As far as folk traditions in this hilly region are concerned, Chamba is the richest of all. If anywhere on earth the rhythmical sound to creation is heard the loudest and clear, it is the hilly tracts of Chamba. Be it for the accomplishment of household chores or for the performance of religious activities collectively, this is the ‘call’ that reverberates throughout the length and breadth of the region. Dance in its purest folk form has been the catharsis, it has been the beckoning, it has been the nostalgia…it has been much more for the unassuming hill-folk of Chamba. The folk dances of Chamba have rich cultural background and are being performed throughout the length and breadth of the country. This book is a tribute to the people of Chamba whose very talk is a ‘Song’ and every step, a ‘Dance’. The author has delineated the distinct regional variants and community-specific dance forms of each region of Chamba. He has also recorded the dance forms for every occasion–religious, ritualistic, seasonal, tribal, communal, celebrational or for sheer merriment. He has also taken care to differentiate the male, female and group dances. He has elucidated each of the form along with the rhythmic movements of the body parts. The aids to folk dances in the form of specific costumes, ornaments, musical instruments and folk songs of different regions, occasions, and timings have also been meticulously explained. This work is of a great archival significance. It is hoped the theoreticians and practitioners of the dance art form will receive this work with appreciation.
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