Cheraw (bamboo dance)
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The best-known Mizo dance, in which women step nimbly in and out of long bamboo poles that men clap together in rhythm.
TribalWhere: MizoramOccasion: Chapchar Kut and other festivals, and cultural events
| Performed by | Women dance; men sit facing each other and work the bamboo poles |
|---|---|
| Costume | Women wear the puanchei, the kawrchei blouse and the vakiria headdress |
| Music and instruments | Gongs and drums; the clapping of the bamboo poles keeps the beat |
How it is performed
- Pairs of long bamboo poles are laid on the ground across two thicker base poles, with men seated at both ends.
- The men open and close the pairs of poles, striking them together and on the base poles in a set rhythm.
- Women dancers step between and out of the moving poles in time, without being caught.
- The patterns of steps and rhythm change and the pace rises; dancers form shapes such as lines and circles.
Significance
Cheraw is thought to be one of the oldest Mizo dances. It is now performed at almost every festival and is a symbol of Mizoram’s culture.