Dance with weapons
One of the first implements that man devised for his survival was the knife. And in what better way could he show off his skill of weaponry than in a dance!
In the earliest reference to martial dances, Plato described the Pyrrhic dance of ancient Sparta as a great way to train warriors. It was performed with shields and spears during ancient Greek festivals. Today, the style is still evident in Albanitiko, the national dance of Albania.
Desi Sword Dances:
The men whirl around in bright colourful costumes styled after the old military attire and perform acrobatics and mock fights along the way. They dance to the tune of traditional Kumaoni instruments like the turi and ransing which were once used to boost the morale of troops during war.
Kalaripayattu:
Kerala is home to one of India’s proud exports to the world—the Kalaripayattu. It is the forerunner of the martial art of karate. Young boys start training in the art of combat when they are 7-8 years old. Kalaripayattu marks a perfect union of dance and martial arts. Trainees build their stamina and dexterity and learn to handle different weapons like sticks, maces, spears, daggers and swords. A Kalaripayattu performance is like a lyrical dance of exceptionally nimble warriors.
Swordswomen with Style:
One of the cultural gems of Korea is the Jinju Geommu dance. The traditional sword dance is performed by a group of female dancers clad in ethnic Korean costumes resembling the military uniforms of yore. Legend has it that a young boy named Hwangchang, a talented Geommu dancer, was invited to perform at the court of an enemy kingdom. While dancing, the bold boy slew the king. Hwangchang was then executed. The people in his kingdom mourned his loss by wearing masks resembling his face and performing the dance. Later, the mask was discarded and the art form was formalised into a court dance performed by women. The dancers use a replica sword called Kal and dance to a band of traditional Korean musical instruments.
White vs. Black:
A medieval sword dance called Moreška from the town of Korcula, Croatia, depicts the tale of a White King fighting to rescue his fiancée Bula from the clutches of the Black King. After the main characters are introduced, the armies of the two kings engage in mock battle. Dancers clad in red costumes spar with their black uniformed counterparts in a choreographed sequence of sword fights. The show ends with the defeat of the Black King and the union of the White King with his beloved.
In many parts of India including Goa, in many village jatras(fairs) there is dance performed with swords in honour of the village deity. It is also seen in folk dances.
