In a bid to rejuvenate Lambada tribe’s traditional dance form, Natch, a majority of women of the community are performing it to mark every happy moment of their daily life in Tandas (villages) in Krishna district. Women in their traditional attire hitherto performed Natch only during weddings, Holi and other select Hindu festivals. “Now-a-days, we have an urge in our mind and heart to perform the dance on the arrival of the monsoon and whenever we have leisure from regular chores,” a Natch performer Peempli Bukhya told The Hindu . According to Lambada women belonging to Sitarampuram Tanda, Natch, in which traditionally women dancers follow flute and drum beats simultaneously, has already lost its scintillating formation of various artistes over a period.
“Unfortunately, it is very rare to find a company of flautist or drummer in our performance. Of the mix of three different artistes, dancer, flautist and drummer required to perform a complete Natch form, only the women dancers can be seen,” said tribal elders Azmera Bithelu and Balu Bukhya.
Same is the case with every other Lambada tribal Tanda in Krishna district, where the Natch has been turned from an illustrious formation of artistes to ‘solo’ performance by the womenfolk.
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While tribal dances of Andhra Pradesh such as Koya and numerous styles of Dhimsa and Savara tribe’s TongTseng dance require huge energy to display its complete beauty, the Natch is more over a display of facial expression of the performer and their beautiful expressions with their hands. Unable to hide their emotions and connection with the dance, many young girls in their modern attire often join their elders to perform Natch.