Dappan koothu
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dappaankuthu or Dappan koothu is a dance and music genre with an emphasis on percussion performed in Tamil Nadu, India.[1] It has become one of the several popular genres employed in the film music[2] (also known as gaana) of Tamil cinema in Chennai.[3]
Unlike classical Indian dances such as bharatnatyam or kathakali, dappaankuthu is relatively informal: it has no structured, repeated steps and dancers do not learn through formal dance classes. It shares its emphasis on percussion with older folk dances of Tamil Nadu, such as kummi and kolattam.
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[edit] Types of Kuthu
Daulat Dappannkuthu : Usually performed along with a straight back with lungi in their hands and with head held high. Performed when there is a victory or when a great man dies or to depict the greatness of the person and he will never bow.
Goon Dappankuthu or Hunch Dappankuthu : Usually performed with a hunch back and head held low and lungi tied to the thighs. Performed when there is a defeat or an old lady dies or to show submission.
Bigil Dappankuthu : Usually performed by two members in unison by jumping on their sides with one hand blowing from their mouth better known as Bigil. Performed to depict enjoyment.
Thigil Dappankuthu: Usually performed with head looking at nowhere and then dropping the lungi down and legs going sideways. Performed in the middle of a dance to make a fast getaway or when police arrives or some big leader comes.
Sorugu dapankuthu: Usually performed crouched with the lungi on the mouth and hands going back and forth and jumping inside. Performed as an act of supremacy. Tiger Dappankuthu Usually performed by the person who everybody accepts as the vathiyar(Excellent in kusthi and Silambam) of the area.The attire for this dance requires a tiger mask and tiger stripes all over the body usually with paint.This depicts that his strength matches that of a tiger.The tongue sticking out like a tiger is a significant expression of the dance .
[edit] Musical instruments
A percussion instrument called the Tharai thappattai drum, resembling a tambourine without the jingles, is often used for Dappaankuthu. Unlike normal tambourines, this requires a wooden drumstick to play. The urumee drum is also often used. A customised trumpet is also sometimes employed. This instrument can be heard being played in death houses to reduce or to suppress the sound of crying or to inform others about a death in Tamil villages. The rhythm of the Dappan koothu (the "Tharai Thappattai" sound) is often signified by a mix of beat patterns layered and flowing into one another. Other percussion instruments may be employed in Dappan koothu.
[edit] Outfit and embellishments
Even though any attire can be worn when one dances the Dappaankuthu, a lungi (colourful cloth wrapped around the waist) is commonly worn and most preferable, with the bottom raised and folded upwards over the knees in the middle. Ideally, it should be worn over pattapatti (lined trousers). The shirt worn would have only two or three buttons in place, while the chest portion is left wide open and at the lower part of the shirt is knotted (using the two portions of the shirt). It is also common to tie a handkerchief or bandana around one's forehead and/or wrist.
Loud clapping and whistling by spectators often accompanies the Dappaankuthu dance. Spectators are also known to set off firecrackers on the ground during the performance.
Facial expressions are employed for effect by the dancers. For example, the tongue, folded over and held in position with the front teeth, is brought out at regular intervals.
