Kolata

Kolata (ಕೋಲಾಟ) is the traditional folk dance of the state of Karnataka, located in Southern India on the western coast. Unlike its North Indian counterpart Dandiya Ras, it comes in two forms. First, it is performed with coloured sticks and usually involves both men and women dancing together. Second, very rigorous play of sticks only by men dancing to folk songs. Sticks here are thick and hard to sustain strong play.

'Cheluvayya Cheluvo Tani tandana', 'Kolu kolanna kolu kole' are very popular music for the soft kolata dance of Karnataka. Kolata of men uses 'Indara Gandhi kondavanna', 'Belisalagonda kare beeja' etc. sung vocally along with the dance.

Cheluvayya Cheluvo Tani tandana kolata is performed by Kannada Kootas around the world for their Ugadi and Kannada Rajyotsava programmes.

It also is a family name with its roots in Eastern Germany and Poland. People with this family name are for example the writer Gina Kolata, the artist Jan Kolata and the writer Katharina Kolata-Gerlach.