Folk dance
A rhythmic stick dance from the Malabar region of Kerala, where the beat comes from the sticks in the dancers' hands.
Kolkali takes its name from two Malayalam words: kol, a stick, and kali, a dance.
Also known as
Thekkan Kali Vadakkan Kali Payattikkol Kambu Kali
Danced on a raised platform, it is called Thattinmelkali.
Kolkali is one of the best-loved stick dances of Kerala, danced most widely in the Malabar region in the north of the state. The dancers move in a circle, each holding small wooden sticks, and strike them in rhythm with their steps. The circle opens out and closes in as the dance goes on, and every dancer keeps to a close pattern without touching another or missing a beat.
As the dance builds, the steps grow more vigorous, with sweeping movements and turns. The music rises in pitch and carries the dance to a dramatic finish.
Kolkali began as a martial practice in the kalari, the training ground of Kalaripayattu, the martial art of Kerala. Over time it grew into the rhythmic group dance seen today, blending the moves of combat with the art of dance.
It is danced by both Hindus and Muslims in Malabar, traditionally in open spaces and courtyards. There are two popular forms: Payyannur Kolkali and Mappila Kolkali.
The songs of Kolkali tell devotional tales of regional gods. Payyannur Kolkali opens with the Vandanakali, in praise of Lord Subramanian and Lord Ganapathy. Mappila Kolkali begins with a prayer to Allah, the Prophet Muhammad and the Sufi saints, and the dancers sing as they move around the circle.
The music follows rhythmic patterns such as kerva and dhatira.
In the first stage of the dance there are sixteen players. In the next, the Payattikkol, twelve players each hold two sticks and circle the teacher, the Gurukkal, who stands among them with no sticks at all.
Every Kolkali is built on five basic steps, among them the Cheruthalakkali and the Marinjadi.
12
Players in the Payattikkol
Around the Gurukkal, two sticks each
Performers wear the mundu, a traditional garment tied around the waist and worn towards the left, with a banyan, a sleeveless shirt. Some tie a cloth around the head, and a thick belt at the waist.
Kolkali is a dance of rhythm and precision, where every step and every strike of the stick lands together.
Born in the kalari and kept alive in the courtyards of Malabar, it still brings people together in the circle.
Performance
