Cheraw or Bamboo Dance is a folk dance from Mizoram, a state in the North East part of India. Men and women perform this dance with bamboos. It is one of the most popular dances in Mizoram.
The origins of this dance are not known but ancient folklore has it that the Cheraw was performed to pray for the souls of women who passed away during child birth. Therefore it’s a spiritual dance aimed at the redeeming the soul. But in recent times it’s just a very vigorous and energetic dance that is performed by the youth on any given day. Often girls dance while the men clap the bamboos poles together.
Long bamboo staves are placed horizontally on the ground. At each end the bamboos are supported by two bases. Then people squat on the ground facing each other holding the pole at each end. As they start clapping these poles together, open and shut. These clapping of the bamboos create a sound that forms the rhythm for the Cheraw. The dancers step in and out of these bamboos with great precision and grace. The bamboos are tapped together in a pulsating rhythm.
The dancers as well as the people managing the poles wear colorful ceremonial costumes for the occasion. They also wear eye catching head gears like flower crowns etc.
This dance is performed with many different patterns and different kinds of movements. As the people are very close to nature, the dance involves steps imitating the movement of trees, birds etc.