Kerala Folk Dance:
Kanniyarkali :
 
Kanniyarkali (deshathukali) is a ritual art dance from, which is
performed to the accompaniment of devotional folk songs and the
resounding beats of drum. It is usually performed in bhagavathy temples.
Kaliyoottu :
Kaliyoottu is an eight day long colourful folk ritual which been acts
the combat between goddess durga and the demon darika. The ritual is
performed in different stages. The climax of the play - the ritual
called paranettu - is performed on a specially constructed 100 feet high
stage on the eighth day.
Kalampattu :
Kalampattu (kalamezhuthu pattu) is a folk art form that belongs to the
northern regions of kerala. This art form, which is over 600 years old
is performed by a group of five to fifteen people in bhadrakali and
ayyappa temples. The ritual is performed around the kolam - an elaborate
picture, usually of bhadrakali, drawn on the floor, using five colours.
The performance in the light of temple torches lasts through the night.
The singers are neatly dressed with women wearing their hair on the side
of the head. A series of songs (kalampattu) are sung to the
accompaniment of nanthuni and elathalams.
Kalaripayattu :
Kalaripayattu is the comprehensive system of martial arts of kerala,
regarded as one of the oldest and most scientific in the world.
Kalaripayattu training aims at the ultimate co-ordination of mind and
body. The traditional training in a kalari includes specialisation in
indigenous medical practices too. Kalaris are also centres of religious
worship.
Kavadiyattam :
Kavadiyattam is a ritualistic dance form performed by devotees. The
group of devotees
wearing bright yellow or saffron costumes with ash smeared all over the
body dance in a frenzy carrying kavadis on their shoulders. Kavadis are
colourful bow shaped wooden structures rising six to ten feet tall. The
ambalakavadi is structured and decorated like a temple. The pookavadi
has clusters of colourful, paper, cloth or plastic flowers arranged on
them. The resounding beats of percussion instruments like udukku and
chenda and the nadaswaram are characteristic of the kavadi procession.
It is usually offered in subramanya temples.
Kolkali :
Kolkali: is a group dance form of the farming community in kerala.
Twelve to twenty four dancers move rhythmically in a circle around the
ceremonial lamp, tapping the two feet long wooden sticks held in their
hands.
Thiruvathirakali :
Thiruvathirakali is a classical dance form, which is a pointer to the
old customs followed in the nair tharawads (joint families). In this
dance form, the women of the house dance elegantly around the ceremonial
lamp or floral decoration on festive occasions to the accompaniment of
the thiruvathira pattu (song).
Velakali :
It is one of the most elaborate and spectacular martial folk arts of
kerala. This ritual art form is usually presented within the temple
premises and is called thirumumbil vela when performed before the deity
and kulathilvela when performed near the temple pond. Fifty or more
performers in the traditional attire of soldiers, bearing colourful
shields and swords or long canes, dance with war like steps in perfect
orchestration with the resounding rhythm of the thakil, suddha maddalam,
elathalam, kuzhal and trumpets. A few fighting techniques of
kalaripayattu are also displayed in the course of the performance.
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Kanniyarkali
