Boys and Girls Folk Dances
There are not many folk dances in which boys perform dressed as girls, but the tradition of female impersonation,
especially in traditional theatre forms, is a custom that deserves discussion. In India, theatre without dance
could not be conceived. Theatre is called Natya in Sanskrit as also in many regional languages. The verbal root of
Natya is "nat" that means 'to dance'. There are more than 60 different styles of traditional theatrical forms in
this country. In almost all the theatrical forms men play the female roles, even today. Since dancing and singing
are integral part of the art of acting (abhinaya), all the actors who play female roles should have talent for
dancing. This tradition of female impersonation in the field of dance and theatre started in India from around 16th
century. There is a historical reason behind this.
Earlier dance was being considered as the best of all arts. Because art, like music exists only in time, not in
space; whereas arts like sculpture and painting exist only in space, not in time. It is only dance and theatre that
exist both, in time and in space. Again, the beauty of the human body can be enhanced in two ways : by makeup,
jewellery etc, and by dance. While the former is superficial, dance wells up from within. Another most important
reason is that Indian traditional thinkers were of the opinion that the artist engaged in creative activity can
spontaneously experience the divine. Because of all these reasons dance was considered in ancient India as an art
with which the God can be worshipped. Therefore, there was the tradition of consecration of dancing girls
(devadasi) in the temples. There are a number of references that princes and princesses were learning dance and
performing before an audience. This ethos underwent a transformation when India came under the rules of foreigners.
Those who ruled had a different kind of culture and ethos according to which dancing was exhibition of the body and
therefore decent girls should not dance. In a feudalistic society the values of the ruler are adopted by the
landlords. Thus Indians began considering that decent women should neither dance nor appear on the stage. It became
so ingrained in Indian mind that a saying became common that 'those who have some element of shame they only play
musical instruments, those who do not have it they sing, but who is totally shameless dances'. In such an ethos,
actresses were not available for playing female roles in a play. The theatre thinkers then thought that a character
in a play is basically a symbol. A female character in a drama is the symbol of femininity, not the model of a
women. Therefore, a talented actor can bring to life the symbol of femininity. Thus began the practice of female
impersonation in the filed of traditional theatre. The tradition of solo dancing, especially the classical ones,
was continued by male dancers. The girls who took to dancing were generally courtesans. This taboo of women dancing
was observed by elite and the higher caste people. Fortunately, this did not percolate to the tribal communities or
the lower rungs of the caste hierarchy. As a result, most of the group folk dances continue to be performed by
these people. In the vast body of Indian folk dances there are a few specks of solo dancing by boys dressed as
girls.
| 
