Bhangra dancing is easy, its all about doing all you can to shake off a pair of small rats clinging to your balls, while trying to signal a doubtful six at the same time. That’s what I read somewhere, and I agree with it. We see all types of dance everywhere, Bharat Natyam and break dance and funk and disco and what not; all of them are very entertaining to their respective admirers. The fact still remains that dances are after all, for dancing.
Like the other arts Dance is a form of expression of the state of the mind, in physical and direct way. Someone dancing in happiness freely is much more beautiful thing to see, although it is a very rare sight to see. Most people dance for a reason or occasion, waltzing for Balls (not the ones the rats cling to), funk or disco in night clubs or whatever.
While dancing, most people are conscious of dancing styles, and their movements bothered by the nuances of dancing protocols and their minds worried by the calculations of beat and rhythm. It is this that lets dancers dance in that precise manner, and makes non dancers appear ridiculous. In case of singers this problem is solved by the bathrooms wherein free singing under the shower is possible, though most bathrooms do not allow a similar exercise in dance.
Young women do try such stunts in their respective bedrooms but that is more often a physical representation of their film induced daydreams than a genuine attempt at free dancing. The dancing that the poor horse has to suffer during marriage ceremonies cannot be said to be a type of free dance though it may seem so, Yes, it is induced by happiness, but there is still an element of duty involved. It is supposed to be done, someone has to dance, and there it fails the test of genuine dancing.
The only dance that can be said to fulfill all such criteria is the Galli Dancing in Mumbai, here some famous Hindi film number is played and all of the lords creatures big and small, with or without clothes gather to dance freely without bindings or compulsions. They dance the way they want to, their movements free, unhampered by occasion or social ideologies. All of them dancing like some ancient tribe in front of their god - a rusty loudspeaker that blares their favorite number. None are compelled anyone from the roadside can join into the happy crowd unhampered by entry fees, or wrist tattoos, and more importantly it is an expression of their happy feelings under the open sky and not a drug induced hopping on some smoky dance floor. That is Dance for Dancing.
