SCZCC initiative: Fresh Lessons To Preserve Folk Dances, Step By Step
Young students sway with animated expressions, mimicking the moves of folk dance exponents standing before them. This is no ordinary lesson — it's a dance into the very soul of India's folk heritage.
The South Central Zone Cultural Centre (SCZCC), Nagpur, has launched a series of folk dance workshops under its 'School Connect' programme, aimed at giving school children a hands-on experience of India's rich performing arts traditions.
The first workshop, held in Jabalpur from July 26 to 31, focused on two iconic but lesser-known dance forms — Rai and Panthi while the second being held at Dindori from August 1 to August 6 will teach Baiga Karma tribal dance.
The Rai dance, rooted in the Bundelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh, is a celebratory dance performed traditionally by women of the Bedia community. With fast footwork, intricate spins, and vibrant expressions, Rai is often compared to Kathak for its technical finesse. It was once marginalised due to caste prejudices but is now being revived as a cultural gem of
central India.
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"Rai is not just a fast dance, it's an assertion of identity and joy. Every beat reflects resilience and celebration," says Santosh Pandey, a renowned Rai exponent from Sagar, Madhya Pradesh, who is leading the workshop. "These children have never seen Rai before, and now they are dancing like naturals. That's the magic of cultural connection."
Pandey, who has performed Rai on national platforms, is teaching the students not just steps, but also the meaning behind each movement — the grace in the wrists, the playful defiance in the eyes, and the rhythm that tells a thousand stories.
Contrasting Rai's flamboyance is Panthi, the spiritual dance form of the Satnami community in Chhattisgarh. Performed traditionally to commemorate Guru Ghasidas Jayanti and other religious occasions, Panthi is a disciplined, soulful expression of faith and social harmony. Dancers often perform in circles, invoking a meditative trance-like rhythm with devotional songs.
"This dance has been our community's prayer, resistance, and identity for generations," shares Dilip Banjare, an acclaimed Panthi artist from Bhilai.
"To see students outside our region dance to Panthi is heartening. It means our stories will not fade."
Banjare, who was associated with SCZCC for over a decade, believes such workshops not only help preserve the art form but also spread awareness of its deeper philosophy of equality and peace.
A Cultural Movement In The Making
Over 150 students from various schools in Jabalpur participated in the six-day workshop. The children learned directly from artists, many of whom spent a lifetime mastering and preserving these traditions.
"Textbooks can only give context — but dance must be experienced," says Deepak Kulkarni, assistant director (programmes), SCZCC Nagpur, adding, "Through our School Connect programme, we want children to not only appreciate but also own their folk heritage."
Padma Shri Artist Teaching Young Folks
The workshop at Chadha village, Dindori (MP) from August 1 to 6 is focusing on Baiga Karma, a tribal dance form of the Baiga community.
Padma Shri Arjun Singh Dhurve, a legendary Baiga artist who dedicated his life to the preservation of tribal identity through dance, is leading this workshop.
"When children perform Baiga or Rai or Panthi, they don't just learn steps — they inherit centuries of wisdom, culture, and pride," says Dhurve.
SCZCC plans to extend these workshops to schools across Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana — the states under its jurisdiction — in what could be the beginning of a cultural reawakening led by schoolchildren.
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