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Traditional dance of the Andamanese peoples

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Dances of the Great Andamanese and Onge peoples, in which a singer keeps time by striking a wooden sounding board with the foot while the dancers stamp and leap around.

TribalWhere: Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Andaman group)Occasion: Community gatherings, feasts and ceremonies
Key facts
Performed byMen and women of the community
CostumeTraditional ornaments of bark fibre, leaves and shells, and body painting with clay
Music and instrumentsSongs, hand-clapping and the beat of the sounding board

How it is performed

  1. A singer stands by a sounding board laid on the ground and strikes it with the heel to make a deep beat.
  2. He sings a song, and the women, often seated nearby, clap in time and join the chorus.
  3. The dancers move around the singer, bending forward and stamping and leaping in rhythm.
  4. The dance can continue for many hours during a gathering.

Significance

Accounts from the late 19th and early 20th centuries describe these dances as a central part of Andamanese social life. These communities live in protected areas, and their customs are their own; they are not performed for tourists.

Sources