In the evening we attended a performance at the 18th century haveli consisting of traditional Rajasthani music, dance, and puppetry. The bright red skirt and odhni transformed into a twirling whirl of fire. Displaying incredible concentration, balance, and perhaps thick soles, a 57-year old woman successfully danced and walked over pieces of glass - while balancing twelve clay pots on top of her head! The accompanying music was pleasant but not overpowering, providing a suitable backdrop to the dancing performances. On the way out, I asked the man sitting behind the entrance table if he had a program pamphlet that gave the name and brief synopsis of each performance. Saying that he didn’t, he asked us if we’d like for him to write it down. Expecting just a few lines, the man proceeded to write a fairly detailed explanation of each, including the symbolism behind the dance movements. Through conversation, we found out that he founded the organization which was behind the performances, along with a crafts village a short distance from the city.
See more photos of the dance performance on Flickr
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