Before we get into details of Garba dance, here are two simple facts which will reduce your anxiety on learning this popular dance. Number one, there is no definite form or steps of Garba dance. No one can dictate that you have to dance exactly like this or that. It is free flow tribal dance where you go with the music. If you get to the rhythm you are all set.
Number two, it is more fun if there is large crowd for the dance, but there is “no minimum requirement”. You and your friend, just two of you can get the same energy and create the effect of thousands.
The Music
Garba performances often include singing and a musical accompaniment traditionally provided by Dhol (double-headed drum) and the similar but smaller Dholak; hand clapping; and assorted metallic idiophones, such as cymbals. Historically, the Shehnai (a double-reed instrument) guided the singers, but by the early 21st century that instrument had largely been replaced by a synthesizer or harmonium.
The Dance
The basic dance formation is that of a circle that moves counterclockwise; if space is constrained or there are many participants, dancers form concentric circles that move in opposite directions. Ultimately, the performers circle around an image of a mother goddess, such as Durga, or around a symbolic representation of her creative energy—often an illuminated clay pot or a water-filled vessel. Dancing begins slowly and gradually increases in speed.
Generally the actual dance performance begins in the night time or after dark so to make the proper ambience for dance. All the participants gather at the open space or at street corners. An idol or photograph of the goddess is kept in the center and a circle is formed around it. Ghee (purified butter) or oil amps are lit in front of ‘Mataji’s Sthanak’ (goddess place), which is put in the Chowk (wooden stand).
At initial stages dancing begins with slow tempo and reaches at a fast tempo. A Dholi or drummer who sit in the center keeps the rhythm. Some times, the women also carry ‘Mandavali’, on their heads and it is made up of bamboo chips covered with a red silk piece of cloth. The Mandavali symbolizes the goddess and they dance with it for some time and later put it in the center.
Simple Garba dance steps:
After scouring through many dance lesson videos, we found following video has beautifully explained the simple steps of Garba which is very easy to follow. One more time, these are some of the steps to get you going but don’t hesitate to create your own dance form and people will follow you. Take a look and let us know if anything else would have helped you better to learn this dance form.
Garba in Austin and across the world
Garba and Dandiya Raas are popular worldwide. In the United States more than 20 universities have Raas/Garba competitions on a huge scale every year with professional choreography. Garba is also very popular in the United Kingdom where there are a number of Gujarati communities who hold their own Garba nights. In Canada, the largest Navratri festival in the western world is held annually in Toronto. They say “Ae Hallo” for fun, which means “Come on! Lets start!”
In Austin there are various places where Garba is organized every year. Each temple – Austin Hindu Temple, Sai Baba Temple and Radha Madhav Dham organizes Garba with food carnival where with dance you can also relish the Indian food.
Fun Fact
Olympic figure skating champions Tatiana Volosozhar and Maxim Trankov picked this already super hit Garba song from one of the Bollywood movie. The Russian pair even added an Indian twist to their attire and simply amzed everyone.
The unique performance they presented sent the audience roaring with applause. The judges, too, must’ve been impressed. The two champions not only got the highest scores, but also went on to bag their fourth gold at the competition.