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Punjab
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Quite often, one or two dancers come out of the group and dance forward-solo-performing acrobatic feats and intricate dance patterns which are very interesting to watch though exhausting to the dancer. After showing their inimitable prowess, they go back to their original places.
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Many people can join this dance as this is extempore, but with a pattern which they know by experience and constant practice of performing often. It is remarkable that as it is a community dance, they can have any number of dancers in the group - sometimes even hundreds. The songs denote joy, love, satire based on rhythm in which the dancers jump, rotate, stamp, and even tumble in ecstatic abandon.
Jhumar :
Although this dance originated in Punjab, it has taken many shapes and this is even performed by the Pathans of Baluchistan. The dancers wear similar dresses as in Bhangra. But they hold 18" sticks in their hands and they play with the sticks as in Kolattam. At first the rhythm is slow but the tempo increases as the dance proceeds. Sometimes as in Kolattam they form two circles and dance around in intricate manner, striking the ground with their sticks while whirling around. As they go on dancing for hours, naturally there is a lot of physical strain and exertion.
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