Styles
Styles
Style
The basic garba steps are simple, so simple that it does not much time to learn them as long as the person guiding or assisting does not over complicate matters. The steps should never be taught on a crowded dance floor. The basic steps are as simple as stepping backwards and fowards, with a slight lift. Once the basic steps become second nature, variations can then be attempted. There are many enhancements which can then be introduced, and these then make the dancer stand out and shine. There are many ways in which the clapping can happen and if done well the clapping regulates the spinning and swirling.
It is best, even if you an accomplished dancer, to keep the flow of the steps and claps in balance and harmony, rather than be diverted into distracting moves and manoeuvres, which spoil the flow and sweep of the dancing and which makes the dancing, far more tiring and trying than it should be. The dancing will go on for several hours and more and if garba is taught and
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Modern
Variations
There are many forms and styles of garba and raas, with many elegant variations on the traditional and many good modern styles. Sadly however too many of the modern garba steps and styles spoil the flow of the dance as they are invented solely for the sake of novelty or to win some competition and have not always been well considered and put together.
Garba and Raas steps and styles cannot really be brought across in words and it is best to watch live performances or videos to learn more. There is a selection of styles exhibited in some performances on the videos section of the garbaworld.com website. As the Garba and Raas dances culminate at the end of the evening, often there are some extra dances which have their own enchantment and excitement, such as the Fudadari and Ramjanyu
The Fudadari is done at the end, when it otherwise seems that the dancing has finished. Along then comes this wonderful bonus. In this style of dance two dancers hold each others hands with criss crossed arms and lean back and then turn and sway in a circle, going faster and faster and faster,
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Swirls
Spinning
This dance with its spinning and swirling in an exhaustive and dangerous manner has few other equals,
It is amazing to see groups of tens and hundreds doing this with so much energy unleashed and beaming excited faces glowing as they sway away screaming with laughter.
The Ramjanyu is a dancing march. The dancers move in a march of dance backwards and forwards, marching their bodies in time and rhythm and balance. The ramjanyu happens at end of the evening just after or before the Fudadrri. By this time everyone is sweating, as the last raas finishes and there are some moments to relax and then the ramjanyu starts
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