Chhau artistes perform in Ranchi. File picture

Ranchi, April 3: Don’t be surprised if you see a French or a German behind the Chhau headgear at the mahotsav this year.

Chhau has crossed boundaries and foreign students, who have learnt the nuances of the dance form here, will be participating in the festival commencing on May 29 at Seraikela. The state government has invited these dancers to participate in the three-day festival.

Along with these performers, some from Bangalore and Chennai would also show their skills. These dancers, who are part of a cultural exchange programme, would put up ballet to depict social issues.

The Rajkiye Chhau Nritya Kala Kendra, Chhau Academy, Seraikela and the state art & culture department have joined hands to organise the festival where Seraikela, Mayurbhanj, Manbhoom and Singua Chhau dances would be displayed.

The Chhau artistes clad in elaborate traditional costumes, headgear and ornamental requisites would perform to the accompaniment of indigenous music like dhol, nagara, shehnai and flute to amuse spectators.

An official of the state art and culture department said that they work towards the promotion of this popular art form. “The dance form have raise curiosity among people of the world. Every year a few students from other countries visit the Seraikela academy to pick up the Chhau dance. This helps in cultural exchange between both the countries,” he added.

Chhau Mahotsav is a big event in the calendar of the native people and the academy.

“This is one of the major events of the academy which provides a platform to the Chhau artists and gives the much-needed impetus to the dying art form. The festival would also give the foreign nationals a chance to show their dancing skills learnt at the academy,” said Tapan Kumar Patnaik, the director of Chhau Academy.

He added: “So far more than 1,000 students have picked up this dance form while many are carrying out research on Chhau.”