together to create rhythm during the dance. A whistle is heard at the end of each dance. For Item 3, the Data Sheet references the 1938 A. A. Bake recording, Bake 7.2 "Nilattam / Dance with handkerchiefs.
The Oyilāṭṭām “graceful dance” folk dance of Madurai, performed by eight men, each with ghunghru dancing bells on each ankle. The make a crouching movement while concealing the handkerchief in the palm of the hand. Members of Om Periyaswamy dance troupe. At TamilNadu Hotel.
Madurai Om Periyaswamy in costume for the a poikkal kuthirai aattam dance, wearing a “false leg horse dance” or "dummy horse dance” in a costume made of paper maché type material, elegantly caparisoned, and draped with a South Indian block print textile skirt swinging with the dancer’s movements and hiding the dancer’s bare feet. One of two wooden feet is visible, tied to the dancer’s feet to create clacking sounds that resemble the sound of a horse’s hooves. The dancer wears a decorated red turban, a blue silk kurta and golden jacket, flower garlands, and holds a wooden spear in his right hand. At the TamilNadu Hotel.
Musicians for karakāṭṭam “pot dance” folk and ritual dance of Tamilnadu. Two dancers each balances five decorated clay pots stacked on their heads: young woman balances an angel figure atop her pots, young man (probably son of Om Periyaswamy) balances a parrot figure atop his pots. Musicians are led by Mukkasāmi, who dances expressively as he holds his sattakulai multiple-reed aerophone (cattak kuḻāy). Percussion accompanists smile at Mukkasāmi’s dancing, while playing other instruments (left-right): urumbi (urummi, uṟumi) double-headed variable tension membranophone played with two differently-curved sticks by Conai; small high-pitched membranophone with two sticks by a younger drummer in light blue shirt and white shawl; a pambai double-headed membranophone pair played with two curved sticks by Kalidasa; a tavil double-headed membranophone played by Venkatesan; and taḷām bronze hand cymbals played by Cuppiramaniyan in a dark blue shirt and lunghi. At the TamilNadu Hotel.
Eight men in red tunics and orange trousers, sashes and handkerchiefs, and wearing ghunghru ankle bells, perform dance songs, in Tamil, accompanied by a tavil musician. Dances performed include the Oyilāṭṭām "graceful dance" with handkerchiefs (Item 3), the Kummi hand clapping dance, and the Kolāttam “stick dance.” A whistle is heard at the end of each dance. For Item 3, the Data Sheet references the 1938 A. A. Bake recording, Bake 7.2 "Nilattam / Dance with handkerchiefs.
Karakāṭṭam dance, an acrobatic dance performed with pots balanced on the head, in praise of the rain goddess Mariamman. A young dancing woman balances a bowl of pink roses, topped by a flying parrot, on her head, while standing on her bent right leg, and holding the toes of her bent left leg behind her shoulder, while looking facing away from the viewer toward the back wall. A large cluster of jasmine flowers rests on the nape of her neck, from which flows her long braided hair. Her right arm is stretched forward from her body, with her wrist flexed. She is wearing a silk classical dance costume with pleated front skirt, legs wrapped, choli blouse, and ghunghru ankle bells. This type of acrobatic dance pose (karana) was done by devadāsī temple dancers in the past. At the TamilNadu Hotel.
Karakāṭṭam dance, an acrobatic dance performed with pots balanced on the head, in praise of the rain goddess Mariamman. Dancer in profile (son of Om Periyaswamy ?) balances seven clay pots on his head. two Nāiyāndī Mēḷam musicians are on the right. At the TamilNadu Hotel.
Poikkal kuthirai aattam dancer in profile, shouting and brandishing his sword as the second poikkal kuthirai attam dancer pursues him. Slain warrior dancers are dragged off the grassy stage. At the TamilNadu Hotel.
Madurai Om Periyaswamy in costume for the a poikkal kuthirai aattam dance, wearing a “false leg horse” or "dummy-horse” costume, made of paper maché type material, elegantly caparisoned, and draped with a South Indian block print textile skirt hiding the dancer’s bare feet. He wears a decorated red turban, a blue silk kurta and golden jacket, flower garlands, and brandishes a wooden spear in his right hand toward the camera. A second poikkal kuthirai dancer wears a blue and white decorated turban and rides a white horse, which rears up in pursuit of Madurai Om Periyaswamy. At the TamilNadu Hotel.
