Bhavai is a genre of folk dance popular in Rajasthan state in western India. The male or female performers balance a number of earthen pots or brass pitchers as they dance nimbly, pirouetting and then swaying with the soles of their feet perched on the top of a glass, on the edge of the sword or on the rim of a brass thali (plate) during the performance.
First Bhavai Dancer of India was Mrs.Krishna Vyas Chhangani, who born in Jodhpur (Rajasthan).The Dance form consists of veiled women dancers balancing up to seven or nine brass pitchers as they dance nimbly, pirouetting and then swaying with the soles of their feet perched on the top of a glass or on the edge of the sword. There is a sense of cutting edge suspense and nail biting acts in the dance.
The accompaniment to the dance is provided by the male performers singing melodious songs and playing a number of musical instruments, which include pakhawaj, dholak, jhanjhar, sarangi, and harmonium.
Bhavai dance form is carried with superb talent with the art of spinning and dancing still maintaining an excellent balancing work and also posing several objects and articles on dancer’s head. The tribes of Rajasthan such as Bhils, Meenas, Kumhars, Jat, Kalbelia and Chamars promoted and enriched this folk dance with passage of time. The tribe of snake charmers, Kalbelia, is specially considered expert in the art of balancing and the female dancers of this tribe perform jovial welcome while holding clay pitchers up to ten on their head.
